If It Ain't Broke

by Brenda Barrett

  Chris was still processing the awful scenario she had painted, he stammered a bit. "I had an...an...affair."

  Geraldine nodded. "I heard."

  "She had a child, which she denied was mine at first but he is obviously mine. He looks just like me and my Dad, he has the trademark Donahue eyes, nose... everything."

  "We will still need a court ordered DNA." Geraldine scribbled the information down.

  "Looking like you won’t hold up in court."

  Chris sighed and shrugged. "I am not sure I should pursue this, Geraldine."

  Geraldine stopped scribbling and watched him silently.

  He put his chin in his hand. "I felt so guilty over the whole affair. I had promised her husband—who is still with her and raising my child with her—that I would stay away from them. A year later I hired a PI and then next thing I know, I am involved again. I saw him in person the other day at a friend's wedding and I wanted to just hold him. He doesn't know me. I am a stranger to him and that sucks."

  "Mmmm." Geraldine nodded. "What you are feeling is not unusual. There are several cases where a parent has relinquished all rights to a child but then change their mind because of a change in circumstances or emotions. Some of them have even successfully fought in the courts to reinstate their rights.

  “In your case you didn't formally sign a document to relinquish your rights. However, under the law, a child that is born within a marriage is considered to be the offspring of the married couple. Except, of course, if the husband formally indicates that the child is not his. Are you following me so far?"

  Chris nodded.

  "This is clearly not the case." Geraldine crossed her legs and leaned forward. "This child is wanted and loved by everybody. It will be an uphill battle for you to even get this case aired. As far as I know, the mother is Kelly Palmer."

  Chris nodded again.

  "Her father plays golf with most of the judges in this side of Jamaica, and he is rich."

  Chris shrugged. "I do business with him. His supermarket is the official supplier of several of our hotels."

  "Okay." Geraldine scratched her head. "Obviously you are both well off. It is going to be a toss up between who is more influential and who is craftier."

  "What?" Chris frowned, "I don't like how this is going. Maybe I should leave well enough alone. As my brother-in-law keeps harping on, ‘if it ain't broke’..."

  "Hold it right there," Geraldine said, "I am good at crafty but we need to have a plan. No judge in his or her right mind would give a single man custody of a three year old. Especially if that three year old is in a happy stable environment, with two parents."

  Chris sighed.

  "That's if we can even get a court ordered DNA."

  Chris sighed again and put his head in his hands.

  "The parents may stall you forever if you ask for a DNA test," Geraldine said while tapping her pen on her cheek.

  "And then again, they may tell you no outright. They would be very opposed to your butting into their lives. The husband is a pastor, is he not?" Geraldine asked contemplatively.

  "Yes he is," Chris replied, "but you know that already. I am sure my mother told you that."

  "Oh she did, which makes this whole thing that much tougher. He is a moral figure in society, a good man who loves his wife. They have created a loving environment with their children. They are into charities and are helping people."

  She sighed. "The only option I can foresee is for you to get married and be on a level playing field with them."

  Chris snapped up his head and looked at Geraldine shocked. "Are you crazy?"

  "Nope," Geraldine said seriously. "You will have to level the playing field. As it is, you are single. You have had an affair with a married woman and you may have a bitter girl or two from your past who would be willing to say that you are the worst man to have ever walked the earth. You need to appear stable and grounded to have a judge look at this case. Being married indicates that you aren't a young playboy who is maliciously seeking to destroy a family because of your own selfish desires to claim your son, just because he looks like you."

  "It's not like that," Chris said aghast. "I genuinely love him, I can't explain it. I just do."

  Geraldine shrugged. "Marriage is the only answer I can come up with and even then that it is still a long-shot. When you get married, we'll give it six months, and then we'll file for a court ordered DNA. Then we'll sue for custody. Six months is a long enough time to establish that you are serious about the marriage, I think. It is best to marry someone who understands the whole situation and is willing to get married to you on short notice."

