She twisted the situation every which way and couldn’t come to any other reasonable alternatives. Marriages could go through difficult times. Case in point: her own parents, whose marriage had lasted only a handful of years. But it was hard to imagine Brad having an affair with another woman. Even good people could make terrible mistakes, though.
“And yet”—Josh’s voice carried quietly through the cab—“there’s a young man running around town who looks almost exactly like my brother.”
“Maybe your dad donated sperm at some point.”
He shook his head. “Say the guy’s twenty years old—we would’ve been teenagers when he was conceived. He was making good money and Mom was also working—”
“What?” she asked a moment later when he remained silent.
“It could’ve been back when I was sick. I was too stuck in my own misery to give them a thought at the time, but imagine the stress they would’ve been under, having their son’s life on the line.”
Josh had had lymphoma when he was a young teen. He’d been in and out of the hospital a lot. And she remembered well the stress the family had been under while they prayed he’d survive the disease. “We don’t know for sure how old he is.”
“He wasn’t around a lot when I was sick. I thought it was work. But could he have been under so much stress that he strayed?”
She wished she could say no. But it was a long time ago and hisfather, though wonderful, was only human. “I don’t know, Josh. It doesn’t seem like him at all. He’s the most honest person I know.”
Josh was quiet the rest of the drive and Maggie didn’t want to press the sensitive issue. When they arrived at the cottage, he walked her to the door in silence.
On the porch he turned to her. “I’m going back down there.”
“To the carnival? Now?”
“Yes.”
Maggie wanted to go with him. She checked her watch. Erin had texted that they were on their way and it was already past Zoey’s bedtime. She’d had a busy day and would be tired and possibly cranky. “What will you say to him?”
“I don’t know yet. I don’t want to make him suspicious. If an affair did happen—well, we don’t know what his situation is. I don’t want to make him question everything he might’ve been told about his paternity. Especially when we have no proof it even happened. I’ll think of something.”
“If you wait till tomorrow, I’ll go with you.”
“We don’t know if he’ll be working tomorrow. And I don’t know about you, but if I don’t get more answers, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
He seemed so despondent. The porch light illuminated creases above his brows. The thought of his dad having an affair seemed to be wrecking him. This was not the direction either of them had expected the situation to go.
She set her hand on his jaw, the bristles tickling the soft flesh of her palm. “It’s gonna be okay. You’ll see.”
One side of his mouth lifted in a mirthless smile. “Hope you’re right.”
She wanted to ease his worry. Comfort him the way he’d comforted her in Rock Hill. But the memory of that kiss they’d shared all those years ago—the memory of that confusing connection—stopped her from drawing him into her arms.
She offered a smile instead as she let her hand fall. “Either way, we’re in this together.”
He squeezed her hand. “I’ll call you later.”
Chapter 17
From the game stool Josh watched the carny from the corner of his eye. He’d already dropped ten tickets on this game, but he’d drop a hundred more if it meant solving this mystery. He’d only made small talk since arriving, trying to warm the guy up. Trying to act naturally.
But all he could think was,Could this guy be my brother?
Josh didn’t know what he’d do if that were the case. But he needed answers. Once he got them, he’d decide what to do with them. The last thing he wanted was to cause irreparable harm to his parents’ relationship. But then, if his dad had stepped outside the marriage, he was technically the one who’d done that.
Had Josh’s prolonged illness driven his dad to such a low? Josh tried to deflect the dart of guilt. Common sense said he was in no way responsible for falling ill. But sometimes emotions had little to do with reason.
A couple in the throes of helping their son fight for his life might cling to one another—or they might be driven apart by disagreements over critical health care decisions. Josh didn’t remember any acrimony between them at the time. But maybe they’d put on a brave face for the family.
Had his dad sought comfort in the arms of another woman?
