She imagined what it would be like to have Grace here at her house, using the nursery she’d set up over a year ago. Would she ever be able to look at Grace and not think of her as Isabel? Not think of Jared?
Her cell phone trilled, and the caller ID flashed Jared’s name. Her heart rose to her throat as she lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello.”
“It’s me. I…think we should talk.”
Just hearing his voice made her ache with longing and regret. “I know.”
“Things got out of hand this morning, and…before you call a lawyer—”
“I just did. I have a meeting later today.”
His sigh hissed through the line. “Elise, don’t do this.”
An edge of defensiveness crept back into his tone, and her temper rose to meet it. “Don’t do what? Fight for my daughter?”
“Look, we don’t even have proof she is your daughter. You can’t—”
“Actually I do have proof.” She explained to him everything MysteryMom had said in her last email about the raid at Second Chance and how he and Kelly were one of three possible adoptive couples to have gotten Grace.
Her revelation met only silence from Jared.
Elise drew a deep breath. “And just to be absolutely sure, I want her DNA tested.”
“What!”
“My brother assures me they can do it with a simple cheek swab now. It’s quick and painless, and we can know for sure whether or not she’s Grace.”
“Elise, be reasonable. If we sit down and talk this out—”
“I am being reasonable, Jared. What’s not reasonable about a mother wanting her child returned to her!” When he didn’t answer, she checked to make sure the call hadn’t been dropped. “Jared?”
“I’m here.” The hopelessness that permeated his tone speared her heart.
“If you think we can talk without arguing again…” she finger-combed the hair off her forehead “…I’ll come by after my meeting with the lawyer. I have to pick up Brooke anyway.”
“I’ll be here. I’ve taken a personal day to handle this.”
“Okay.” Her pulse fluttered foolishly at the notion of seeing Jared again. Didn’t her heart realize he was the same man trying to take Grace from her permanently? She squeezed her eyes shut waiting for him to say goodbye, to hang up on her…something. Instead a heavy silence hung between them, vibrating over the cell connection and saying more than words could.
I hate this. I miss you. I’m sorry. But she said none of it. As much as it hurt to be at odds with Jared, Grace was her priority, and she couldn’t let her ill-conceived feelings for Jared stand in the way.
Finally, he heaved a sigh. “Where’s Solomon when you need him, huh?”
Elise frowned. “Solomon?”
“You know, the king in the Old Testament. When two women were fighting over a baby, he ordered the child cut in half.”
She nodded even though she knew he couldn’t see. “Oh, right. Him.” She dragged herself off the sofa and crossed the floor to stare out a window where a gentle rain had begun to fall. “I should go. I still have to call my boss and explain why I’m not coming in today.”
After hanging up with Jared, his comment echoed through her head.
Solomon. Two women.
In the Bible, the real mother had given up her claim on the baby to save her child’s life, had sacrificed her right to the infant out of deep abiding love. And Solomon had known, by her sacrifice, who the real mother was.
Jared paced across his living room, jangling the change in his pocket, anxiety and doubt knotting his gut.
“What’s going on?” Peter perched on the edge of the couch and shot him a troubled look. “You really scared Michelle on the phone. Is Isabel all right? Is she sick?”
He shook his head and fumbled for the right place to start. “It’s about Elise.”
“The lady you’ve been dating? Yeah, I like her. She’s smart, pretty—”
“She’s Isabel’s mother.”
Peter frowned and gave his head a little shake of confusion. “What? I thought you said Isabel’s mother was a teenager in Lake Charles.”
“That’s what we were told. We were lied to. Scammed.”
“And you know this how?”
“I’ve been helping Elise find out what happened to her baby ever since she got an email from this woman who calls herself MysteryMom, claiming that Elise’s baby didn’t die after birth like she’d been told.”
Peter eased back on the sofa, his expression dark and wary. “Hell. I see where this is going.”
