Hero Dad

by Marta Perry

  He couldn’t honestly say he knew how he’d have reacted. He would hope he could have been fair to her, but he just didn’t know.

  He shook his head, trying to free himself from the doubts that cluttered his mind. “What about this supposed story of yours? Are you really a photographer? Does the magazine even exist or is that a figment of your imagination, too?”

  A flush came up in her cheeks. “Of course I’m a photographer. You saw the magazine articles I brought to the house.”

  Apparently she could be touched on the subject of her profession, if nothing else. “That doesn’t explain the story you were supposed to be writing.”

  “I thought about how I could approach you. How you might respond. I didn’t know what Lisa had told you about me. So I decided to ask for help from an editor I often work with. She was pleased with the story idea.”

  “So you got in touch with the chief.” She had a pretty devious mind to have figured all this out just to get near his family.

  “He wanted the publicity the article would give the department. It wasn’t difficult to make sure he assigned you to help me.”

  “And the story? Did you ever intend for it to see the light of day?”

  That flush touched her cheeks again. “I’d like it to. I guess at this point it depends on you.”

  He couldn’t even consider that now. “You used it to get close to me. You used me to get close to my son.”

  The thought of that deception burned. He hadn’t just been fooled. He’d been attracted. He’d kissed her. He’d trusted her.

  “I just wanted to be sure Davy was all right.” She clenched her hands tightly in her lap. “I thought I could assess the situation from the outside, figure out if he needed anything. Decide how best to handle the trust.”

  “You could have done that without lying to us.” To me, Julie. You lied to me when you kissed me.

  “I thought it was best to do it without getting emotionally involved.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Are you cold enough to do that?”

  “No.” Shame and regret mingled in her face. “I’m not.”

  He thought that was the truest thing she’d said. He wasn’t ready to forgive her, not by a long shot. But he could accept that she was hurting, too.

  “What about your father? Was he in on this?”

  “No. I didn’t tell him. This is why I had to keep it a secret.”

  Suspicion flared. “You said he hired the private investigator. You’d better try harder to keep your stories straight.”

  Those soft lips of hers tightened to a thin line. “I didn’t tell him, but he found out. He hired the investigator. I didn’t know anything about it until Brendan and Claire found out who he was.”

  This was like fighting his way through a smoky fire, not knowing which way was up. “You know about it now. Why did he do that? What’s he after?”

  Her gaze slid away from his. “He told me that he wanted the same thing I did. To be sure Davy was safe and happy and had everything he needed.”

  “Well, why didn’t he just ask me? I might not like it, but I wouldn’t have refused to speak with Davy’s grandfather. Who is he, anyway?”

  Julie stared at him, her eyes wide. “You really don’t know who our father is?”

  He moved impatiently. “Would I be asking if I knew?”

  Julie tried to think this through rationally. She’d assumed that at some point Lisa would have told Seth her father’s identity, even though she’d made it clear she didn’t want to have anything to do with him.

  But Seth hadn’t known. Was it going to make a difference in his attitude when he found out?

  She watched him, intent on his reaction. “Our father is Ronald Phillip Alexander.”

  He frowned. “Ronald Alexander? Are you talking about the Ronald Alexander who’s supposed to be one of the richest men in Maryland?”

  “The sixth richest, according to the last article I read that compared things like that.”

  Seth’s face hardened. “I don’t care how rich the man is. Why didn’t he just come to me if he wanted to know something about Davy? Why did he hire a private investigator? Is that how you people deal with family?”

  “There’s no ‘you people’ about it.” She managed a little tartness in her voice at that. “Please don’t classify me with him. I lead my own life, and I don’t depend on Alexander money to do it.”

  “I remember what you said about your family.” His gaze probed. “Was that the truth?”

  Small wonder that he questioned everything she’d said to him. “Yes. I just didn’t say that there’d been a daughter of that second marriage. Lisa.”

  He looked at her steadily. “I’ll try and believe that, Julie. But I still want to know why he hired a private investigator.”

  “I talked to him over the weekend. That was why I went back to Baltimore after I found out about the detective.”

  “Not to see your editor.”

  “No.” He was probably counting up the lies she’d told. “I talked with my father. He told me that he didn’t want to interfere in Davy’s life. He just wants to be sure he’s all right, and to get enough information to set up a trust for Davy in his will.”

  She thought about the rest of what he’d said—that he didn’t want the Flanagans coming to him for money. He didn’t know them.

  “Look, I don’t know how many times I have to say it. I don’t want anything from him, and Davy doesn’t need anything. I can take care of my son.”

  Her fingers were numb from clenching them so tightly. “It may not be that easy. He seems very determined. He asked me—” She’d like those words back, but it was too late.

  “He asked you what?”

  “He agreed to call off the private investigator if I’d take care of getting the information for him.”

  “That’s what you were doing today. Checking my personnel records so you could run to him with them.” The wave of anger that came from him was so hot it was a wonder it didn’t scorch the bench.

