“He’d left some of his belongings at my apartment. I had his hair and tooth brushes. He used an electric razor.” She went on to explain briefly how the process was done in the absence of the test subject. And that was what James had become to her during those awful first weeks and months.
“And you absorbed the cost of the tests?”
“Yes. I wanted the test results to be completed before I approached James.”
Helen continued to review the content of the folder before her, asking several other questions.
“What about the cards and photos. Did you get them?” Joey asked James offhandedly, hoping to believe he hadn’t.
“No, what cards?”
Again Alan handed over copies of the short notes and photos that were apparently mailed to his apartment. The postal receipts showed they were signed for by his door man. He’d have a talk with Bernard the first chance he got.
“I never saw these, Joey.”
“You really want us all to believe you never saw any of this correspondence?”
“Yes. As crazy as it may sound, I didn’t know about any of these.” James continued to stare at the copies of the photos that had apparently been sent with each of the notes showing Daniel at one and at two. JoAnna watched him closely as he looked at the pictures. “Why did you stop sending them?” James didn’t expect her to laugh openly.
“How many strikes do you think you get, James? Two letters about the paternity results and two notes with photos you ignored.” He started to protest, but she held up her hand, answering for him. “Whether you got them or not, all I knew was they’d been delivered to you as best I could. I saw no other option than to assume you were choosing to ignore us.”
“So you gave up.”
“No, I moved on. I did what was best for Danny and me. I put you aside in my mind and tried to become the best mother a child could need. I was all he had, and he was all I had. I had to be strong for the both of us.”
Overhead lighting played with the red highlights in her sable-colored hair. James found it hard to breathe and stood quickly, excusing himself from the room with a mumbled phrase. He went to the men’s room and stared at the reflection, not seeing a man he knew, only a shell of a man he might have been. Pulling off his tie, he released the first and second buttons on his shirt and circled his head on his neck, trying to release some of the tension.
It wasn’t all in his neck, he’d gotten an instant erection the moment he saw Joey today. It filled and ebbed several times during the meeting and now it was back, reminding him of the attraction and love he’d shared with her. Glancing at the mirror, he didn’t see himself in a stark men’s room; he saw Joey bent over the small scarred wood dining table she’d used in her apartment. He saw her arms drawn forward, her hands bracing her body for his weight as he took her from behind, his cock slipping effortlessly in and out of her body as she pushed back to meet his thrusts.
She had turned her head to the side, glancing back, and told him to push harder. It was the smile on her face that he’d never forget, their joining leaving them both sweaty and sated across the tabletop. He loved her even more when she set the same table later in the day to share take out with friends. She winked at him and he remembered his cock stirring then too. He pushed himself away from the sink and forced the image from his mind.
The situation wasn’t what he’d assumed all these years. Joey had a right to hate him and to question his motives. Forcing himself back to the room, he noticed they were all holding coffee cups except Joey. She held a clear plastic bottle of water.
“Sorry for the delay,” he said, moving to fill a cup before taking his seat. Everyone else in the room took their respective seats.
“As I see it, Mr. Montgomery,” Helen continued, “you did sign away your rights, although the altered test results indicated just that. What would you like to see happen at this point? Five years is a long time in a person’s life. Your work and private life are very different now. Have you married or had other children?”
“No.”
The door swung inward as Helen asked, “Are you prepared to enter this child’s life and if so, to what degree?”
“He’ll seek full custody if she doesn’t give him complete access immediately.” The male voice from behind him had James turning to find his grandfather’s lawyer, Aaron Metz, entering the room.
“What are you doing here, Aaron? How did you even find out where I was?”
“Ben sent me along. He thought you might need an ally in the negotiations.”
“Negotiations! This is my son’s life and happiness at stake, Mr. Metz. Not some old building or corner lot of expensive property to banter over.” Joey was angry for more reasons than anyone else in the room would ever know. “You owe me an apology, Mr. Metz.” She stared him down, and he slipped his index finger between his collar and throat.
“I’m simply here to keep James from making any decisions he might regret later.”
“Or that Ben will regret now?” Alan tried to calm Joey, but she wouldn’t let it go.
“Tell them Aaron. Tell them what you said to me the day you brought Daniel’s amended birth certificate to me.”
“You what?” James asked, turning toward the other lawyer.
“It was just a matter of paperwork. You signed the papers before you left the meeting. Daniel’s name was changed to Sheridan. We excluded the Montgomery connection so later there wouldn’t be any questions.”
“Yes, and they listed the father as ‘Unknown,’” she added, bile churning in her stomach as she remembered the smug look on the man’s face. He’d caught her at a bad moment, the baby was colicky and she’d had no sleep, let alone a shower that day. His superior attitude still grated on her when she let herself think about it.
“What did he say?” Helen asked, her voice bringing them back to attention. Joey cleared her throat but didn’t look at Helen, instead she continued to look at Mr. Metz. “He came unannounced with a superior attitude, handing me the revised certificate, telling me never to contact James again or he’d see to it I regretted it. Then he told me he knew at first glance I wasn’t good enough for James and I’d better stay clear. It was his suggestion that I leave Manhattan so we wouldn’t run into each other accidentally.”
