by Cindy Kirk
Lexi’s heart clenched as he unfolded the vellum sheet and began to read. She dropped her gaze to the paper and followed along. But she really didn’t need to read it again. She’d reviewed it so many times she had each word memorized.
Jack’s lips tipped upward when he was about two-thirds of the way through the letter. She couldn’t figure out what he found so amusing in a letter that threatened to rock her world.
“No worries.” His gaze lifted. “This letter is nothing more than an intimidation tactic.”
He made it sound like that was a good thing. Lexi’s spirits cautiously rose. “I don’t understand.”
“By sending this to you on a law firm’s stationary, they’re trying to throw their weight around and make you believe you’re at their mercy. The truth is you’re in control.”
He sounded so confident, so certain. Still…
“Are you telling me Drew doesn’t have a leg to stand on?” The fear that had gripped her since she’d first read the letter began to ease.
“I wouldn’t exactly say that.” Jack’s businesslike tone softened at her sound of distress. “He is Addie’s father. And by writing the letter and making that request you, in essence, established paternity.”
“Are you saying this is my fault?” Lexi jumped to her feet, her headache flaring. “That I’m going to lose my daughter because of a stupid letter I wrote?”
The mere thought that something she did could result in Addie having to live with a man who never wanted her to be born broke Lexi’s heart…and made her angry.
“Sweetheart.” He kept trying to put his hand on her, and she kept turning.
“Why does it have to be like this?” She pressed her lips together, fighting tears. “Why didn’t I leave well enough alone?”
He put both arms out, corralling her movements until she folded into him against her will and he held her. “Lexi, darling, none of this is your fault. None of it.”
She clung to him, feeling her anger subside. She took a deep, steadying breath. “Tell me how to fight this. I’m not giving Addie to that man.”
“It’s hard to say what your ex really wants without speaking with his attorney,” Jack advised. “Once I talk with him tomorrow we’ll have a better picture. But I can assure you there’s not a court in this land who’d give joint custody to a man who’s been an absentee dad for all these years. Especially when the other parent is a fabulous mother.”
Lexi found reassurance in Jack’s words. And his support meant the world to her. But she wasn’t convinced having him talk to Drew’s attorney was the best move. Though she didn’t have a lot of money in savings, she had some set aside for emergencies. It appeared now was the time to pull those dollars out of the bank and hire an attorney of her own.
“I appreciate the offer, Jack.” Lexi spoke slowly, choosing her words carefully, not wanting to offend. “But I’m not sure you’re the best one to make the call. You—”
“I am the best one, Lexi,” Jack protested. “No one cares about you and Addie as much as I do.”
“I understand that,” Lexi said, holding up a hand. “But this is a high-powered law firm with some of the finest attorneys in Ohio—”
“I graduated from one of the top five law schools in the country. I’m considered one of the best family law attorneys in the United States.” The words flowed from Jack’s lips, bold and confident, as if he was arguing a case before a jury. “I can hold my own with any firm.”
Lexi wasn’t sure which of them was more surprised by the declaration.
“You’re a lawyer?” she finally sputtered, breaking the shocked silence first.
“I am,” he said hesitantly then more forcefully, with more sureness. “Yes, I am.”
She met his gaze. “If you graduated from one of those schools, we should be able to look through pictures of past graduating classes and find you.”
“I’m in no hurry.” It might have been his imagination, but Jack sensed Lexi pulling back. She seemed afraid that once he discovered his true identity he’d be leaving her and Addie. Nothing could be further from the truth. Knowing his background would only enhance their life together in Jackson. He was sure of it.
So sure, in fact, that he wanted to talk about their future. But this wasn’t the time. Not when she was still operating under the influence of migraine medicine. Besides, he needed more information for tomorrow’s phone call. That had to be their priority tonight. “Tell me about Drew. How did you two first meet?”
“I don’t want to talk about him,” Lexi said. “I want to know what he wants and how to fight him.”
“Humor me.” Jack took her hand, relieved she didn’t pull away. “Please.”
After a long moment she sighed. “We were juniors in college. We met in a statistics class. He was acing the class and I…wasn’t. He offered to tutor me. It wasn’t long before we started dating.”
“Was he a good boyfriend?”
Reluctantly Lexi nodded.
“You dated for what? Four years before you got pregnant? Did he change much during that time?”
“Not really.” Lexi chewed on her lower lip. “Drew always knew what he wanted out of life. Once he finished his MBA, he was going to Oxford to get his doctorate. The plan was we’d marry and I’d go with him.”
Jack’s encouraging smile kept her talking.
“It was that last year of his MBA when things turned rocky.” Lexi’s lips tips upward. “I was finishing my master’s in social work and loving it. I wanted to stay in the States and get a job. I didn’t see why he had to go all the way to England for more school. Then I found out I was pregnant.”
“That must have been hard.”
“I was shocked. We’d always been so careful.” Lexi paused for a second before continuing. “But we’d talked about getting married that summer anyway so although it was unplanned, I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
Jack could tell by the tone of her voice that Drew hadn’t shared that opinion. “How did he react when you told him?”
