“I’m sorry for hurting you, too.”
“Amy.” He tipped her head and kissed her lips, slow and tender. “You got to come to me with these things, trust me to be there and help you. I’d do anything for you.”
“I know, however, nothing has changed. Lou is still taking me to court.”
“Let me worry about him. I’ll take care of it. All you need to worry about is packing.”
What did he have up his sleeve? Whatever it was, she hoped it would work, because she wasn’t prepared to tell Angel good-bye.
Chapter 12
“Can’t you make her sit down?” Lou whined for the millionth time as Angel ran circles around the kids table at the DNA testing center.
“She’s a very active child, and she’s going to be yours to handle in a few weeks. Are you sure you still want to?” Amy wanted him to call this off. Maybe Angel would scare him away. So far it hadn’t happened. If she had thought about it this morning, she would have fed Angel sugar coated cereal or doughnuts for breakfast to see how he dealt with her at hyper-speed.
“Yes, I’m sure. You’re too lax on her. She needs a firm hand.” He turned to Angel. “Angel! Sit down, now.”
Angel laughed and threw a crayon at his head. Unfortunately, he dodged it.
“Did you see what she did?”
Amy tried not to laugh. She didn’t condone Angel’s behavior, but Lou had it coming to him, and he needed to know parenting took hard work. “What do you expect? You only come around after dark. How is she supposed to know who you are?”
Lou crossed his arms and pouted like a four-year-old. While it seemed funny right now, she knew it wasn’t. In the not so distant future, he would be responsible for the welfare of that little girl. How would he raise her? Nanny after nanny, when she should be with her mother. One thing was for sure, she would not be an absentee mother.
The bell on the entrance dinged, and Gabe walked in wearing street clothes.
“Uncle Gabe.” Angel took off running to him, and he scooped her up and kissed her tummy. She laughed and giggled. “Read me a story.”
“Not now. Be an angel and sit down and look at the book.” Angel dutifully did as he asked.
Lou’s mouth dropped, and he came to his feet. “What the fuck are you doing here? This has nothing to do with you.”
“Yes it does, and you need to watch your mouth in front of little ears.”
“Don’t tell me what I need to do.” Lou yelled and poked his finger at Gabe.
Gabe shoved Lou’s hand away. “Someone needs to tell you what to do and where you can go.”
Lou snorted. “And you think you’re man enough to do it?”
“I sure as hell know I am,” Gabe growled.
They both continued yelling over each other, Angel started crying, and Amy picked her up. She rocked her to calm her down until a nurse came out.
“Gentlemen! This is a place of business. If you can’t control yourselves, you’ll have to step outside.” The nurse placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. They both quieted down. “Good, now if you don’t have any reason to be here, I’m asking you to leave.”
“I’ve got a paternity test scheduled for today.” Lou flashed a smug look at Gabe.
“And you sir?” the nurse asked Gabe.
“I’m scheduled for a test too.” He sneered back at Lou.
“Fine. Both of you sit down and be quiet. If you can’t, I will have you thrown out of here. Is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.” They both replied in harmony.
Gabe sat down by Amy and Lou sat across from them.
“You don’t have a test today.” Lou threw a crayon at Gabe.
Gabe picked up the crayon and started to throw it back, but then he looked at Angel and dropped it on a side table. “It just so happens, I went to the same judge you went to, and I told him Angel was mine. So we both have a test today. You’re not the only one with friends.”
“So what? You two never even slept together. She was a virgin until I…” His gaze dropped to Angel. “Well, there’s no possible way she’s your kid.”
Gabe smiled. “Maybe so, but we, my brother, are identical twins. Therefore, we have the same DNA. There’s no way possible to tell which one of us is the true father.” He raised his eyebrows and chuckled.
“Are you serious?” Could it be true? Amy wished with everything it was. If Lou couldn’t prove he was the father, then he couldn’t take Angel from her. She wouldn’t have to be scared of him taking her away, and she could be with Gabe.