Jared explained everything that had happened in the past few weeks, from Elise being run off the road and her home searched to the latest revelations about Second Chance.
“Not all of the children come through the black market, but MysteryMom found proof that Second Chance had an arrangement with Arrimand. When they find a desperate and gullible couple like us—” He didn’t bother hiding his disgust and irritation “—They had an elaborate system in place for securing all the falsified documents to cover their tracks.”
“And you’ve seen proof that Elise’s baby was stolen? That Isabel was a black-market baby? Specifically her baby?”
Jared sighed and stopped in front of the window to stare at a bird chirping on an oak tree in the yard. His throat tightened with guilt over all he’d hidden from Elise. “I’ve had suspicions for days. Too many things matched up to be coincidence.” He blew out a deep breath and raked both hands through his hair in frustration. “But I didn’t say anything to Elise, because I wasn’t sure, and… I didn’t want to believe it was true.”
He faced his brother, the same heartsick dread filling him that had guided his actions the past few days. “Then, this morning, Elise heard from MysteryMom that her agents working the case had narrowed down the number of families that could have gotten Grace to three. We were one of the couples on her list.”
“But that’s not—”
“This morning Elise was changing Isabel’s clothes. She took Izzy’s shirt off and saw the birthmark on Isabel’s shoulder. She swears Grace, her daughter, had a birthmark just like Isabel’s.”
Peter shook his head and held up his hands. “Lots of babies have birthmarks. That’s not—”
“She saw the birthmark before she heard from MysteryMom. She didn’t know about Isabel’s birthmark until today, but now Elise is convinced.” Jared resumed pacing. “She’s planning to see a lawyer to get Grace back even as we speak.”
Peter cursed and scrubbed a hand over his face.
“And if the birthmark and the evidence MysteryMom found aren’t enough to win her case, Elise wants a DNA test to prove she’s Isabel’s biological mother.”
“Can she force you to comply?” his brother asked.
Jared stopped his restless wandering and slumped down in a recliner. “She doesn’t have to. All you have to do is look at the two of them together and it’s obvious. Isabel looks like Elise. She responds to Elise as if she instinctively knows there’s a physical bond between them.” A razor-like sorrow flayed his heart, and defeat settled on him, dark and heavy. “How do I let Isabel go? I don’t think I can stand losing her on top of Kelly.”
And Elise. The knife of despair already buried in his chest twisted, digging deeper.
He’d fallen in love with Elise, and now, because he’d tried to avoid the truth, tried to protect Isabel, he’d lost Elise’s trust and respect. She’d filed him in the same category as the other monsters who’d conspired to steal her daughter. Not that he blamed her. If someone had tried to keep him from finding Isabel, he’d be livid, as well.
“You can’t seriously be considering giving Isabel up. Hire your own lawyer! Fight her! You’re Isabel’s father, dammit!”
He faced Peter. “Maybe in my heart, but not biologically. She has the advantage.”
“But your adoption—”
“Was arranged through fraud and kidnapping and—”
“You had no knowledge o
f any of those crimes.” Peter aimed a finger at him to punctuate his point. “You adopted her in good faith.”
Jared scoffed. “Do you really think a judge is going to give a flip about my intentions or my good faith?”
Peter shoved to his feet. “But it’s been more than a year.”
“Elise never gave permission for the adoption! Her baby was stolen from her. She was lied to. She believed Grace was dead.” The agonizing truth landed in his chest like a wrecking ball. “She has every right to claim her daughter.”
Now Peter paced the floor. “There’s gotta be something you can do!” He pivoted on his heel and aimed a finger at Jared. “Run. Take Isabel and disappear. Go to another state.”
He gave his brother a weary glance. “I considered it. Was prepared to do just that this morning right before Elise figured out the truth.” Guilt gnawed his gut. “But kidnapping Isabel and becoming a fugitive isn’t the answer.”