  “You have every right to be angry. I wouldn’t have agreed to do it, but he’d just have sent another investigator if I hadn’t.” She hesitated, trying to be sure she wasn’t making excuses. “I hope that’s why I agreed. I still find it difficult to say no to him.”

  “That’s funny, because it doesn’t bother me at all. I guess I’d better tell him myself to stay out of our lives.”

  “Don’t do that.” She hadn’t known how much she feared that outcome until he said it. “Please. Don’t start a battle with him.”

  His jaw hardened. “I’m not looking to go to battle. He’s Lisa’s father, after all. Surely it’s possible to have a civil conversation with him and point out politely that he wasn’t part of his daughter’s world while she was alive, and it’s too late to mend that now.”

  Something inside her shuddered at the thought of Seth heading into a confrontation with her father and getting mauled in the process.

  “Please, don’t.” She leaned toward him, wanting to touch him but not daring to. “I know you don’t have any reason to trust me, but believe me when I say that you don’t want to make an enemy of my father.”

  “I’m not afraid of him, Julie. It’s pretty clear that you and Lisa were, but I’m not.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut for an instant against the pain that swept over her. “You’ve never dealt with anyone like him before.”

  “You mean an ordinary firefighter doesn’t know how to mix with the rich and famous.”

  “No.” She hoped he could read the sincerity in her eyes. “I mean that you’re an honest, honorable man. And he’s a powerful, devious one. I don’t want you to get hurt. More importantly, I don’t want Davy to get hurt.”

  Probably only the mention of Davy made him pause. “All right. What do you suggest?”

  “Please, just let me deal with him. He doesn’t ever have to know that we had this conversation. With a little luck, you’ll never hear from him again. If he lea
ves money to Davy, you can put it in the bank and ignore it until he’s old enough to know about it.”

  Please.

  Seth surged to his feet, as if he couldn’t be still any longer. Took a step away from her, then swung back. She could see the battle that raged inside him. A lot of that anger was still directed at her, obviously. How could it be otherwise?

  I told myself I was doing what was best for Davy, Lord. I just succeeded in hurting everyone, and I don’t know how to make this right.

  “I’ll think about it,” Seth said. “I’ll talk it over with the family. Unlike your family, we actually talk to each other.”

  She couldn’t say anything to that. It was true.

  “All right.” She stood, trying to make it sound as if this were any goodbye. “I’ll stay at the hotel until I hear from you.”

  He gave a curt nod. “I’ll get back to you. But understand this, Julie. I’m not going to let anyone interfere with the way I raise my son. If you can’t tell your father that, I will.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Julie pulled the rental car to the curb in front of the Flanagan house the next night, her fingers cold when she switched off the ignition. She’d spent twenty-four hours cooped up in her hotel room, waiting for something to happen. For Seth to call, or for her father to call, or for a band of Flanagans to turn up with tar and feathers.

  Finally Seth had phoned. His voice had been cool and businesslike, giving nothing away. He’d asked her to come to the house tonight to meet with the family. The trouble was, they’d both known this call wasn’t an invitation. It was a summons.

  Please, Lord. She gripped the steering wheel with both hands. I know I’ve messed up everything. I was wrong to go into this by trying to deceive them, no matter how good I thought my reasons were. Please show me a way to help them. Please forgive me.

  If they wouldn’t listen to her, if Seth insisted on confronting her father, she didn’t know what would happen. She just knew it would be bad.

  She slid out of the car, tugging her jacket down, hoping she could manage to look calm and collected in front of Seth’s family, no matter what they said. Probably the best she could expect was that she’d manage to save her tears for later, when she was alone.

  The light that poured from the windows didn’t look welcoming now, and the curving walk was too short. It got her to the front door too fast.

  She stopped at the top of the stairs, her fingers clenching the strap of her handbag. She didn’t have her camera to hide behind tonight. She had to face people who had every reason to hate her.

  Her finger was still on the doorbell when Seth opened the door. Silhouetted against the light behind him, he was a tall, ominous figure. She could read nothing of his expression.

  “Julie. Come in.”

  She nodded, trying to swallow the lump in her throat, and stepped inside. This was going to hurt, and there was no way around it.

  Brendan, Ryan and Terry sat next to each other on the sofa. Seth’s parents occupied their usual chairs. Only Gabe and Mary Kate were missing. She struggled to steel herself against the antagonistic glances sent her way. The Flanagans were lined up like a jury ready to convict.

  Seth gestured to a chair that had been set to face the others. The defendant’s seat, she supposed. She sat down, her bag dropping to the floor from nerveless fingers.

  Seth went to lean against the fireplace, as if he couldn’t relax enough to sit down. The glance he turned on her was one he’d turn on a stranger.

  No, that was wrong. He’d be friendly to a stranger, with that open, easy grin that lit his eyes. He looked at her as if she were an enemy.

  “I’ve told the family what I found out from you yesterday.” No more secrets, he seemed to be saying. “We thought we’d better clear things up with you.”

  “There’s plenty to clear up.” Terry’s voice was edgy and antagonistic. The camaraderie they’d shared at the fire was gone.

  Brendan touched Terry’s arm, and she subsided.