“I’m serious, shortcake.” He leaned down and kissed her.
Opening for his tongue, she deepened the kiss. She didn’t care Lou sat across from them staring in shock. Nor did she care about Angel sitting on her lap. Gabe treated her child better than Lou ever had. Finally, her dreams were coming true.
* * * *
Amy trembled as she read the court order again.
“It’s a minor setback. Like I said, it’s just a temporary order until the tests come back.” Ms. Cox tried to reassure her.
Tears trickled down her cheek. “This can’t be happening. How can the judge order temporary custody to Lou when he can’t prove he’s her father?”
“Look Amy, I know this is hard for you, but if she doesn’t stay with Lou for the time being, she’ll be put in foster care until the judge can make a final decision.” Ms. Cox sat down in the chair beside her.
“Why does he have to take her away?”
“The judge granted temporary custody because he felt that she would be safer not living in the apartment you’re in now. And frankly, even though we know why he granted it, I can’t make a good argument against his reasoning. The two of you could have been killed. When do you think you’ll be able to move into the new apartment?”
She sniffed and wiped her nose with a tissue. “The new place isn’t going to happen. It seems that the landlord has rented it to someone else.” Or it could be that it turns out the owner is a new client of Lou’s.
“I see. That doesn’t bode well for us.” Ms. Cox heaved a sigh. “You need to keep looking for a place. In the meantime I’m working on a few angles. Plus, I have a friend in the real-estate business. I’ll give her a call and see if she knows of anything open.”
“Okay.” She doubted anything would be open. Lou had probably contacted every rental property within fifty miles. Defeated, she gathered her purse and left.
The whole situation sucked. No one would rent to her and she couldn’t move in with Gabe. It would look like she’d dumped her child to shack up with a man. I’m sure that would sit well in court.
She just had to keep telling herself the test would come back negative. Then Angel would be hers and they’d be free to move in with Gabe. But until then, she had no clue how she would survive without her angel.
Chapter 13
Rage boiled in Gabe and threatened to explode like a steam stack. His vision blurred as he tried to control his anger. Gripping his parents’ back-porch railing, he turned to his father. “I feel so helpless. I talked with Judge Mathis, but that was useless. He said that since Lou had dragged this into the court systems he couldn’t turn his back on it. Amy’s place was too dangerous for him to leave a child in. He was obligated to do what was in the best interest of the child, and he felt that it was better for her to live with Lou than be placed in foster care.” He punched the wooden rail.
“Son, I know you’re angry.”
“Oh, I am so beyond angry. I want to smash his fucking face in and I want to keep beating him until we don’t look alike anymore!”
“Well, I suspect you do, but it wouldn’t help the situation.” His dad lit a cigar.
“Have you tried to talk to him, you or Mom?” Maybe their parents could talk some sense into Lou. Nothing else had worked.
His father slapped him on the back and squeezed his shoulder. “As much as I wish that would work, it wouldn’t. Your brother is head strong about this. But, on the other hand
, so are you. Both of you are so much alike. Somewhere along the path, Lou lost his way. I don’t know what to do about it anymore. We’ve tried to talk to him.”
“Then that’s it? We sit and wait for a judge to tell us the fate of a little girl.” This was not right. For a split second, murder crossed his mind. He shook his head to think straight again. He had to be able to do something short of killing him.
“I’m afraid so.” His father puffed on his cigar. “It’s been close to a week. Has Amy heard anything?”
Every muscle inside him tensed and he clenched his jaw. “She won’t return my calls. When I go to the diner, she refuses to come out from the back. Joe asked me to please stay away for now. She’s blaming herself and the feelings she has for me.” Pain welled up inside. He swallowed the tears and turned them into rage. “Damn him!” His arms trembled as he gripped the railing tighter. Splinters bit into his flesh. “Damn him.”
“Gabe, I wish I could take your pain away, son. I know you love Amy, and she’s a wonderful young lady. What Lou did was utterly wrong. He stepped between you two and ripped what you had apart. I’ll never make an excuse for that, but what’s done is done. There’s a child involved and maybe you should back off and let them work it out.”
