Bonnie Winn - Child of Mine

Matt glanced at her, then down at his son. “It’s all right, but home right after the pizza. And mind Billy’s and Dustin’s dads.”

“Okay,” the boy agreed. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Come on, Danny,” the others called.

Leah shivered as she watched him dash out with his friends. She’d been almost certain when she saw his eyes. The name confirmed it.

No wonder Matt had been avoiding her, putting her off. It all made sense. Perfect, horrible sense.

Anger, hot and raw, clawed through her. “How could you?” She turned on Matt with every bit of righteous pain and accusation she could muster. “I’ve heard of slime like you. How could you steal my child and then have the gall to pretend that you didn’t know where he was?”

“Steal? Just how is it a person steals an abandoned baby? You’re a real piece of work. What? Did you decide after eight years that it might be fun to play mommy? Forget it. Danny’s done just fine without you until now. Go with your original instincts. Pretend he doesn’t exist.”

“Abandoned?” Leah shrieked. “Abandoned?”

“Boss, is everything okay in here?” Nan rushed in from the rear entrance. “I just got back from the post office and it sounds like someone’s plucking live turkeys. You can hear it all the way outside.”

Breathing hard, Leah and Matt paused.

“Yeah,” Matt said in the awkward silence. Then he slammed out the door, got in his truck and roared away.

Leah was left in the heavy silence.

Embarrassed, Nan cleared her throat. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“No. If anyone should apologize, it’s me, I was the one yelling.” Leah tried to calm her breathing. “Will you tell me one thing?”

“If I can.”

“Did you know a John Johnson?”

“John? Sure. He was Matt’s younger brother. Half brother, really. Matt was always looking out for him.”

And still was, apparently.

Leah allowed enough time to collect herself before driving to Matt’s house. His truck was parked out front. He didn’t answer the door, so she walked around back to the shop.

He was sitting at his work bench, a piece of alder wood in his hands. Although she was sure he heard her, he didn’t stir.

And she didn’t bother with greetings. “You could have told me about Kyle being your brother.”

“It didn’t take you long to figure it out.”

“I shouldn’t have had to.”

Matt put the wood down on the bench. “Why would you want to come back now? You’re a stranger to Danny.”

That stung. Badly. “Through no fault of my own. Kyle wanted money from my parents. They expected him to work for it. That wasn’t in his plans, so he took Danny. Then he called and asked for half a million dollars. He said it was to set him up in his own business. He wanted to be a big-time real estate mogul just when the market was hitting bottom. My parents refused. I thought he’d give up and bring Danny home, but he didn’t.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Danny was an infant! Barely six weeks old.”

Matt met her gaze. “I’m the one who fed him. Changed his diapers. Rocked him to sleep. Held him when he cried.”

Leah’s chest constricted. “You think I didn’t want to?”

“No.”

“Because Kyle, who lied about everything, told you so?”

Matt stood. “You knew him, what? A year? I knew him all his life.”

“Then you should have known he was chasing one half-baked idea after another. He didn’t care about family, about establishing a real life together. All he wanted was a great big handout from my parents, and when that didn’t happen he stole my son.”

“He was pursuing his dreams, which he gave up to raise his son when you abandoned him.”

She shook her head. “You can’t really believe that.”

“Because you say it isn’t true?”

“I’m his mother.”

“Which hasn’t meant squat.”

“This isn’t going to end with your say-so. Danny is my son. That means legally, no matter what steps you may have taken.”

“So you’ll just rip him away from everything and everyone he knows and loves without a qualm.”

Leah swallowed. “I know my rights.”

“Kyle said that money ruled your conscience.”

She gasped. “That isn’t true.”

“Then think about Danny instead of yourself.” He walked toward her.

Automatically, Leah took a step backward.

Matt continued advancing. “He’s not a baby anymore. He’ll ask questions. About where you were.”

“I’ll tell him the truth.”

Matt scoffed. “And he’ll believe you? Why?”

“Because I’m his mother.” Even as she spoke, Leah recognized the futility of the words. Danny didn’t feel any connection to her. He would believe Matt. “You’re not going to dissuade me.” She could feel the pressure, the tightening in her chest, the ache against the back of her throat. But she wouldn’t give into tears in front of this man. “I’ll be back.”

Trying to look as though she were still in control, she fled before her emotions exploded. Back in the car, she drove only a short distance from his house before she pulled off the road onto a deserted cattle crossing. Then she let the tears flow. Ugly, painful sobs clutched her chest and scraped her throat.

Her baby.

He didn’t know her. He thought she’d tossed him aside. How was she going to fix that? And how was she going to explain that she had to take him away from the only parent he’d ever known?

Leah picked at her oatmeal the following morning. She’d considered calling her parents’ attorney, but Matt Whitaker’s words echoed through her mind.

Then it occurred to her that she had only his version of how Danny had arrived in Rosewood.

“More coffee?” Annie asked.

“Thanks.”

“You’re awfully quiet. Everything okay?”

Leah glanced around the dining room and saw that the only other guests remaining, an older couple, were gathering their things to leave for the day. “Not really.”

“I’m sorry. Anything I can do?”

“Do you have a minute?”

“Sure.”

Annie put the coffeepot on the sideboard, waved goodbye to the other guests and joined her.

Leah twisted the linen napkin, wondering how to begin.

Annie waited patiently.

“I need to know something.”

“I’ll tell you if I can.”

“Did you know John Johnson?”

Annie nodded. “Yes. It’s been a long time. He died…I’m not sure…seems like almost ten years ago.”

“Do you know anything about his child?”

She sighed. “Saddest thing. John met a girl in California. They got married and had a baby, but she ran out on him when the baby was just tiny. So John brought the baby back here, but he got killed in a car crash not long after he came home. His brother raised the boy like he was his own. He’s Matt Whitaker—the man you came here to talk to.” Her eyes widened.

Leah lowered her chin. “Is that what the whole town believes?”

Annie nodded slowly. “Leah?”

“Yes. I’m the girl. But it’s not true.” She looked into Annie’s honest eyes. “I need someone to trust.”

“I can keep your confidences…but, Leah, you have to know…the town feels really strongly about this. Everyone backs Matt. They admire how he took in the baby.”

“But they don’t know the truth.”

“It’s the truth everyone’s lived with for nearly a decade,” Annie reminded her gently. “Even if it wasn’t true to begin with, it’s going to be hard to convince people otherwise, especially after seeing a big strong guy like Matt with a baby. He’s raised Danny by himself…. He never married.”

Leah’s heart caught as she thought of all the time she’d missed, all the firsts, all the accomplishments.