Chapter Thirty-Three
“Why do I need a paternity test?”Grady’s jaw clenched as he heard Linx exit the house and zoom off in herSUV.
“A precaution. I’m sure she believes the child is yours,” Becca said. “But if what she says is true, that she did get drunk and had sex with unknown parties, then we have to be sure. Besides, there’s no chance a judge would hear your case without a positive paternitytest.”
“Okay. How do we get the test done?” Grady’s heart galloped unsteadily. “Are you going to inform the Pattersons about myclaim?”
“It will have to be a court order,” Becca said. “I have to present reasonable evidence, based on Linx’s testimony that she now believes you are Jessie’s father. Obviously, we can’t have people ordering paternity tests on randomchildren.”
“Can’t I make a claim based on my sexual relationship with Linx approximately nine months before Jessie’s birth?” Grady wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans. “I don’t want Linx charged withperjury.”
“They probably won’t charge her,” Becca said. “But it’s something Pastor Patterson can use against her. No two ways about it. Linx is going to take thehit.”
“You’re her sister. Can’t you shieldher?”
Becca shook her head. “I have to follow the law, but I can refuse to take your case—conflict ofinterest.”
“Fair enough.” Grady heaved his shoulders, blowing out his frustration. “So, I find an attorney and ask for a paternity test. If it’s positive, thenwhat?”
“I might be defending my sister if it comes down to your attorney suing Linx for defrauding you. That would be the tactic he’d take. He would also go after Judge Stephens for not following up on finding the father. Also, since there was no father listed, your paternity rights were never officially terminated. The entire adoption could be overturned—if you want to pursue it. On the other hand, the Pattersons’ attorney could dig up dirt about your attitude toward Linx, calling her a liar, denying the possible child was yours, and not making an effort to determine if she actually had a baby or not—letting almost six years go by. It’ll beugly.”
“Ugly.” Grady shook his head as a soggy weight settled over his shoulders. Ugly would hurt everyone, especially Jessie. “Thanks for the advice. What do I owe you for theconsult?”
“No charge.” Becca leveled her hazel-colored eyes on him. “But if you eff with my sister, I’m coming after you. My sister made mistakes. Lots of them. But you weren’t around to help her. You saw the pictures on the piano, didn’tyou?”
Grady huffed as he walked toward the collection of family portraits. “Your mother seemed detached from Linx. She wouldn’t even hold her. Why isthat?”
“My mother had issues, and unfortunately, she picked on Linx. I think she suffered a breakdown. She watched too many horror movies and dabbled with the occult. She believed Linx was the devil’schild.”
“But why Linx? Why not Joey or Vivi?” Grady fumed at the unfairness of itall.
“I don’t know the answer to that,” Becca said. “Maybe there’s no reason. Or some chemical imbalance causing her to reject Linx. She wasn’t exactly a normal mother to the rest of us—acted more like anaunt.”
Grady walked by the piano and stared at the picture of Linx as a baby, held by her father. Even at that age, she looked tense and lost, as if she already knew she wasn’twanted.
“All I did was make things worse for her when I rejected her.” The realization slammed him like a firestorm flashing through a blind canyon. “My issues are nothing like hers. My parents smothered me to death, and I reacted to her clinging by shoving heraway.”
“Her issues are not yours unless you want them to be,” Becca said, narrowing her eyes. “If you’re stringing her along because you think being with her will help you win custody of your daughter, I’m telling you it won’t. You’re better off being the aggrieved party withouther.”
“What are you saying?” Grady felt his heart hammering to escape his chest. “That I’m only with Linx because ofJessie?”
“I want to know why you’re hanging around her. If you’re using her to get to know Jessie, then I’m going to hang you high. My sister doesn’t need you to lead her around like a donkey with a nosering.”
“I didn’t come here looking for Jessie—not initially. I didn’t even know about her. I suspected Linx might have lied, but I thought she’d had anabortion.”
“So you came looking for answers.” Becca crossed her arms. “You’ll get them with the paternity test. Thenwhat?”
“I don’t know.” Grady headed to the front door. “I need to find Linx. I need to make it right with her, and then we’ll figure out where to go fromhere.”
“I love my sister.” Becca pointed a finger at him. “There’s not a Colson on this ranch who doesn’t love Linx. We’re only tolerating your presence because Tami and Todd told us about Salem getting in between your messages, but you, Grady Hart, are not off probation. You hurt my sister, and we’ll run you out of this town. You can take your hotshot smokejumping ways back to Montana, Idaho or even better,Siberia.”
“I won’t hurt her.” Grady swallowed a thick lump in his throat. “Because I loveher.”
He turned quickly and opened the frontdoor.
“Hold it.” Becca’s bark was like a command. “You don’t get to throw words like that around when you’re dealing with my sister unless you meanthem.”
Grady swallowed rocks all the way down his throat. “It’s not easy for me to admit it, but I need Linx like I need oxygen—with or without Jessie. She’s my first priority, and I’m worried she might have run off forgood.”
