“Did you two get married there?”
“I was so drunk I don’t even remember the ceremony,” Eb growled in disgust. “Please know that I rarely imbibed even then and haven’t since. I couldn’t believe it when I woke up the next morning. Paige told me we were married, and I denied it.” He shook his head. “She wasnotpleased. But there were photos and my signature on the wedding certificate to prove it’d happened.”
“Why not get an annulment?” Sandra asked.
Eb glanced off into the distance. “I suggested it, and she burst into tears. She said she’d thought I was an honest guy, but I was just like the rest of them.”
Sandra had observed Paige Britton at a few events but hadn’t spoken with the woman. She’d looked like all the other beautiful actress wannabes, parading around and schmoozing with the Hollywood power brokers, all hungry for their big break. Sandra had been grateful Walt held himself aloof from the ones who’d tried to cling to him.
“So, of course, you comforted Paige and assured her you loved her and wanted to stay with her.”
Eb nodded glumly. “We returned to Huckleberry Falls, and she moved into my condo. We were only together another week before she had to fly out for a film. She was gone for three months, and when she returned, she told me we were going to be parents. I was thrilled. I’m an only child, and I’ve always wanted a large family.
“Paige got a couple of smaller roles over the next few months. When her pregnancy grew too obvious for traditional roles, she stayed home for a few months. Then she got a role in a miniseries as a pregnant woman. She was different when she came back, aloof. She acted like a stranger.”
Eb was silent for a few minutes, looking weary. When he finally spoke, his voice was low. Sad.
“I should have been suspicious when she refused to let me set up a nursery. Or invited a friend to be her doula. After the baby was born, I got to hold her once. Paige promised I could do it again the next day.” Eb’s voice tightened, his eyes growing moist, his gaze on Sandra. “When I got to the hospital in the morning, I found she’d checked out and taken the baby.”
Sandra sucked in a breath at the pain in his eyes. And she’d thought him unfeeling!
“Couldn’t you do anything?”
“She’d left a note.” Eb gave a soft grunt. “Like she did this time. She said I wasn’t the father, so I wouldn’t be listed on the birth certificate. Two days later, she had me served with divorce papers.” He rested his head against the child’s. “I haven’t seen Rue since the day she was born.”
Sandra pinched the bridge of her nose. She’d never considered herself a violent person, but if she could have gotten her hands on Paige Britton, Sandra would certainly have smacked the idiot woman silly.
“So she just left Rue at your office today? Please tell me she gave you a medical power of attorney.”
“A what?”
“Whenever Walt and Linda watch their grandkids, they have a medical power of attorney. It gives them permission to allow medical treatment if needed.”
“Maybe it’s in the envelope Inez gave me. It’s in my coat pocket.”
“Do you mind if I look?”
When Eb shook his head, Sandra removed the contents.
“It’s the letter she left me.” He nodded at the stationery.
“Maybe this is it.” Sandra pulled a folded document from the envelope, but the paper was heavy. When she opened it, she found it was a birth certificate and held it up so he could see it.
His face flushed. “Itdoeshave my name on it as the father. I feel like such an idiot. Rue was born less than nine months after our marriage. But she was small, barely five pounds. I assumed Rue had come early. I should never have believed Paige.”
“Well, you two were married when she was born, so I think you have parental rights regardless of her DNA.” Sandra met his gaze. “What are you going to do now?”
The muscles in Eb’s jaw worked. “I’m going to keep my daughter.”
“Good for you.” Sandra checked the envelope for anything else but found nothing besides the letter. She returned the documents to the envelope. “You probably don’t want me pushing my way into this, but I have a suggestion. If you’re interested.”
“Please,” he said after only a moment’s hesitation. “I need a friend right now.”
Emotion flooded her again. Had he pulled back fromeveryoneafter Paige’s betrayal?
“Thank you for trusting me,” Sandra said when she could speak. “You’ll obviously have to get some stuff for Rue. But I think you should invest in a paternity test as additional proof of your parental rights.” She watched Eb’s expression as her words sank in.
“I know I’m still in shock and not thinking clearly, but it’s my name on her birth certificate.”