“How, Dad? God, I don’t know how to live without her.” He needed her worse than air. She’d been in his arms, in his bed, making love to him. She’d confessed to loving him, to dreaming about him. He’d backed away to where he hadn’t protected her against Lou’s advances. Pain stabbed him in the gut. He was a fucking cop and he’d done nothing to shield her. Nothing! “I fear I’ll go mad if I don’t do something. I took an oath to protect and defend the innocent, and I failed the love of my life.” He hung his head. “Do you know he forced her to sleep with him, over and over?” This time the tears overtook him, no matter how much he wanted to hide them.
“Dear God!”
“How do I swallow that, Dad?” he choked out.
“I don’t know, my boy. I don’t know.”
Just then, high pitched squeals came from inside. They turned and looked at each other then dashed through the back door.
“Mom, you got to do something. She won’t stop.” Lou’s voice came from the living room.
Turning the corner, he spotted Angel lying in the floor thrashing her arms and legs.
“I want Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” Her little head rolled back and forth. Her hair was a tangled mess. Tears streamed down her dirty face.
What the hell had he done to her? Lou would pay big time for this, but right now he needed to calm Angel down before she made herself sick.
He entered the room and knelt down in the floor beside her. “Angel, honey,” he coaxed in a soft, loving tone. “Angel.”
She quieted her squeals to moans as recognition of who called her name washed over her face. Sniffing she called out, “Uncle Gabe?”
“That’s right sweetheart. Please calm down.” He bit back a tear.
“What the hell?” Lou started to advance toward them, but their father caught him by the arm.
“Come on, it’s working.” Dad pulled Lou from the room.
She gave a final kick of her legs. “I miss my mommy,” she sobbed.
Pulling her up, Gabe settled her on his lap, straddling his legs so he was face to face with her. “I know, baby. I miss her, too.” He drew her into his embrace and rocked her. How could Lou be such a monster? Couldn’t he see what he was doing? Her fluttering cries stung his heart. He wanted to throw her in his car and drive her straight to Amy. “Sweetie, this is only for a short time. Don’t you like Daddy’s house?” He almost choked on the word Daddy. “He has a swimming pool.”
Angel slapped a tiny fist against his chest. “He’s not my Daddy! I won’t call him that.”
“Baby, sshhh.” He pulled her back to him and stroked her back. His heart was on the verge of busting.
Her hands released their tight clasp and clung to his shirt sleeves. “Why can’t you be my daddy? Don’t you love me?”
Oh, God! His chest tightened as he fought to hold back his tears. He wanted to be her daddy more than anything. He’d go to the end of the Earth for this child, and back. “Angel, I love you so much.”
“Then will you be my daddy?” She looked up at him with red swollen eyes and a runny nose.
A lump caught in his throat, holding back the yes he wanted to scream. His lips trembled and he closed his eyes. “Let’s not talk about…it right now. Okay?” He wiped her nose and rocked her until she fell limp in his arms.
When he was sure she was sound asleep, he gently picked her up. Lou stood in the doorway leading out of the living room. Apparently he’d been watching and listening. He passed Lou and put Angel down on the guest bed. After kissing her cheek, rage ignited from his toes and spread through him as he straightened.
In two long strides from the guestroom, he grabbed Lou with both hands by his shirt and yanked him out the backdoor. They passed their parents on the porch as he drug him down the steps on threw him on the lawn.
“Get up you mother fucker.” He kicked him in the side.
“Gabe—”
“Shut up and fight like a man.” He stood; feet planted apart, fists clenched.
“Boys!” Mom yelled to them in horror and started off the porch.
Dad grabbed her by the wrist. “Let them be, LouElla.”
He turned back to Lou and kicked him again. “Get up so I can teach you a lesson in being a man.”
“Gabe, I don’t want to fight you.”
“What, you want to look like the good guy in front of Mom?”
