Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 104448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Kenji walked in, looking as crisp and fresh as always. “I’ll watch her while both of you shower. Think she’ll let me brush her hair?”
“No!” Tully and I both barked in unison. Lellie hated the hairbrush.
Kenji held up both palms. “Okay, fine. It’s just that I suspect the Scotts are going to take this opportunity of showing up so they can put eyes on her. We want to make sure there’s nothing they can point to as evidence you’re not a good parent.”
“You’re welcome to try,” I said, telling him where to find what he needed. Then I grabbed Tully’s hand and dragged him up the stairs and into the guest room.
The shower was quick but very productive. When I returned downstairs in clean clothes, I not only felt refreshed but also relaxed. Tully and I had gotten each other off before scrubbing each other down, a regime I recommended with a full and hearty five stars.
When we entered the living room, Lellie’s hair was immaculately combed. The curls were adorable instead of haystack-esque, while Kenji appeared to be serenely scrolling through his cell phone.
“How in the world…” Tully murmured.
“Yeah, what’s your secret with the hair?” I demanded.
Kenji looked up. “I told her it wasn’t time for Lellie’s hair brushing but that her stuffed tiger would look extra special if I brushed its hair. And then I made a big deal about how much Tiger loved having her hair brushed and how she looked so beautiful she would probably get to bring one of her toys in the car when we go for a ride. By the way, Lellie is bringing Tiger and the music toy, so don’t praise me too much.”
While we loaded up the car, I realized I was feeling much better about the trip to the clinic. Even though I dreaded seeing the Scotts, I was looking forward to getting one step closer to proving I was Lellie’s father and the best person to raise her.
It only took half an hour before my optimism died a quick and sudden death.
When it wasn’t just the Scotts waiting outside the paternity clinic but my parents, too.
NINETEEN
TULLY
I sensed Dev’s tension the moment I pulled the car into the parking lot of the clinic. There was some barely perceptible change in his breathing, or maybe he made a low sound in his throat. Either way, my eyes flicked to his in the rearview mirror.
Dev’s eyes carried a world of pain. I’d seen that emotion in his expression before, and I was desperate to understand it so I could try to ease it in some way.
“Nervous?” I asked.
“It’s my parents. I don’t know why they’re here, or—”
Kenji muttered a curse under his breath and began tapping on his tablet from the passenger seat next to me.
“The Scotts must have told them,” I said. “You said they go to the Scotts’ church, right? I wouldn’t put it past Pastor Scott to use that to his advantage.”
Kenji remained calm, which seemed to be his superpower. “You don’t have to speak to them. In fact, I can get a protective order started…”
“No,” Dev said firmly. “I’ll talk to them, but not until after the test. I want this over with, especially while Lellie is in a good mood. But if… if things go bad…”
After throwing the vehicle into Park, I turned and met his eyes. “Kenji and I will get her out of here. You can get a ride back to the house.”
He reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “Thank you. That would make me feel much better. I don’t want her caught up in the middle of this.”
Neither do I.
I didn’t say the words, but I felt them just as strongly as he did.
We got out of the car. Dev unbuckled Lellie while Kenji and I stood behind him, blocking them from view. I’d chosen a parking spot on the other side of the lot, but I could see the cluster of people with the Scotts heading our way.
I also saw Susanna waiting for us near the entrance. After waving her over, I met her partway and skipped the pleasantries. “Those are the plaintiffs, as well as Dev’s parents, who we didn’t expect. We think the Scotts might have recruited them to their cause.”
“Got it. I’ll handle them. You get everyone inside. The clinic is good about taking patients back to a private room and making everyone else stay in the waiting room. They’ll only allow the plaintiff’s attorney to send back a witness to observe silently and sign paperwork to that effect. If there’s any misbehavior, they won’t hesitate to kick people out.”
She turned to greet the Scotts with a friendly smile while I turned back to Dev. He was ghost-pale but determined. His biceps and shoulders bulged against the fabric of his shirt as he held Lellie on his hip. He was wearing a pressed button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and the dark hair on his exposed forearms was giving me thoughts wholly inappropriate for this moment.