Whose Baby?. Delores Fossen

duty.

      “Not really. Just a possible inconvenience.”

      Kelly made a sound of contemplation. Paused. And made another sound. “Have you given any more thought to me seeing William?”

      “No.” Not true. Nick had given it plenty of thought but decided it wasn’t going to happen. “I figured after the test results—”

      “That I’d slink away, carrying my lies with me? Wrong. Because, you see, I’m not lying. And as much as you distrust me, I don’t trust you, either. You have the power and the money to doctor test results.”

      He couldn’t possibly deny that because it was the truth. “You have the power and apparently the inclination to cause waves that shouldn’t be made.”

      Her mouth went into a flat line. It was in contrast to the soft babbling sounds the baby was making. “I have a right to know if William is my son.”

      “And I have the right to protect him.”

      She huffed, finished diapering Joseph and turned to face him. “So we’re back to where we started. Don’t get me wrong, William’s safety is important to me, too. But I’m just not convinced there are real issues here. I mean, if you’ve proven he’s not your biological son, then why would he still be a threat to Eric?”

      “Because as you so succinctly put, I have the power and the money to doctor test results.”

      “Did you?” she fired back.

      “No.”

      Another huff but not an indignant one. This one was from frustration. “You know the truth, don’t you?”

      Best to go for the sarcastic approach again since she seemed to be very good at detecting lies. “I know many truths. Did you have one particular in mind?”

      “The truth. About Joseph. Now, I want you to cut through all these evasive tactics and tell me what you know.”

      Nick stood there staring at her, but he couldn’t stop the idea from dominating his thoughts. Meredith and he had been lovers. The timing was right. Plus, Meredith would have known about the danger of giving birth to his child.

      “I’m still waiting for an answer,” Kelly reminded him several moments later.

      But he barely heard the reminder. Because at the exact moment she was speaking, the baby caught onto the crib railings and pulled himself to a standing position. He wore denim overalls and white cotton shirt. Joseph turned his head in Nick’s direction, and just like that, their gazes connected.

      Nick’s breath froze in his lungs.

      Joseph’s face was round. Almost chubby. And he grinned. Just grinned. Showing his dimples.

      Nick had seen photos of himself as a baby. But he didn’t need the actual photo to know there was a strong resemblance.

      “Meredith was your friend,” Kelly continued. She scooped up the baby in her arms. “So you must have some idea of who Joseph’s father is.”

      Yes.

      Unfortunately, that idea wasn’t a good one to voice. To anyone. Not even her. Just the hint of it would ultimately put all of them in danger. But it was especially dangerous for the child she held.

      His child.

      The heir he couldn’t have.