  She flipped through her calendar. "I am free tomorrow, if you want to start the year right. I wouldn't mind being married to a real man for a change."

  Chris realized that his mouth was hung open when it snapped shut, a noise that actually made him jump.

  Was Geraldine out of her mind? He didn't even know her and could vaguely recall seeing her as a little girl. And now here she was, her diary opened gazing at him in anticipation to get married so that he could file for a DNA test sometime in the future, which may or may not come through.

  He didn't take marriage so lightly. Not even for his precious baby son would he even think of doing it.

  "Geraldine...er..." Chris got up from his desk reluctantly. "Marriage is something I thought I would have done years ago with Kelly. Since then I have not even had the slightest urge to get married to anyone."

  Except, he suddenly saw in his minds eye, Pinky with a stubborn look on her face saying, 'I am not coming back to work for you because I have feelings for you.'

  Would she say yes if he proposed?

  The thought gave him pause. Could he spend the rest of his life with Pinky? He could actually see himself with her. There wouldn't be a dull day in his life, that was for sure, and eventually he could grow to love her.

  He rubbed his hands in anticipation. "Sorry Geraldine, I have someone else in mind."

  Geraldine shrugged. "I can't say that I am particularly hurt, but that was fast. This person you have in mind, is she a responsible and upright citizen and over the age of eighteen years?"

  Chris shrugged. "I had her in mind a long time ago, if I am to be honest with myself, this will just expedite things a bit. Yes she's responsible, has not had any run-ins with the law. She's finishing up a chemistry degree."

  Geraldine glanced at her watch. "Okay then, give me a call when you have reached the three month mark. I will contact the Palmer's and feel them out. Scare them a little, make them sweat for even thinking that they could keep your child away from you."

  She kissed him on the cheek. " Happy new year when it comes."

  Chris nodded. "Same to you too, and thanks."

  *****

  He put on his jogging clothes when Geraldine left and went downstairs to the basement where he had a fully equipped gym. He needed to run off some steam, clear his head and think about this whole marriage issue.

  If he proposed to Pinky he couldn't tell her why he was doing it. If he got married and succeeded in sharing custody with Theo and Kelly, he could imagine that they would be far from pleased.

  He maxed the treadmill and started running. Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. The uninvited thought came into his head and he squelched it.

  He couldn't pretend that he didn't want Pinky. He didn't love her but he really wanted her in his life and in his bed.

  Wasn't it time he settled down anyhow? Everyone wanted him to. That's all his mother talked about these days and his family was usually holding their breath waiting for him to get involved with someone. Well they would have the opportunity. He was going to do it; he was going to propose to Pinky Black.

  Chapter Ten

  Pinky alighted from Lance's car on Wednesday evening, New Year’s eve. It was going to be one of those humdrum New Year's Eve nights; she could feel it already.

  Charles was spending his time w
ith Tanya, so she was going to be stuck watching television, seeing everybody having fun and ringing in the New Year with jocularity and bonhomie, while she stuffed her face with her mother's leftover dinner, feeling sorry for herself.

  She sighed when Lance drove off. She was about to go into the yard when Chris drove up in his BMW SUV. He rolled down the window almost as soon as he stopped and stared at her with a small smile on his lips.

  "I was timing you. It seems as if I got here on time."

  Pinky stared back at him, her heart doing that little quiver that it always did when Chris was in her vicinity.

  "I am not coming back to work for you," Pinky said, her voice a mere whisper. "I am hardening my heart against you. I told you that this morning over the phone."

  Chris ran his eyes over her, taking in her blue dress and her matching blue shoes; she looked simply elegant and so adorable with that defiant look in her brown gaze.

  "My parents have this thing every year before the New Year starts. The entire family gathers together on my mother's back porch, we give God thanks for his numerous blessings, we hold hands and pray and then we eat, listen to music and chat."

  Pinky frowned. "So?"

  "You are dressed for it. Why don't you come with me?"

