by Linda Warren
Irene gulped in a breath. “But Ted remained steadfast in his decision and I tried to accept it. We stopped having sex and I had to beg to sleep with my husband. I was angry and hurt. I didn’t feel attractive anymore. That year we had a big argument right before the Christmas party at the bank and he refused to go with me, so I went alone. I started drinking and one thing led to another.”
There was a long pause. “When I realized I was pregnant, I was excited and I did what any red-blooded woman in love with her husband would do. I passed the child off as his.”
Macy’s mind was a patchwork jumble of shredded emotions and it was an effort to just think. She realized Beau was still standing beside her and she wanted to tell him he could leave, but her vocal cords seemed broken. When she’d asked for the truth, she never dreamed it would be worse than not knowing. Pandora’s box was wide open and she had to hear the rest of the story. “When did you find out differently?” she asked her father.
He swallowed visibly. “Remember when Delia was in that car accident with the Chandlers?”
“Yes.” Macy remembered it very well. She’d hurried home from college to be with Delia. Mona Chandler was in a carpool with Irene and another lady. After Mona picked up the kids from school, a drunk driver hit the Chandlers’ car causing a five-car pileup. Two of the girls had minor injuries but Delia’s were severe. She was twelve and had a severe laceration on her head and a broken arm. She lost a lot of blood and stayed in the hospital for a week.
“Delia needed blood quickly and I offered mine. But it didn’t match. That bothered me for a long time. Then I had a DNA test done for my own peace of mind.” He took a deep breath. “Sometimes I wish I’d never done that. It didn’t bring any peace—only more pain. Irene finally admitted the truth. That didn’t make it better, either. I started drinking and Irene and I argued constantly. I didn’t have any good feelings about my wife, my kids, my life or myself and I knew I had to get away. I couldn’t stay in that situation any longer. So I did something I thought I would never do. I walked out.”
He took a ragged breath. “I quit my job and went to Houston and stayed with my friend, Ed Holmes. I was drinking so heavily that he kicked me out after the first month. I gave Irene everything we had in the divorce so I had nothing. I stayed at a homeless shelter and drank myself into oblivion, then I had a mild heart attack and the doctor said if I didn’t stop drinking and living the way I was I’d be dead in a year. Didn’t matter to me, but eventually Ed saw to it that I got help. That’s how I met Nina. She worked as a nutritionist in the rehab center I was in.”
He looked at his daughter. “That’s why you never heard from me. I wasn’t in any shape to see anyone. Then when I was clean I didn’t think you’d want to see me. I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you and I’m extremely sorry I wasn’t there when your daughter died.”
Irene swung to look out the window.
Emotions were about to choke Macy, but she knew she couldn’t deal with her parents right now. She had to know one thing, though.
“Does Delia know?”
Irene swung back around, her eyes clouded. “No, and I don’t want her to ever know.”
Macy shook her head. “I can’t do this right now. My focus has to be on Zoë.” She turned to Beau. “Go. What are you still doing here?”
“Macy…”
“Go or you’re going to be late.”
Beau hesitated for a second then headed for the door. In a numb state Macy went into the bedroom, dressed Zoë, grabbed the diaper bag and quickly hurried to Mrs. Pruett’s. Her parents were gone when she entered the living room and that was just as well. She had to absorb everything they’d said and try to make sense of it all. And try to find a measure of understanding and forgiveness. That wouldn’t come easy.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
BEAU HURRIED TO THE courthouse and tried to put Macy and her parents out of his mind, though it seemed impossible. That family had been through so much heartache and the problems didn’t seem to be getting any better.
Irene had said that Delia hadn’t known about her paternity, but Beau doubted that. Delia’s real problems started after the wreck. It was after that when she’d become defiant, angry and full of attitude. Ted said he and Irene argued all the time. Delia could have easily overheard them. And he was almost positive that was at the root of Delia’s problems.