Peter turned up a hand in concession. “I suppose you’re right.” He paced away then spun back toward Jared, his face brightening. “Oh, my God. It’s so obvious! You care about Elise, right? I mean, the night you were over here it was pretty clear you’d fallen for her.”
A bittersweet pang plucked his heart. “I love her.”
“Perfect! So marry her and Isabel comes, too, as part of the package.”
A fragile hope blossomed in Jared’s soul, warming him from the inside out. Before she’d discovered his cover-up, Elise had seemed happy with him. Though she’d never voiced her feelings, he believed she’d cared for him, that she’d loved him. But he’d broken her trust, the very thing that had scarred her in past relationships and kept her from opening her heart to him unconditionally. He’d betrayed their friendship. Hoping that she’d forgive him and accept his proposal was a long shot.
Unless…
Maybe she’d give marriage a chance if he convinced her it was what was best for Grace.
Grabbing his keys from his pocket, he hurried to the front door. “Can y’all watch Isabel for a couple hours?”
Peter tailed him to the door. “Sure, but…where are you going?”
“To buy an engagement ring and find Elise.”
Chapter 13
Elise couldn’t sit still. Nervous energy pulsed through her veins, and her mind jumped from one thought to another, dragging her emotions on a roller coaster.
She needed to get Grace’s nursery ready. Could she even change her name to Grace after she’d learned the name Isabel?
How long would it take to get a hearing scheduled? How could Jared have hidden the truth from her?
How could she take Isabel from the only parent she’d ever known? How could she take Jared’s daughter from him?
How did she survive the ache of knowing someone else she loved had betrayed her? Had Jared known the truth about Isabel when he’d made love to her? He’d said he only suspected after hearing about Second Chance, but how could she trust anything he’d told her in light of his deception?
Would she be compelled to testify at Dr. Arrimand’s trial? How long would it take to round up everyone involved? How long would she be in danger?
When would MysteryMom know—
Her doorbell pealed, interrupting her latest round of turbulent thoughts. Elise started for the door, assuming it was Michael returning as he’d promised.
“Elise? Are you there?”
Jared. Her mouth dried, and bittersweet anguish twisted her heart. She wasn’t prepared to face him. Her emotions were too raw and unsettled.
“Please, Elise,” he called through the closed door. “I know you’re home. Let me in. We have to talk.”
She yanked open the door. “Why are you here? I told you I’d come by your place after I talked to my lawyer.”
“I know, but I have an idea to propose. I think we can figure this out so that we both win.” His face was bright with optimism, and her spirits stirred with hopeful anticipation.
The prospect of a mutually agreeable solution intrigued her even though his choice of words bothered her. “We both win? Jared, this isn’t a competition. Grace is not some prize to be won or lost!”
He held up a hand in concession. “Agreed. Poor choice of words. I’m sorry.”
Elise studied him, and another piece of her anger toward him melted. He looked a mess. His hair was thoroughly ruffled, evidence he’d plowed his fingers through it numerous times today in frustration. Despite the light of optimism in his eyes, his face was lined and haggard. She remembered seeing a similar face staring back at her from her mirror in the weeks following the news that Grace had died. Now, he faced losing his daughter, and he was in hell.
A prick of empathy for his agony compelled her to let him inside, despite the hurt and anger she harbored for his lies and silence. After shutting the door, Elise folded her arms over her chest as she faced him, holding herself together with her last threads of control. What she wanted was to throw herself into his arms and soak up the strength and security she’d relished in his embrace as recently as yesterday.
Meeting his dark gaze, she felt her heart crack just a little more. “Go ahead,” she said, hoping he didn’t hear the quiver in her voice.
“First of all, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you my suspicions sooner. When I realized Isabel could be yours, I…was selfish. I could only think of what it would mean to lose her. I panicked.”
“You said you have an idea to solve this?” she prompted without acknowledging his apology. She wasn’t ready to forgive him yet. Too much was at stake. Her pain went too deep, and the cut was too new.