  "Oh no," Pinky said, gripping her bag closer to her, "you are not dragging me into your family time. This is one of those mixed signals that you give me, one minute you are hot and next minute you are cold." She shuddered. "I don't want to catch a Donahue flu. Thanks but no thanks."

  "Donahue flu?" Chris laughed. "Pinky, come on. My family wants to meet you."

  Pinky spun around, her eyes wide with questions. "Are you asking me as a..." she cleared her throat. "Is this a date?"

  Chris nodded. He got out of the car and leaned on it folding his arms. He was in a green shirt and a black pants. He looked tall muscular and delicious.

  Pinky licked her lips. "Why?"

  "Why what?" Chris asked her wearily.

  "Why are you suddenly asking me on a date?"

  "Because I like you," Chris said walking slowly towards her, "I want my family to meet you."

  Pinky closed her eyes when he stood in front of her; he was close enough that she could feel his body heat. "Stop playing with me, I have feelings."

  "I know." Chris whispered. He lowered his face toward her and kissed her slowly—the kiss went on for eons. He took his time exploring her soft pillow like pink lips. Pinky was so weak she clung to him helplessly.

  When Chris raised his head he looked shaken. "Wow."

  Pinky picked up her bag, which had fallen when he started kissing her, and brushed it off.

  "Okay, let me put this down."

  She barely glanced at him when she let herself into the house—her legs were shaking. So that was what it was like to really kiss Chris Donahue.

  *****

  Pinky didn't know what to expect when she went to meet Chris' family. The Donahues were so well respected, and spoken of in such hushed tones of reverence that she was expecting a group of stiff upper lip people who air-kissed and said ‘dahling.'

  She was in for a big surprise. Chris' family was quite pleasant. He had five nieces and nephews, who ganged him as soon as he stepped through the imposing front door.

  "Uncle Chris!"

  "Uncle Chris!"

  His sister, Camille, who looked very much like a female version of Chris, was waiting eagerly to meet her at the door.

  She hugged Pinky tightly and grinned. "It's lovely to meet you, Pinky. Let me introduce you around, I'll start with my husband Kenneth."

  Kenneth nodded at her politely. "Lovely to meet you." He looked like a body builder; he was huge with bulging biceps and had a shaved head. His brown eyes were warm though, and he had crinkles at the side of his eyes that made him look like he laughed a lot. He was pouring out drinks from what looked like a bar in a huge sitting room.

  "And these are my sisters, Marie and Fiona." The two ladies were sitting; they jumped up when Pinky entered the room and hugged her just as enthusiastically as Camille had done.

  Marie looked like she could be a model. She was beautiful; had cat like hazel eyes, and a cheeky grin.

  Fiona was assessing Pinky and when their eyes collided Fiona looked into her eyes unrepentantly as if she wanted to ferret out some secrets there.

  Camille introduced her to their husbands and some more extended family. Their patio was huge with honey-colored marble tiles and a natural pool that had slabs of stone in the middle of a waterfall. It looked tranquil and soothing.

  Camille was heading for an older couple that were laughing and talking on the far deck. Pinky knew them to be Chris' parents. She had seldom seen Hyacinth Donahue close up but she recognized that elegant frame any day, and that way that she held herself, which shouted pure class.

  The gentleman was a taller, older version of Chris. The genes in the family were strong, Pinky could see. The thought came to her that poor Kelly picked the wrong man to get pregnant for. Even the grandchildren, who had reluctantly left their uncle, had the same hazel-eyed, curly hair look.

  Chris walked rapidly to Pinky's side. "I'll introduce her to the parents properly," he said to Camille.

  When they reached the couple Hyacinth Donahue turned to them. Harlan had on a pleasant smile but Hyacinth was frowning.

  "Mom, Dad, this is Petrina Black, otherwise called Pinky."

  "Oh, hello Petrina," Harlan said gently. He took her hand and clasped it firmly. Hyacinth smiled at her but Pinky could see that it hadn't quite reached her eyes.

