Becca put her hands around her mouth like a megaphone. “Everyone, please go ahead and eat while I talk to Grady and Linx. As you know, nothing is clear-cut, black or white. I cannot let you know what will happen in court. I can only advise Grady and Linx on theirchances.”
Theirchances?
Did she mean this wasn’t a sure thing? Why, he was never informed. He’d never signed away hisrights.
He rushed after Linx and Becca as they headed to what looked like the den. Becca’s expression was grim, and Linx looked fearful. He put his hand on the small of her back, trying to reassureher.
He was pretty sure his lack of signature giving up his rights would hold up in court. Everything he read told adoptive parents to get the birth father’s written and signedconsent.
They shut the door to the den and remainedstanding.
“Thanks for coming,” Grady said to Becca. “Just give it to usstraight.”
The lawyer nodded and flicked back a stray strand of her curly auburn hair which had escaped herbun.
She fixed her gaze on her sister instead of Grady, as if about to lecture her. “I did some investigating on the court order given by Judge Stephens terminating the ‘unknown’ father’s paternity rights. It seems to have been railroaded through the system, and the judge did not verify the proof that you did everything you could to find Jessie’sfather.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” Grady stepped forward. “That proves I didn’t have a chance to giveconsent.”
Becca held up her hand. “Yes and no. It’s positive for you, Grady, but in order to proceed, all the blame for this falls on Linx. She committed perjury and lied to the judge, saying she didn’t know who the father could be. She testified she was drunk at the time and implied she was sexually abused by an unknownassailant.”
What the heck? Linx had completely erased him from the picture, or was it moresinister?
“You were raped?” Grady’s jaw dropped as Linx’s facewhitened.
“I never said I was raped.” She staggered back, and he steadied her. “I just said I had no clue who I had sexwith.”
“In other words, you lied, and that’s a crime.” Becca’s voice wasaccusing.
“What does this mean for me?” Grady asked. “I’m the innocent victimhere.”
“You might have a case,” Becca said, “but it’s based on Linx’s perjury and the judge being too lenient and not insisting she pursue this unknownassailant.”
“Crap!” He stalked across the room and threw up his hands. “Can’t we keep Linx out of it? Just say I got suspicious when I saw Linx and Jessie together, and I had a nagging feeling something had happened thatnight.”
“You’re admitting to allegedly sleeping with a drunk woman who was unable to give consent?” Becca drilled him, stabbing a finger athim.
“Sure. I’ll do anything to get Jessie back,” Grady said. “The statute of limitations is past, isn’tit?”
“Sorry, the Governor signed a bill last year ending California’s ten-year statute of limitations because of the Bill Cosbycase.”
“But Linx won’t press charges, will she?” Grady asked, darting his glance from Becca toLinx.
“The prosecutor can still file.” Becca gave a chopping motion with her hand. “You two are still within the ten years, bill or nobill.”
Grady gasped, not catching his breath. This was worse than he’d imagined. Linx premeditated giving that baby away and cutting him out of herlife.
Maybe he’d been too soft on her recently, believing her apologies and letting his feelings bubble to thesurface.
Maybe it was better to lock up feelings and emotions and deal only with logic andreason.
“It’s all based on my lie!” Linx threw her hands up. “I can’t let Grady take the hit when I lied. I’ll stand trial for perjury. I’ll go to jail. Anything, so Grady can have his rightsreinstated.”
“Oh, sissy, why did you perjure yourself?” Becca’s eyebrows drooped as she wrapped her arms aroundLinx.
Linx sank to the floor, covering her face, and dragged her sister down onto the carpet, still holding onto her. “Because Grady abandoned me, and I wanted to erase everything. Make it all go away and give Jessie a better life. Plus, the Pattersons were willing to let me stay in Jessie’s life. They only started the church here because of me and Jessie. They could have gone anywhere. I didn’t want Jessie to ever be abandoned byanyone.”
“You picked the Pattersons because they would be her perfect parents.” Becca’s voice was gentle as she rubbed Linx’sback.
