The Forgotten Child, Lorhainne Eckhart [bearly read books txt] 📗
- Author: Lorhainne Eckhart
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He looked away for just a moment. “Crystal said Trevor’s not my kid.”
Emily felt the fire burn inside, and for the first time ever, she considered and understood how one spouse could kill another.
“Emily, I haven’t told Keith this, but Crystal went away several times that year, before she knew she was pregnant. Shopping trips she called them.”
Emily was furious and couldn’t contain the words that spewed forth, “Oh, that bitch. Oh, Brad, how could she do that to you and that precious little boy?”
Brad pulled her against him. Wrapped his arms around her and comforted her. “Do you know how beautiful you are to me, especially when you’re angry?”
He kissed the top of her head, as she rested her cheek against his dark blue shirt. “What are we going to do, Brad?”
Just the fact that she automatically assumed it was the two of them in this made the pain lessen a little.
They talked for hours, trying to come up with a viable plan of attack. It was after nine o’clock and neither had eaten. He pulled away from her and stood up. “I have to go, Em.”
“Brad, please stay.”
“I can’t; not tonight. I have to get my head together and I can’t do it here.”
Her face must have betrayed her hurt.
“Em, don’t look like that. You’re my rock and I feel things for you I’ve never felt for any woman, not this deep. But I have to take care of something.”
She was reluctant to let him leave, but he was firm. “Em, I promise I’ll come back tomorrow morning.” He touched her cheek and she leaned into his hand. Then he left, before she managed to talk him into staying. From his darkened truck he watched her. She pressed her hand to the window as he pulled away.
He called his daddy from the truck. He answered on the first ring, of course he sounded groggy because they were asleep. Brad explained Crystal’s latest stunt, and arranged for the paternity test. His father offered up all his resources, and his lawyers, to ensure this came out in Brad’s favor. In the end, Brad agreed and gave his daddy permission to go ahead and contact Keith, to extend all pertinent resources to him.
He kept his word with Emily. After he fed the stock in the morning, got the men organized; he stopped in to see her. Maybe to reassure her he wasn’t about to do anything stupid.
Over the next few days, Brad did his best to avoid Crystal. Although she made it difficult, placing herself directly in his path at every opportunity. She goaded him. And on the second day, after the paternity test was in, she followed him to town, and tried to corner him outside his lawyer’s office.
“Get out of my way.”
“I want to talk to you, please, Brad.” He struggled to suppress his fiery temper and walked around her.
He walked right into Keith’s office and sat down.
“She followed me to town, cornered me out front.”
Keith got up and looked out the window. “That woman’s got balls or is just plain stupid. Don’t see her; she must have gone.”
“So what’s the news?”
Keith tossed him the envelope with the results. Brad reached out and held the envelope. For the first time in his life, he wanted to run; not face it. How could one piece of paper have the power to change his life forever? He closed his eyes. His throat tightened and he felt tentacles squeeze his heart. He forced himself to rip it open, pull out the sheet of white paper. He opened his eyes and gazed at the results and couldn’t hold back the sting of tears. His lip trembled as he looked up at his longtime friend, who, for the first time since this started, had tears in his eyes. Brad shut his eyes, and wept.
Brad waited in the kitchen until he was ready. Then he strode to the stairs and shouted, “Crystal, get down here.” He watched as she started down the stairs. Her heels clicked on each step. He wandered back in the kitchen and leaned against the stove. When she stepped into the kitchen, he stood like a general leading his troops.
“Sit down, now.” His voice was quite controlled, considering the circumstances.
She appeared to consider her options as she glanced at the door, and then him.
Then with a toss of her long blonde hair and a subtle sway in her hips, she walked over to the chair pulled away from the table, and sat down.
Brad felt physically ill, for the wasted years of chasing her. He stepped behind her and she squirmed in the chair, crossing and uncrossing her legs. She started to get up, “Sit your ass back in that chair.” He walked in front of her and leaned in her face as he said it.
He pointed to the envelope in front of her on the table. “That’s for you and it’s my final offer. You either sign it now, and get the fuck out of my house, or you get nothing.” He wandered over to the counter.
She gazed at the tan manila envelope.
“Open it.” His words were void of any emotion, steely and hard, which caused a shadow of fear and confusion to flicker across her face. Her hand trembled when she picked it up and slit it open with a carefully manicured nail.
He watched as she read it; watched the range of emotions that flickered across her face, and finally as she tossed the papers aside, shaking her head with a spark of fury registering in her cold blue eyes. “I’m not signing this and there is no way Trevor—”
He cut her off as he uncrossed his arms, gripping the side of the counter in an attempt to steady himself from his rising temper. “Don’t you say one word about Trevor.”
Her mouth snapped shut, and, for the first time ever, he saw fear on her face.
“My lawyer’s preparing, right now, at this moment, to file a motion, terminating all your rights as a parent. Of course, it’s a crapshoot, but a very real possibility; especially after the stunt you just pulled.
“Included in this motion will be not one single dime for you, and that, my dear, is a very real possibility. You see, after your wonderful little bit of acting, imagine our surprise to, once again, see you spin another web of your lies. The paternity test came back. You’ll be happy to note, Trevor’s mine. But then, you already knew that didn’t you?”
He didn’t allow her to answer. Instead he walked toward her, clasping his hands behind his back as he steadied himself. He then began pacing back and forth as her face paled. “So you have two choices. You need to pick up the pen and sign the agreement right now, giving me sole custody and guardianship of Trevor, and do not contest the divorce decree, which is before a judge as we speak, and then you may keep the very generous settlement I’m offering. As you can see in black and white in front of you, it’s a lot of money. Then I want you to leave and never show your face here again—ever. If you choose to fight this, get up and walk away without signing it, I’ll have an injunction to have you removed from the premises right now and you will not get a dime. I’ve already cut you off financially. Any bills I get on your behalf, will be returned unpaid. I’m no longer responsible for you. You’ll have to get a job and support yourself. Especially once the judge sees all the evidence against you. The abandonment of Trevor, when you left him alone, the slander against Emily, which we have the statements for, and very willing people to testify against you, but, the last bit, lying about Trevor’s paternity, tsk, tsk.” Brad shook his head, feeling steady control as he watched her hesitate as she bit the side of her lip.
“As for Trevor, don’t add harming an innocent child to your list of follies.” For the first time ever, she actually flushed in embarrassment. “You should also know, Crystal, that Emily has a very good case against you for slander and defamation of character. Did you know the courts are now handing out some very large settlements?” Her hands were in her lap, but he knew she was shaking inside. “Sign it, Crystal. Walk away today. As you can see, I’m being extremely generous. There’ll be no suit from Emily and no action will be brought against you, but only if you sign. I’m sure your lawyer will be able to advise you of your chances of winning a slander and defamation suit of this degree. Your choice. Right now. You don’t want me for an enemy. Even you can’t be that foolish.” He noted her hesitation, the uncertainty.
She picked up the pen that had been
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