He pushed the thoughts away as a clerk showed him into Judge Brampton’s chambers. Spencer Harcourt was already there. They shook hands and eyed each other. Tall and imposing, Harcourt epitomized an uptown lawyer from Philadelphia—from his coiffured silver hair to his tailored suit to his Italian shoes. Everything bespoke money and power.
“Welcome to Texas,” Beau said.
“How do you stand this heat?” He had a northern accent.
“You get used to it.”
“I don’t plan to be here that long.”
Judge Brampton entered, stopping conversation. After the introductions, the judge took his seat.
“Mr. Harcourt has brought this to my attention and, Mr. McCain, you have a right to see it before the hearing.” Beau took a document from him “It will be a part of the pre-hearing evidence. Read it.”
Beau scanned through the papers. Son of a bitch. The document was a notarized letter signed by Delia saying she wanted the Wallstons to have full custody of her daughter. Damn Delia. She’d had a plan all along. Now he had to find a way to undo the damage.
“You don’t have a case, McCain.” Harcourt looked at him over the steeple of his fingers, victory in his eyes.
Beau laid the papers on the judge’s desk and he knew Brampton was waiting for him to withdraw his case. No way in hell.
“That’s all very neat and tidy, but I’d rather hear Delia Randall say that in person. How do I know she wasn’t coerced into signing that?”
“Mr. McCain, Ms. Randall wants the Wallstons to raise her daughter. It’s plain and simple. And she wasn’t coerced into anything.”
“Well, Mr. Harcourt, there’s the little matter of the abandonment. In my opinion, a mother who would abandon her baby doesn’t have the right to negotiate custody of said child.” He turned to the judge. “Your Honor, I’ll have a motion on your desk within the hour to terminate Delia Randall’s parental rights.”
“Your Honor…” Harcourt was on his feet.
The judge held up a hand. “Enough. I don’t take abandonment lightly. I’m ordering Delia Randall to testify.”
“Your Honor, that will push back the hearing,” Harcourt complained.
“Not necessarily,” Beau said. “My brother Caleb McCain is a Texas Ranger and has located her. I’m just waiting to hear from him.”
“I take issue with that,” Harcourt said. “Ranger McCain clearly has a vested interest in this case.”
“Everyone here does, Mr. Harcount,” the judge replied. “We want what’s best for Zoë Randall and I trust Ranger McCain to do the job requested of him according to the laws of Texas. This hearing is going ahead. If Delia Randall is not present, I’ll make a ruling on the evidence presented. The law will take care of Ms. Randall.”
That was it. The judge walked out.
“You good ol’ boys stick together down here,” Harcourt remarked, reaching for his briefcase.
Beau eyed him for a moment. “I want what’s best for Zoë Randall. What do you want, Mr. Harcourt?”
“Mr. McCain, I learned a long time ago to never get emotionally involved in a case.”
“That’s the difference between you and us good ol’ boys. We fight from the heart.” He picked up his briefcase. “See you at one.”
WALKING DOWN THE HALL, Beau called his office.
“Liz, I need to speak with Jon.”
Within five seconds, Jon was on the line. “Yes, sir.”
“Jon, I need a termination of parental rights motion for Delia Randall done ASAP, like in an hour.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Get Natalie to help you go
over the Wallstons’ financial records. Look for a large transaction within the last two months.”
“Yes, sir. I’m on it.”
“I need something by one. All the details you can find.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Beau clicked off, knowing the Wallstons had paid Delia to sign the paper. Now he had to prove it. Damn, where was Caleb? He tried his cell. Nothing. Time was running out.
MACY LEFT Zoë at Mrs. Pruett’s and walked to the park. The hot sun bore down on her and she hardly noticed. Delia was her half sister. Her mother had had an affair. She sat on a park bench and let those two thoughts run through her mind. It explained so much. It was the reason her parents didn’t get along after Delia’s birth. Without knowing it her mother was instinctively protecting Delia from Ted. That’s why she would never let Ted discipline her. Her mother’s desire for a child had ruined her marriage, her life and now she was trying to recapture her youth.