“He blew up.” Lexi exhaled a ragged breath. “He accused me of deliberately getting pregnant in order to keep him in the U.S. He wanted me to have an abortion.”
Jack bit back an expletive.
“I considered it,” Lexi admitted in a barely audible voice. “But I couldn’t.” Her gaze dropped to her hands. “When I balked he told me if I had the baby, I was on my own.”
“Bastard.”
Lexi’s chuckle held no humor. “True.”
“You could have gotten child support,” Jack said. “He’d have had to pay whether he wanted to or not.”
“I know,” Lexi said with a sigh. “But I didn’t want his money or the control it would give him over me. I managed on my own. I’m proud of that fact.”
“You’re a strong, amazing woman, Lexi Brennan.” Jack brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“So how are we going to fight him?” she asked. “What’s the strategy?”
“Tomorrow I call the law firm and see what he’s really after,” Jack said. “Until then we just sit tight.”
“You won’t let him take Addie from me?” The fear in her eyes tugged at his heartstrings.
“That’s not even a possibility.” Jack pulled her to him and she rested her head against his chest. “Trust me. You don’t have a thing to worry about.”
Chapter Fourteen
T he next day at the hospital, Lexi worried more than she worked. She worried about Drew taking her daughter away. She worried what was going to happen when—not if—Jack found out his true identity. She worried how she and Addie would fare once he left.
In the four short weeks that he’d been in Jackson Hole, Jack had managed to carve a permanent place in her heart. What she felt for him made those long-ago feelings for Drew seem immature and childish. She hadn’t loved Drew in a way that a woman should love a man she was about to marry. She certainly hadn’t been the priority in his life. The fact that studying abroad had been
more important to him than his fiancée and the life of his unborn child spoke volumes.She glanced at the clock. Jack had set up a conference call with Drew and his attorney for two o’clock. It was one-fifty now and she had to be in a staff meeting from two to three. Then she had to head over to Addie’s school for the annual spring music concert. Jack had already said he’d bum a ride into town and meet her there. Hopefully there would be a few minutes before the concert for them to talk.
Of course, she told herself, there was really nothing to discuss. The only way Drew was getting anywhere near her daughter was over her dead body.
Jack hung up from his phone conversation with Milton Wessel, a partner in the law firm of Wessel and Sterns, feeling reassured. When Milt’s secretary had called a little before two and asked if they could reschedule the call until three, Jack had been agreeable but suspicious that the delay was a power play. That was confirmed when he finally had the attorney on the phone and they tried to talk joint custody. Jack had simply laughed.After that they’d gotten down to business. It quickly became clear that what Drew really wanted—and was prepared to fight for—was something the courts would give him anyway. Jack told the attorney he’d get back to him after speaking with his client. He hoped Lexi would be agreeable to the proposal but couldn’t be certain of her response. When it came to Addie she was a tigress.
He glanced at the clock, then jammed the phone into his pocket and headed to the Wildwoods lobby to catch the shuttle. Addie’s school was having a music concert this afternoon and he’d promised her he’d be there.
The van dropped Jack off in front of the school. He slipped through the double doors into the auditorium just as the first notes of the “Star Spangled Banner”—as interpreted by the first-year band students—filled the air. He quickly located Lexi, with an empty seat beside her, on the end of a row about halfway down.
Basking in the warmth of her welcoming smile, he slipped into the open seat next to her.
“I wasn’t sure you were going to make it,” Lexi whispered.
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” he whispered back, taking her hand. “I talked to the attorney.”
Her eyes lit up. “What did he say?”
“Joint custody isn’t even on the table.” Jack wanted to tell her more but the curtains opened and the choral group—with Addie as the featured lower elementary vocal soloist—took the stage. For the next forty-five minutes, conversation was impossible.
After the concert concluded, the adults were herded into the school’s common area for cookies and punch. Parents and students alike came up to compliment Addie on her performance.
Addie preened under all the compliments. But it warmed his heart when she insisted on holding his hand while drinking her punch.
“You’re coming out to eat with us tonight, aren’t you, Jack? I hope. I hope,” Addie said when the principal announced that the students could leave with their parents.
“I wouldn’t miss it, munchkin.” Jack put the pads of his fingertips on top of her head and when she twirled, he laughed and wondered how any man could have given this up to study in England.
Dinner was pure torture for Lexi. Addie had a great time. Jack appeared relaxed. But all Lexi could think about was Jack’s phone conversation with the attorney. It wasn’t until they were back at her home and Addie was in bed that she and Jack could finally talk candidly.She poured them each a glass of wine. Instead of sitting beside him on the sofa, she took a seat in the chair facing him. She leaned forward. “What did you find out? Tell me everything. Don’t leave anything out.”
Was it only her imagination or did Jack hesitate? “According to the attorney, Drew has felt badly about abdicating his parental responsibilities for some time.”
“I bet,” Lexi said with more than a little sarcasm.
“When he got your letter it stirred up those feelings,” Jack continued in a matter-of-fact tone. “Apparently he married several years ago. When he voiced those regrets to his wife recently, she encouraged him to contact you.”