“Basically, I did say that.” Everyone was surprised he admitted the action.
“Yes, only your suggestion was a veiled threat and we both know it.”
“I never…”
“Forget it. You’re not worth the aggravation. Daniel’s what matters now.”
“Yes, none of us should forget that in our negotiations,” Aaron Metz added, annoying even Helen Scott, Joey decided from the grimace on the woman’s face.
“Mr. Metz, were you aware of your client bribing Dr. Harris at the lab to alter the DNA test results?”
He didn’t answer Helen’s question, which was more of an answer than if he’d spoken. Joey sat back in her seat, shaking her head at his tactics.
“I’d like you to leave, Aaron. I didn’t request you at this meeting, and your presence here is obviously hindering our talk.”
“Ben figured you’d feel that way. Just remember, she was a tramp then and still is.”
Alan stood quickly, his chair unbalancing behind him. Joey caught it and righted it before it crashed to the floor. “Mr. Metz, you have no right to slander my client.”
“I have every right. I represent Benjamin Montgomery’s rights as a grandparent!”
Chapter Two
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Joey said, looking at James for help. He seemed just as baffled as the rest of them. “He negated any right to his grandson when he paid to change the DNA results. He has no right to expect to be brought into his life now.”
“But as the child’s biological grandfather, he does have a right to some contact.”
“That’s it,” James said, standing calmly. “Aaron, you don’t represent me here, and if you or Ben is serious about making any cl
aim to Daniel, than you fight me too.”
“Benjamin was adamant he have access to the child.”
“Under the circumstances, Mr. Metz, your client’s wishes are secondary to the welfare of the child.” Helen made her point. “Under the circumstances of his behavior…”
“Alleged behavior. All you have is a questionable affidavit from a dying man. Mr. Montgomery would like a confirming retest for obvious reasons.” He had the nerve to look down his nose at Joey. “Which leads me to the questionable conduct of Ms. Sheridan and her abilities as a parent. She’s constantly leaving him alone, unsupervised in their apartment while she putters downstairs. She leaves him with underage sitters with regularity.”
Pulling pages from his case, he started to rattle off a complete history of JoAnna’s and Daniel’s daily life since the day James walked away. Joey was dumbfounded. Glancing to the other people in the room, Helen didn’t seem surprised Alan was listening very carefully.
Basically, the report said she was stable as a parent and business owner, although her finances were limited. He also added what her dating habits had been in great detail. Thankfully, she’d only had a few first dates, never a second, and none who came close to getting her in bed save Alan, and she still kept him at a distance.
“Every first Saturday of the month she and Mr. Castile go out, leaving the child with a youngish girl whom Mr. Castile drives home afterward.” Aaron glanced at Alan then went back to the report. “They usually have supper and see a movie or go bowling. Every third Saturday they dress up and have dinner in one of the nicer resort hotels then go dancing.” He rolled his eyes as if disgusted with her mundane life.
“And?” Alan asked wanting to know any other information he might have.
“You never stay more than fifteen minutes to a half hour after bringing her home, and you always go to brunch together on Sundays.”
“Yes, we do, with friends from church with the children.” Joey was fuming that Ben had kept a spy on her and Daniel. She was so mad her hands started to shake and she dropped them to her lap.
“She had the kid tested last year. He’s MENSA material,” Aaron told James.
“Don’t refer to my son as ‘the kid’. And how did you find out?”
“It doesn’t matter, Ms. Sheridan. I will add, Adam Grant regularly visits this area, at least four times each year for the past three.
Joey was beyond angry, whispering to Alan. He nodded at her hushed words and the insinuations Aaron Metz was dropping.
“Helen, I’ve met Adam Grant and his fiancée Chelsea.” Alan said. “They were here last spring for the carnival, a day I spent with Joey and Daniel and several of his friends. There was no personal contact. Rather Mr. Grant seemed extremely uncomfortable with the meeting.”
“He may be spending time at the resort but not with Danny or me. He’s never been in my shop that I’m aware of and I’ve had no other contact with him except for the carnival.” Joey hesitated, adding, “I’d like to know who financed his trips here? Would you like to offer any answer to that, Mr. Metz?”
He had no reply. He simply stared at her.
“Mr. Metz, do you have anything further to add before we continue?” Helen asked.
“Not at this time.” He sat back, looking very self-satisfied. “For the record, Ms. Scott,” Alan said suddenly very serious. “The young girl Mr. Metz insinuates is too immature to babysit Daniel is my daughter Miranda. She’s fourteen and can always reach us by cell phone. She’s been caring for him for the last four years without any incident. His insinuation my driving the sitter home had a dual purpose is just malicious. Your private investigator wasn’t very good if he didn’t realize Mandy was my child.”
“I only know what they tell me.” Aaron wasn’t letting the details fog his cause.
“Did you know about the other DNA tests, Aaron?” James asked, and Aaron didn’t answer. “Did you know about the letters?” Again no answer, only his hands waved in a dismissal move. “You son of a bitch,” James whispered.
