Barbara Dunlop - Christmas Secrets

Cole glared at him. “It’s easy enough to prove. DNA, for example.”

“That’ll take time. And we’re losing money by the hour. Your Honor, this can’t possibly be legal.”

Roth’s lawyer stood. “Your Honor, you were about to rule.”

A voice came from the back of the room. “We have a DNA test.”

Cole spun.

Luca came to his feet. “Your Honor, I have the results of a DNA test by Central Laboratories, proving Samuel’s paternity.”

“What do we do?” asked Amber, panic beginning to build deep in her stomach.

“Wait,” said Destiny, watching the judge closely.

The judge finally spoke. “I’m not persuaded that a genetic relationship alone alters the merits of this case. Samuel Henderson could have any number of illegitimate children—”

“They were married,” Cole’s deep voice intoned.

Silence followed the pronouncement.

“My mother and Samuel Henderson were married.” He shot a sharp look to Roth. “Again, very easy to prove.”

Luca spoke. “I have a copy of the marriage certificate and the divorce decree.”

Cole turned to stare at Luca for a long moment.

Destiny leaned close to Amber. “ This is a whole new ballgame. Hang tough.”

Destiny came sharply to her feet. “Your Honor, we ask for a recess.”

Roth’s lawyer jumped in. “ We ask for a ruling.”

But Destiny wasn’t finished. “Under the terms of the will, as a legitimate child of Samuel Henderson, Cole Henderson is entitled to half of Samuel’s estate.”

The courtroom erupted.

“Order, order,” the judge called over the din. “Court is in recess until such time as Samuel Henderson’s will can be reviewed.” He looked to Cole. “Mr. Henderson, if you do not already have a lawyer, I suggest you get one.”

Everybody left their seats, and the courtroom turned into a mob scene. Cole stood still, the crowd jostling around him. He was nearly chest to chest with the bailiff guarding the low gate.

“Get me out of here,” Amber said to Destiny. “I can’t see him. I can’t talk to him.”

“We can take the side door.” Destiny grabbed her briefcase.

All Amber wanted to do was get back to Zachary. For a horrible moment there, she’d known she was about to lose him. Zachary had almost been ripped from her care and given over to Roth. She was still shaking with reaction.

“Amber,” called Cole.

She refused to look at him. “Go away.”

“I wanted to tell you. I tried to tell you.”

She let out a short, high-pitched laugh. “When? When? It’s not like you lacked opportunity.”

“We need to talk.”

“We’ve talked enough. I’ve told you enough.” She turned away.

“Amber,” Cole tried again.

Luca’s voice interrupted. “Destiny, we need a copy of the will.”

“Not now, ” said Cole.

Destiny’s tone was sharp. “As if you haven’t already read it.”

“We haven’t,” said Luca.

“Why the theatrics?”

“You were about to lose,” said Luca.

“Amber?” Cole tried again.

Destiny appealed to Cole. “This is not a good time.”

“I don’t particularly care. You can’t ignore this.”

Amber glared at him. She wanted to yell at him. He’d deceived her. He’d slept with her. He’d let her think he cared about Zachary.

But before she could do anything stupid, she forced herself to turn and walk away.

She left the courtroom and all but ran down the hallway to the foyer. It was full of reporters, but she ignored their questions. She ignored everything, striding blindly for the exit.

Destiny caught up. “You’re doing great. Just keep walking. My car’s to the left, one block up.”

“I remember. I need to see Zachary.”

“We’ll go there first.”

“Ms. Welsley, did you have any idea Samuel had another son?”

“Did your sister know Samuel had another wife?”

“Did Coco have any other abortions?”

Destiny hit the unlock button and pulled open the passenger door for Amber. Amber climbed inside and slammed the door, not particularly caring if she smashed someone’s camera.

And then Destiny was inside, too. She started the car, and the reporters finally backed off.

“You okay?” she asked, reaching out to touch Amber’s shoulder.

“I’m terrible,” Amber answered.

She felt trapped, desperate. For a wild moment, she thought about sneaking Zachary out of the country, hiding out on a beach somewhere where nobody could find them.

“What happens now?” she asked, her voice shaking.

“First, we comb through the will.”

“Does Cole really get half?”

“Unless there’s something I’m remembering wrong, yes, he does.”

Amber’s voice broke over the next question. “Will he get Zachary?”

“I don’t know, honey. I honestly don’t know.”

Amber’s mind scrambled, zipping from Zachary to Coast Eagle, to the Boonsome 300, and then to Cole.

“I have to talk to Max,” she told Destiny. “I have to get back to the office.”

“Do you want to go home first?”

Amber shook her head. “I’ll call Isabel. Roth will go straight to Coast Eagle, and who knows what move he’ll try to make next.” She realized in a rush that despite everything, she feared Roth more than she feared Cole.

Back at the office, Roth had fought with Max. Julius had argued with Sidney. Each of the board members had called to express their concern. Though, thankfully, all had agreed that Max should stay in place for now as interim president.

Destiny had reviewed Samuel’s will and was now on her way to the penthouse to meet Amber. It was nearly ten by the time Amber finally made it through the door, exhausted and starving.

She kicked off her shoes, shrugged out of her steel-gray blazer and dumped her purse on a table in the living room. Destiny had promised to bring a large pepperoni and mushroom, while Amber was in charge of margaritas.

She called out to Isabel, then, without stopping, she went directly to the kitchen and dumped a tray of ice cubes, lime juice, tequila and orange liqueur into the blender and set it on high.

The doorbell rang, and she padded through the living room to greet Destiny.

“Extra cheese?” she asked hopefully as she eyed the large cardboard carton.

“You bet.”

“Come on in.”

While Destiny settled the pizza on the kitchen island and retrieved the plates, Amber poured the margaritas into two large glasses.

“I’ve been seriously thinking about strapping Zachary into his car seat and heading for the border,” said Amber.

“Which border?”

“Does it matter? I can’t help but think we’d be better off if nobody could find us.”

“You might be better off, but I’d have a legal nightmare to unravel.”

“I suppose.”

The fight suddenly went out of Amber, and exhaustion set in. She climbed onto one of the stools and helped herself to a slice of the gooey pizza.

“You could try to make a deal with Cole,” Destiny suggested. She started with a sip of the slushy drink. “It’s pretty clear he’s after Coast Eagle.”

“Do you think Samuel knew about him?” In her few spare moments this evening, Amber couldn’t help but wonder if Samuel had shunned Cole and kept him a secret or had been oblivious to his existence.

“Interesting wording in the will,” said Destiny. “Either Samuel knew, or at least suspected he had a child with his first wife, or he was planning more children with Coco.”

“He definitely wanted more children,” said Amber.