He flashed her an uneasy grin. “The answer is obvious, really. I’m her father. You’re her mother.”
She stared at him blankly, even though her brain was already miles ahead of him.
“If we lived together, Isabel could have both of us. We could share custody.”
“Share her?”
“It makes sense, doesn’t it?”
“Isn’t that a bit like cutting her in half? Am I supposed to cry foul now and give her up rather than start a tug of-war over her?”
“No tug-of-war, Elise. I’m suggesting we marry.”
A patter of wistful yearning fluttered in her chest, but she kept her face impassive. No matter how much she longed for the kind of domestic bliss and family he described, she refused to settle for a marriage of convenience. Grace deserved to be raised in a home where her parents loved each other as much as they loved her.
And I deserve to be loved for who I am, not just a means to an end.
“We don’t have to turn this into a bitter and expensive custody battle with lawyers and judges, Elise.”
She stiffened. “Is that what this is about for you? Avoiding the costs and hardship of a lawsuit?”
He shifted his weight, his expression uneasy. “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t part of my reasoning.”
“Oh, but you’re so good at lying.” Her tone dripped sarcasm. “Why stop now?” The words slipped out before she could stop them, some cruel part of her wanting to hurt him the way he’d hurt her.
Jared flinched, and his face reflected the pain she’d inflicted.
Elise was shaking so hard she could barely stand. Dragging in a ragged breath, she slid to the floor. Tears blurred her vision, and bile filled her throat. What was she doing? This horrible situation wasn’t Jared’s fault. What kind of man, what kind of father would he be if he didn’t fight for his daughter? She clutched her stomach, swallowing hard to force down the sour taste of anguish.
Jared stalked several steps away before shoving both hands through his hair and growling his frustration. “I’m sorry, Elise. I should have never lied to you. I should have leveled with you from the beginning, just like we promised each other. Brutal honesty. No pulling punches.”
Then with a harsh exhale, he dropped his hands to his sides and crossed the floor to her. He crouched in front of her, his face shadowed with sadness. He reached for her before apparently thinking be
tter of it and withdrawing his hand. “I didn’t come here to fight with you. I don’t want us to be adversaries in this.”
“Neither do I.”
His cheek twitched in a rueful grin. “That’s good. Can we start over? Pretend this morning never happened?”
She sighed and averted her gaze, unable to bear seeing the turbulent emotion in his eyes any longer. “Jared…”
“I came here for a reason. I’m trying to fix this mess.” He fumbled in his jacket pocket, and said, “I brought you this.”
She angled a cautious glance to see what he had.
He held out a ring box, and the weight in her chest sank harder against her lungs. Under other circumstances, she’d be weeping tears of joy, cherishing this moment as a dream come true. But the moisture that leaked from her eyes was born of regret, her mind rebelling at the sight of the velvet box.
“Marry me, Elise. Marry me and raise Isabel with me.” He cracked it open to reveal the diamond solitaire inside. A lovely ring, but not the one she’d dreamed of when she imagined this moment as a girl. Everything about his proposal felt wrong. His ring, his motive, his reasoning.
A sinking realization settled over her, clarifying what her instincts were saying. The ring he was offering had nothing to do with love. Not for her, anyway.
The courts would give Grace back to her, she was almost certain. In time, she’d have her daughter again, even if he put up a fight. His marriage proposal was rooted in his desperation to keep the baby he thought of as his daughter. He didn’t want a wife. He wanted Isabel.
Tears puddled in her eyes, blurring her vision as she stared at him, willing him to say he loved her. Praying he’d give her some reason to believe in his feelings for her.
But he didn’t.
“No.”
“Elise?” he said, a note of panic creeping into his tone. “Getting married is the perfect solution. And having both of us around is what’s best for Isabel.”
She swiped angrily at the moisture on her cheek. “Her name is Grace.”
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