Christmas Secrets. Barbara Dunlop

she was going to be a wonderful mother.”

      “Is it fair to say you changed her mind?”

      Amber didn’t answer.

      “Ms. Welsley? Is it fair to say you changed your stepsister’s mind, talked her out of getting the abortion she desired?”

      “She wasn’t serious,” said Amber. “She was upset. She was newly married, and being pregnant came as a shock to her.”

      “Did she make an appointment at an abortion clinic?”

      “No.”

      The lawyer waited.

      “She didn’t.”

      “Perhaps not to the best of your knowledge. But I can tell you she did make an appointment at an abortion clinic.”

      A collective gasp went up in the gallery, followed by whispered comments.

      The judge pounded his gavel, and the room returned to quiet.

      The lawyer returned to his table, lifting a piece of paper with a flourish. “I have here a copy of an appointment card for Coco Henderson for the Women’s Central Health Clinic.”

      “Where did you get that?”

      “From the Women’s Central Health Clinic.”

      “Coco obviously did not have an abortion.”

      “Because you talked her out of it. Like so many of your stepsister’s childish, ill-informed impulses, had you not been there to persuade her otherwise, the consequences would have been catastrophic. She would have had an abortion, and Zachary would never have been born.”

      The sick feeling of defeat was written across Amber’s face. Cole fought an urge to go to her. He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her everything was going to be okay. But he couldn’t. And it wasn’t.

      “That was a body blow,” said Luca.

      There was nothing Destiny could do to counter the revelations. Both lawyers walked through closing arguments, but there wasn’t a single person in the room who trusted Coco’s judgment, nor was there anyone who truly believed she had her son’s best interests at heart.

      Samuel had been shown to be a loving father, thrilled from minute one that they were expecting a baby. Coco looked selfish and petulant, her intelligence and judgment suspect.

      Destiny sat down and put an arm around Amber’s shoulders.

      “You have to do it,” Luca whispered.

      “Do what?”

      “Tell them who you are.”

      Cole shot Luca a look of astonishment. “What?”

      “Now. Right now. Put in a bid for custody. You’re a blood relative.”

      “Custody?” Had Luca lost his mind?

      “At the very least, it’ll throw a wrench in it, slow things down. If you don’t, if the judge rules on this—and it looks like he’s about to rule—then it’s done.”

      Adrenaline shot into Cole’s system, and his stomach clenched. How could he do it? How could he not?

      “Ms. Welsley,” said the judge, “I have no doubt as to the love you feel for Zachary. However—”

      “Do it!” Luca hissed.

      Cole shot to his feet. “Your Honor.”

      The judge drew back in obvious shock. “You’re out of order, sir.”

      “Go, go, go,” said Luca.

      Cole moved into the aisle and walked forward.

      Amber and Destiny both turned to stare. But he didn’t dare look at them.

      “Bailiff,” called the judge.

      Cole knew he had only seconds. “My name is Cole Parker Henderson. I’m Samuel Henderson’s son.”

      Amber felt her world dissolve beneath her.

      Cole continued walking to the front of the courtroom. He continued talking. He didn’t even bother to look her way.

      “I want to petition the court for custody of my half brother,” his voice boomed.

      “He’s a competitor,” Roth cried out, coming to his feet.

      “Order,” called the judge, bringing down his gavel.

      The bailiff seemed uncertain of what to do.

      Destiny whispered in an undertone, “What the—?”

      “I’m such an idiot,” said Amber.

      “Can it possibly be true?”

      Cole came to a stop at the little gateway.

      Amber took in Cole’s expression. “That’s no bluff.”

      He was firm and resolute. She realized he had to have planned this all along. And she’d let him in. She’d trusted him. She’d armed him with all kinds of information. She’d left him alone in the penthouse, alone with Zachary.

      “This is preposterous,” said Roth. “It’s a stalling tactic.”

      Cole glared at him. “It’s easy enough to prove. DNA, for example.”

      “That’ll take time. And we’re losing money by the hour. Your Honor, this can’t possibly be legal.”

      Roth’s lawyer stood. “Your Honor, you were about to rule.”

      A voice came from the back of the room. “We have a DNA test.”

      Cole spun.

      Luca came to his feet. “Your Honor, I have the results of a DNA test by Central Laboratories, proving Samuel’s paternity.”

      “What do we do?” asked Amber, panic beginning to build deep in her stomach.

      “Wait,” said Destiny, watching the judge closely.

      The judge finally spoke. “I’m not persuaded that a genetic relationship alone alters the merits of this case. Samuel Henderson could have any number of illegitimate children—”

      “They were married,” Cole’s deep voice intoned.

      Silence followed the pronouncement.

      “My mother and Samuel Henderson were married.” He shot a sharp look to Roth. “Again, very easy to prove.”

      Luca spoke. “I have a copy of the marriage certificate and the divorce decree.”

      Cole turned to stare at Luca for a long moment.

      Destiny leaned close to Amber. “This is a whole new ballgame. Hang tough.”

      Destiny came sharply to her feet. “Your Honor, we ask for a recess.”

      Roth’s lawyer jumped in. “We ask for a ruling.”

      But Destiny wasn’t finished. “Under the terms of the will, as a legitimate child of Samuel Henderson, Cole Henderson is entitled to half of Samuel’s estate.”

      The courtroom erupted.

      “Order, order,” the judge called over the din. “Court is in recess until such time as Samuel Henderson’s will can be reviewed.” He looked to Cole. “Mr. Henderson, if you do not already have a lawyer, I suggest you get one.”

      Everybody left their seats, and the courtroom turned into a mob scene. Cole stood still, the crowd jostling around him. He was nearly chest to chest with the bailiff guarding the low gate.

      “Get me out of