She ran her hands over her face. Her father. When she thought of him now she felt so much pain—a different kind of pain. If she’d known, she could have helped him. Instead she’d been nurturing a hatred for a man who was hurting as bad as she was. How could her parents, who loved each other, do what they had done to themselves, to their children?
Through the massive heartache one thing became clear. She was doing the same thing. Like her father, she was afraid to take a risk, afraid of the pain, so she hurt the person she loved the most—Beau. By not accepting his love she told herself she was doing the right thing. Doing what was best for him. But she wasn’t. It was never right when you hurt someone.
She glanced up at the bright sun, letting its rays burn through her defenses. For the first time in broad daylight she confronted the monster who controlled her life. And the monster wasn’t the loss of her daughter, or Beau. It was herself. She was the one who nurtured the fear, kept it hidden, letting it affect her whole life. Letting it affect her relationship with Beau.
Like a spotlight, the sun opened up the avenues of her mind exposing reality in its truest form—the stark truth. If having children frightened her, Beau wouldn’t pressure her, he wouldn’t made her feel guilty. He would just love her. Why couldn’t she have seen Beau for the wonderful man she knew him to be? Why did it take so much heartache for her to see that?
She brushed away an errant tear, knowing she had to prove to him that she could love him. Without guilt. Without fear. But first she had a hearing to go to. This time she was fighting for what she wanted.
BEAU GLANCED AT HIS WATCH and debated whether to go see Macy, to make sure she was okay, or go to the office. He had to cut those ties to Macy. She’d made it clear that she didn’t want him in her life, so the best course was to let her handle her parents on her own. But it didn’t keep him from worrying about her.
He strolled down the hall to the parking area and stopped short. Caleb and Tuck came toward him. A black-haired woman in handcuffs walked between them. Could that be…? As they drew closer, he saw that it was her.
Caleb and Tuck wore frustrated expressions and Beau knew they hadn’t had an easy time with Delia.
“You better tell them to get these damn handcuffs off me,” Delia threatened as they reached Beau.
Beau shook his head and found a family meeting room so he could talk to Delia. Tuck stayed in the room with Delia while he talked to Caleb outside the door.
“Why haven’t you called? I was getting worried.”
“Hell, this turned into a nightmare. Delia did not want to come back. Somehow she found out someone was looking for her and she took off, but the manager knew what she was driving. A new red Corvette. I called the highway patrol and they called as soon as they stopped her. The moment she saw me she took off running, jumped the fence like a deer. Tuck was a step behind her. He tackled her and busted his cell. We finally got her in the car and headed for the airport. When I tried to call you, she grabbed my phone and threw it out the window. That’s when I put the cuffs on her. She’s not a happy camper, but I’ll tell you, she can hold her own with any sailor.”
“Talking to her is not going to be fun,” Beau mused.
“I’ll stick around just in case you need some help with her because if you take your eyes off her, she’s gone.”
“Did she say anything?”
“Nothing I’d like to repeat.”
Beau glanced at the door. “She’s changed her appearance.”
“And she has money.”
“Mmm. Don’t have to guess where that came from.” Beau thought for a minute. “I need to call my office.”
He had Jon on the line in a second. “I have something else I need you to do. See if you can get bank records for a Delia Gordon in Reno or Vegas. Get Liz to help you. This might be tricky so use whatever means you can. Call Ric, the P.I., if you need help.”
“Very wise,” Caleb said as he clicked off.
Beau took a deep breath. “Now it’s time to talk to Delia.”
“I wouldn’t take those handcuffs off if I were you. She’s mad as hell.”
Beau walked in and nodded to Tuck, who had scratches on his face and arms. “All yours,” Tuck said as he closed the door and joined Caleb in the hall.
Beau sat across from Delia and stared into blue eyes as hot as coals. “You better take these freaking handcuffs off.”