“Mr. Montgomery, do you want Mr. Metz here to represent you?”
“No, Ms. Scott, I certainly don’t. I went out of my way to make sure this very thing didn’t happen.” He scowled at Mr. Metz. “Fine, Mr. Metz, your client’s wishes for visitation are noted and will be taken into consideration at a later date. If that’s all, I suggest you leave. Your participation in this meeting is complete.”
“James, you’re making a mistake. Don’t let her get to you. She only wants your money and name. You’ve known that for years.”
“Aaron, get out!” James stood and waited for the short, bald man to gather his papers and stand. “I have a message for my grandfather. Tell him it will be a cold day in hell before I consent to letting him spend time with my son.”
“You’re emotional now, Jim. I’ll just tell him I put in his petition for visitation and forget your little outburst.”
“No, don’t forget. Tell him directly.”
Aaron Metz left quickly, shaking his head as if the world had gone crazy. For several moments the room was quiet.
“Maybe we should take a break,” Helen suggested. “Why not give ourselves ten minutes to collect our thoughts and regroup?” She stood, leaving the three of them alone.
“Joey, I had no idea he was coming or that he had an investigator on you.”
“It seems there’s a lot you don’t know, James. Maybe it’s time you took responsibility for your own life instead of letting Ben control it.” She didn’t stay to watch his response. Instead, she grabbed her purse and escaped to the ladies’ room.
Joey let her head fall against the mirror over the sink. Too many memories were floating around her mind to settle. She knew one day this would happen, she’d hoped it would be when Daniel was older and could understand the whole situation better. None of it mattered, James was here and set to be a part of Daniel’s life and by abstract, hers too.
She laughed ruefully, realizing it was just a few months ago she finally let herself relax and enjoy her son and her store. The expansion had been difficult yet successful. When she decided the other shoe wasn’t going to fall, it had walked into her shop just last week and handed her a folder and an apology.
Her eyes narrowed as she remembered his mumbled words, all but forcing the papers into her hand before quickly leaving her sight. She’d wanted to crumble to the floor but instead, had calmly gone to her office and shut the door before letting her emotions surface, giving herself a full ten minutes to cry and rant then finally pulling herself together enough to read the pages. She’d called Alan immediately.
Back in the conference room, everyone seemed calmer. James had tossed his suit jacket over the seat beside him and his sleeves were folded back. When Joey came into the room, he’d been reading copies of the notes she’d sent that he apparently never got.
“I’d like to say something before we continue.” Helen settled at the head of the table and waited for their attention. “I was given the impression my intervention was to avoid a legal situation that might damage Daniel. From what’s gone on here today, I’d advise you, Mr. Montgomery, and you, Ms. Sheridan, to come to terms with your situation, the sooner the better. Nobody can change the past, and Daniel is my concern in this matter. If you two can’t agree to terms, this situation will go from bad to worse.”
“I agree.” Joey whispered her concession for her son.
“So do I. And as to giving Ben visitation, I’m against it.” James waited for Joey to say something, anything, but she was mute.
“All right, JoAnna, what have you told Daniel about his biological father?” She straightened in her seat and openly watched James. “I’ve told him that his father and I loved each other very much, but business and circumstances prevented him from being with us.”
“What else?” James asked.
“Nothing really. He’s been satisfied with that information until now. He didn’t push for more, and I haven’t offered. I figured pretty soon he’
d want a better answer, but up until now, he’s accepted what I’ve told him.”
“How do you see yourself fitting into the boy’s life at this point, James?”
“I’m not sure. I’d hoped Joey might be willing to move closer to Manhattan…”
“No. I will not move.” She couldn’t believe his audacity even thinking she’d relocate to make his life easier. “I just got my business up and running smoothly. This is the only home Daniel’s ever known. It’s bad enough to have to explain you and why you all of a sudden want to spend time with him. Besides, I’ve been warned not to return to Manhattan!”
“Joey, it’s just…”
“It’s just nothing. We have a life, James. He’s in first grade, loves his school and teacher. He has friends. He has structure. We go to church on Sundays and to brunch with friends after. The evenings we spend quietly, getting him ready to go back to school. Monday through Friday he’s in class until three. Than he comes to the shop where I’ve hired several high school students to watch him on a rotating basis.” She refused to look away continuing her explanation.
“I’ve set aside space in the shop for any children that come in to play or read while their parents shop. We have story hour every Thursday at four. Friday nights he and I have our date night. We go to supper alone, just the two of us, and talk about his week and school work. On Saturday he plays T-ball in the spring and summer. In the fall and winter he goes to PlayCare at the mountain. He’s settled and has a life he enjoys. I’ll not uproot him to make your life easier.” She let out an exasperated breath and continued, leaning forward in her seat, bringing her face closer to James.
“In fact, if anyone is inconvenienced a bit, I think it should be you. You’re technically a total stranger to him and how we introduce you into his life is very important to me and long-term for him. You can’t walk in one afternoon and say, ‘Hi, I’m your dad, now every other weekend you have to come to Manhattan with me.’ It’s just not fair.”
Deceptions Revealed Page 2