  "Miss Black." she nodded in Pinky's direction.

  Chris sighed, "Mom come on."

  Hyacinth sniffed. "Excuse me. I have to check on the hors d'oeuvres. The extended family should be here any minute now."

  She walked off with her head held high. Pinky looked at Chris askance. "What's the matter with her?"

  "Hates your guts," Harlan said laughing, "but don't worry, she hates everybody who our Chris likes. There is nobody good enough for her little boy."

  Chris grinned. "Perish the thought, I am thirty-three. Sorry Pinky, my Mom will come around. Somebody will tackle her in the kitchen and remind her that she's a Christian and then she'll come back out, and be on her best behavior."

  Pinky nodded, a pleased smile on her face. So Chris had told his family that he liked her. Not even his mother's attitude could dampen her spirits.

  She felt like flying. She didn't know what she had expected but it wasn't the realization that Chris Donahue actually liked her enough to have told his family about her. She looked at him with shining eyes. He looked back at her and squeezed her hands gently.

  *****

  One week later, Chris was sorting through his Thursday mail. As usual his hands clenched the Manila envelop from Cayman. He took out the pictures of Mark, setting aside the ones with him and Kelly or Theo and just focusing on his cute little face he sat in a chair. Mark was in a green cap and was grinning. He had in all his teeth now and was happily showing off all his pearly whites.

  Chris traced the picture lovingly and put it down with a sigh. His quest to win Pinky over was working like a charm. He carried her out and listened while she prattled on and on about whatever subject interested her.

  He was thinking of proposing to her tonight. He could be married by the second week in January, that way his sisters could be here when he tied the knot and he could be well on his way with this custody case for Mark.

  He pictured Kelly and Theo's face when his lawyer called and smiled to himself. They had no idea what was coming to them.

  "Knock—knock," Camille said floating into his office smiling. "It is so good to see you smile again."

  Chris' smile grew wider. "I have decided that I am going to propose to Pinky tonight."

  Camille frowned. "Chris, please don't use that girl in this custody case. She's lovely… she genuinely loves you. I can't help but think that this is wrong."

  Chris leaned back in his chai
r. "I like her and she loves me. She wants to marry me."

  "Marriage is serious business Chris." Camille sat down across from him. "I wonder if that affair with Kelly has skewed your concept of what a serious commitment marriage is."

  Chris shrugged. "My concept of marriage is fine."

  "No, it's not," Camille said knowingly, "or you would not have had that affair with Kelly."

  She flung her hair over her shoulders. "Don't marry her," Camille said with a warning in her voice, "you need help to sort out your feelings and to get this whole thing into perspective. Maybe I've been wrong in pushing you to get access to Mark. Maybe you should go to counseling with a Christian counselor, somebody who will also pray with you about this."

  "If I marry her it will be the first step toward getting Mark," Chris said with a stubborn look to his chin. "It's not as if I don't like her. I do. I like everything about her. Well most things." He scratched his chin.

  "This is not going to end well," Camille warned him. "Marrying to get custody of your child…not a good idea. Why on earth are you listening to Geraldine anyway? How long has she been practicing law?"

  Chris shrugged. "I don't know but she made a very good point, I have no rights where my own flesh and blood is concerned because he was born in wedlock to a man who wants him. Getting married myself might be the only avenue I have available to me. When I am in a family environment myself, then I'll make a move."

  "But will Pinky agree with that move?" Camille asked with concern. "As far as I can see from Pinky she is not a doormat kind of girl."

  "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Chris said stubbornly.

  Camille flung one leg over the arm of her chair and stared at her brother wearily. "I had no idea you were so ruthless."

  *****

  Chris headed to Pinky's place in Flatbush with that thought ringing in his head. Was he ruthless, or was he just a concerned father who wanted to see more of his child? Pinky loved him; she said it over and over again. He would break her heart if he married anybody but her.