“I don’t think you’re in a position to be giving orders.”
“Wanna bet?” She lifted a painted eyebrow.
Beau leaned back. “Aren’t you going to ask how Zoë is?”
“No. Why should I?”
“She’s your daughter.”
The heat in her eyes turned up a notch, but there was not a flicker of heartfelt emotion. “Okay. I’ll tell you about Zoë.” He told her everything Zoë had been through—how he and Macy stayed up with her day and night, the surgery and Zoë return to good health. “She could have died if Macy hadn’t been there to watch her twenty-four hours a day.”
Delia shrugged. “So. That’s why I left her with Macy. I knew she’d take good care of her.”
“Until you were ready to sell her,” Beau slipped in.
“That’s ridiculous.” Delia moved uneasily.
“Really? You have money now. Where did you get it?”
“I’m very good at slots.”
“You’re lying. You sold Zoë to the Wallstons.”
Delia leaned forward, a gleam in her eyes. “Prove it.”
His gaze didn’t waver from hers. “You know how deeply Macy loves. She loves Zoë. Are you going to rip that baby right out of her arms?”
“If you’re trying to reach my sensitive side, I don’t have one.”
“This is Macy, the person who is always there for you no matter what. The person you call when you’re in trouble.”
Delia shrugged. “Macy can have her own kids. She doesn’t need to be saddled with one of mine.”
Beau took a minute and knew he had to break a confidence. He didn’t do that lightly.
“Macy won’t have any children of her own.”
“What?”
He told her about Hope. “She died the same way your sister Sabrina did, with a congenital heart defect. Macy feels responsible since the defective gene runs in your family and she will never have another child.”
“You’re lying. If Macy had a baby, I would know.”
“Think back, Delia. You were constantly running away at that time and Macy was living in Dallas. How often did you see her?”
“She would have told me.”
“Why? Would you have offered her sympathy? Comfort?”
“Shut up, man.” She wiggled in the chair. “And get me out of these freaking handcuffs.”
She wasn’t going to break. Delia was tough as nails. But he knew her secret—a secret that had destroyed the Randall family just might save it.
He shoved his hands into his slacks, watching her closely. “Your mother and father are here.”
“Whoop-de-do, bring out t
he wine.”
“Macy’s been talking to them.”
“Well, pin a medal on her.”
He waited a moment. “Macy knows.”
There was complete silence and the come back wasn’t so quick.
“Knows what?”
“The Randall family secret.”
Delia jerked in her chair. “Go to hell, McCain. You don’t know squat and you’d better undo these handcuffs.”
“I know that lies and deceit have been like an acid in your system, eating away at you. Rebelling made them suffer so you just kept right on making them suffer.”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
He looked into her stormy eyes. “Don’t do this to Macy. Don’t do this to Zoë.”
“The baby goes with the Wallstons.” She didn’t even blink and Beau left the room before he strangled her.
MACY FOUND A PARKING SPOT at the courthouse and hurried inside. She wanted to be early in case Caleb was back with Delia.
“Macy.”
She turned and saw her mother walking toward her. She had on black slacks, a black-and-white pinstriped blouse and flats, no jewelry and very little makeup. She looked like the mother she had known, a mother who had lied to her for years. Resentment simmered inside her.
“I need to talk to you.”
Macy sighed. “Could we do this later? I really need to see Beau to find out if Delia has arrived.”
“Please, I…I…” Tears filled her mother’s eyes.
Her resentment ebbed away. “Let’s sit over here.” She walked toward a bench and sat down. Her mother followed.
Irene put her purse on the floor. “I’m not sure where to start. I’m one of those women who has a need to have children. I miscarried a child between you and Sabrina and I was so happy to carry a baby to full term. Losing her was like having my heart ripped out. It was the same with Ted and we couldn’t seem to get beyond all our pain. I desperately wanted to get pregnant again. Your father was adamantly against it. It was the first time we disagreed so vehemently. And well, you know the rest of the story.”