“Does he have kids?” Lexi asked.
“No.” Jack thought back to what the attorney had said. “They want children but have been unable to have any of their own.”
“Well, I’m not giving him mine.” The words came out so loud that even with the door closed, Jack was amazed Addie didn’t wake up.
Still, he glanced in the direction of the bedrooms, waiting for the child to peer around the corner, and breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t. Lexi took another sip of wine and visibly fought for control of her emotions.
“He wants my daughter,” she said in a more reasonable tone. “Is that pretty much the gist of it?”
“He doesn’t want custody,” Jack clarified. “And with his history of noninvolvement he wouldn’t stand a chance anyway.”
Lexi blew out a breath. “Thank God for that.”
“But he is her father,” Jack had to point out. “And, as her father, he does have certain rights.”
“Rights?” Lexi snorted. “He gave up those when he told me to have an abortion. When he walked away from his daughter.”
“Unfortunately the courts won’t see it that way,” Jack said in as gentle of a tone as he could muster. “They’ll see a respected businessman who made a mistake and now wants to make it right. They’ll see a little girl who deserves to know her father.”
“You’re siding with them.” Lexi’s voice rose and her eyes flashed amber fire. “You think I should give him my child.”
This time her anger was directed at him. But the pain in her eyes told Jack how hard the mere thought of visitation was for her. While he could sit back and view the situation impartially, Lexi had lived through the tumultuous times of being abandoned and alone, not knowing if she’d be able to provide for her baby’s needs.
“Come sit beside me,” he said softly, patting the seat beside him.
For a second he thought she might do it, but she crossed her arms and remained seated. “I’m fine right here.”
He could feel a chasm growing wider between them. That scared him. For some reason she seemed to have gotten it in her head that he was siding with Drew. That couldn’t be further from the truth. She and Addie’s welfare were his priority.
Although this wasn’t the most romantic time to confess his feelings, he had to make sure she knew how he felt. And the only way to do that was to say aloud the words he wasn’t sure he had the right to say. “I love you, Lexi. I only want the best for you and Addie. This is your call. Not mine. I’ll support—”
Before he could finish she was out of her chair and into his arms. “Oh, Jack, I love you, too.”
For several heartbeats he just held her close, feeling her soft curves pressed against him, smelling the sweet scent of her shampoo. A wave of emotion washed over him and he realized there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. Nothing he wouldn’t give up. Drew might be a smart guy but he’d lost what truly mattered when he’d let this woman walk out of his life, when he’d turned his back on his own child.
“I’m scared, Jack,” she whispered against his chest, so soft he barely heard the words. “I don’t want him to come into her life only to hurt her.”
Lexi was a reasonable woman. He had to make her see that this wasn’t a fight she could win. But that wasn’t the only reason she should agree. Addie needed to know her dad cared. Jack closed his eyes and said a little prayer. If he’d ever needed heavenly guidance, it was now. “Not knowing her father has already left a festering hole in Addie’s heart. She told me her dad didn’t like her. I could see it made her sad.”
Lexi sighed but didn’t lift her head from his chest. “I remember.”
“I love Addie as if she was my very own, but she knows she has a dad out there. A father she’s curious about, one she’d like to know.”
“I’ll kill him if he hurts her.”
“Not if I get to him first,” Jack said.
She chuckled. Or maybe it was a sob.
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br /> “We’re only talking visitation,” he said. “It could be supervised. You could be there with them, until you feel comfortable having them spend time alone.”
Lexi lifted her head. “Drew would come all the way to Jackson Hole just to see her?”
“Yes,” he said. “That’s exactly how it would be.”
“But then he’d want her to come to Ohio to see him.”
“Probably. Eventually,” Jack said, refusing to sugar-coat the facts. “But I made it very clear that if you agreed to let him come here, you’re not committing to sending her there.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t want her hurt.”
“You and I, we’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”
A look of sadness swept across Lexi’s face. “You’ll be gone by the time Drew comes for a visit. Once you track down who you are, you’ll go back to your law practice and to your family and friends.”
Jack tightened his hold on her. “If you think you’re getting rid of me that easily, you’re mistaken. I don’t need to know my name to know where I belong.”
Lexi could hear the sincerity in his voice and knew he meant what he said. But once he knew his name, everything would change. She could only hope the change wouldn’t bring disaster.
While waiting for Steve to arrive for their Friday night “work” session, Ellen strolled to her office window, a smile lifting the corners of her lips. Last night she and Steve had worked until after midnight on the Thompson case. It had been like old times. And beneath the professional discussion, there was a sizzle that both disturbed and excited her.Steve liked her, not as a colleague or business associate but as a woman. She could see it in his eyes, feel it every time his hand accidentally brushed hers. But he’d never make a move until Nick was out of the picture. Steve wasn’t the kind of guy to poach. In his mind she was still Nick’s girlfriend. Ellen pressed her lips together. Nick, who’d left her high and dry for almost a month, without the courtesy of a single phone call to let her know he was okay.