“Okay. I’m going to get up, but I need you to hear me out.” He rose to one knee. “I’m sorry. Lord, I don’t know where to start.”
“Apologize all you want. I’m still kicking your ass.” He swiped his leg and knock Lou’s foot out from under him, making him land on the ground again.
“Shit! I know you’re pissed off and you’ll probably never forgive me. But you’re my brother, I miss you and I’m sorry I hurt you.”
Hell. Right when he had the perfect chance to inflict some pain, Lou wanted to apologize. He’d waited years to hear those words, but his heart had been hardened. It would take more than one sorry to mend their relationship. “If you’re so sorry, give Angel back to Amy and call this off.”
“I am.”
“What?” Was he really giving in? Had he heard him correctly?
“I called Amy while you were with Angel and asked her to come over.” He scrambled to his feet.
At that moment, he truly looked at his brother for the first time that afternoon. He wore an old pair of jeans and a polo shirt. At least a three day growth shadowed his face. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair had grown from its usual short tight cut. He felt his anger die down some, then he was reminded of the look of horror on Amy’s face when she’d told him about Lou forcing himself on her.
“I can’t let it go that easy.”
“I understand, and I’m not asking you to. If you need to hit me, then take your best swing.”
“You deserve to go to jail. And you’re damn right I’m going take my best shot. How many times did you rape her?”
“Gabe, I—”
“Don’t deny it. You threatened her and used Angel as leverage.”
“I did a lot of nasty things I’m sorry for.”
Images of Amy fighting Lou off surfaced. With every last ounce of rage, he landed a right hook, hitting Lou’s jaw and nose. Lou’s head twisted and blood spurted on both of them. He raised his fist to strike again, but his father grabbed him and their mother bent down to Lou.
“Okay. You had your shot. Now let’s take a walk while your mother cleans up his face.” Dad pushed him backward as he stared at the devil himself.
“He admitted to raping her. I want to kill him.” His whole insides ached for what Amy had endured, how he’d let her down and even called her a slut. How could he look at her again after what he’d done?
/> “That’s enough. You need to cool down, Angel is scared enough and Amy is on her way over here. A walk will do you good.”
He’d go along with his father for now. But if Lou touched Amy one more time, so help him they’d being burying a son.
Chapter 14
Before Amy could knock, the door swung open. She stared into sad blue eyes. Gabe? Could it be him? She’d missed him so much. He stood in a pair of worn blue jeans and a polo shirt, clothes he would wear. But something was missing.
Lou? His hair was a mess and his nose was swollen.
“Amy, hello.”
Lou! “Where is she?” She shoved passed him, determined to see her baby.
“She’s sleeping in the other room. I need to talk to you.” His voice was low and she almost thought it sounded broken. Most likely he’d learned a lesson in parenthood and kept his voice down so not to wake Angel.
“I need to see her first.” Before Lou could protest, she stormed to the guestroom. Angel lay breathing peacefully. Her eyes were red and puffy. Poor thing. Sobs clogged in her throat. She wanted to wrap her in her arms, but Angel needed her rest and Amy needed to talk to Lou without little ears around. She kissed her daughter’s cheek and then returned to the living room with one thing in mind—to get her baby back.
“Lou, before you say anything, I’d like you to hear me out.” She braced herself for a fight and began to think of all the things she wanted to say to him. They had been whirling around in her mind for a week. Now was her chance.
He looked up at her from where he sat on the couch. “I’m listening.”
Shocked at his compliance, she stammered and fought to collect her thoughts. “I…um…” She shook her head and swallowed. Now was not the time to falter. She wouldn’t get a fair hearing with Judge Mathis. “Lou, there has to be a way we can work through this…outside of court. Name your price. Anything.” She moved to the couch and sat down beside him. “I’ll stay away from Gabe, move to another town, get another job…I’ll even move in with you or just share your bed… willingly. Whatever it takes, just please let me have her back.” God help her, she’d do anything to hold on to her daughter. She sounded so weak and pathetic.
All For An Angel Page 5