  Obviously they’d planned this for when Davy was in bed. Would she ever see him again? Her heart splintered. They had the power to shut her off from him forever.

  She’d better say what she had to as quickly as possible, while she could.

  “I’d like to begin by apologizing to you.” Her voice sounded steadier than she’d have thought possible, given the fact that pain had a stranglehold on her throat. “I’m sorry that I deceived you about who I am and why I was here. You’ve been nothing but kind to me and you didn’t deserve to be treated that way.”

  Joe leaned forward, hands on his knees, his square face set. “Seth told us what you said, but I still don’t get why you didn’t just tell us who you are. We wouldn’t have tried to keep you from seeing Davy.”

  “I know that now. I didn’t then.” She swallowed. How could she explain a family like hers to them? “Lisa had made it clear that she didn’t want any contact with her family, but when I learned about her death, I felt I had to be sure her son was all right.”

  Siobhan glanced at Seth. “We should have gotten in touch with Lisa’s people at the time Lisa died. I knew it wasn’t right.”

  “I can understand why you didn’t.” She didn’t look at Seth, because she didn’t want to see the dislike in his eyes. “Lisa felt that cutting ties with her family completely was the only way she could make a life for herself, and Seth wanted to respect that. Maybe she was right.”

  “So you thought you’d come and see that Davy was okay.” Brendan’s voice was carefully neutral. “Then what were you going to do?”

  “Disappear.” That was an easy answer, although it had proved impossible to do. “That seemed best. I’d have tried to figure out a way to ensure Davy had the income from his mother’s trust, but I didn’t intend to make myself known to you.”

  “Why not?” Ryan shot the words at her, his expressive eyes showing contempt. “Afraid we’d hit you up for a loan?”

  It was close enough to what her father had said to give her pause. “No. I just thought it would be better—safer—if my father didn’t know anything about Davy.”

  “I don’t understand.” Siobhan looked distressed. “He’s Davy’s grandfather, even if he and Lisa never got along. We wouldn’t try to keep him from seeing Davy.”

  She didn’t know how to explain Ronald Alexander to someone like Siobhan—someone who created a home filled with love and happiness for anyone who walked through the door. This place must have seemed like heaven to Lisa.

  “My father is not a kind person,” she said carefully. “I was afraid that if he knew about Davy, he’d try to interfere in his life.”

  Seth shifted his weight on the balls of his feet, as if preparing for a fight. “I’m Davy’s father. There’s nothing he can do.”

  “I wish I could agree with that, but I can’t.” She had to make Seth understand the danger. “I’ve seen my father wield power. Maybe he couldn’t actually take Davy away from you, but he can afford all the high-powered lawyers in the state if he wants. He could make your lives miserable.”

  Ryan shot to his feet. “That’s crazy. Just because you and Lisa were afraid of him, you think everyone should be.” He glared at her. “He can’t do anything to us.”

  She wouldn’t let herself rub the throbbing that had begun in her temples, because it would be a sign of weakness.

  “You’ve already had a little taste of it, with the private investigator looking into Seth’s life. That wasn’t pleasant, was it?”

  “I can put up with it.” Seth’s voice was curt. “I’m not afraid of your father.”

  “Maybe you should be.” The support came, unexpectedly, from Joe. His ruddy face darkened. “I’ve seen plenty of dirty tricks in my time. It’s a bad combination for a man to have lots of money and no sense of shame.”

  Joe had put his finger on it exactly, without ever having met her father. Ronald Alexander had no sense of shame. He did what suited him, without regard for whether it was right or wro
ng, only whether it was against the law.

  “Even it that’s true, Dad, what do you expect me to do?” Seth looked baffled and angry. “I can’t wait around for the man to cause trouble for my son. I should go and see him.”

  She took a long breath, trying to relax her throat enough to speak evenly. “I realize you don’t want to take my word for anything, but I believe it would be a mistake to confront him. Right now, he says he just wants to know enough about the situation to make proper provision for Davy in his will. If you see him, especially if you get his back up, he’s capable of causing trouble just because—well, because that’s how he is.”

  She’d never been able to understand what made her father the person he was. She probably never would.

  Ryan gave a short laugh. “Maybe you should listen to her, Seth. It sounds like he could make even you angry.”

  “So what are you suggesting, Julie?” Siobhan looked at her gravely, her eyes seeming to stare right to her soul.

  They seemed to be softening. Now was her chance.

  Please, Lord, make them listen.

  “I think I should stay in Suffolk a few more days, sending my father the reports he asked for. If he meant what he said about not interfering, he’ll rewrite his will and that should be the end of it. You won’t have to worry about us any longer.”

  I’ll go out of your life, Seth. I know that’s what you want.

  Seth frowned. “I don’t like to do nothing.”

  “We won’t,” Joe said. “We’ll get a lawyer lined up, just in case we need one. But if doing it Julie’s way avoids a fight, so much the better.” He glanced around the room from face to face. “Well?”

  One after the other, they nodded.

  Apparently they had an agreement. She stood, wanting nothing more than to be out of there before the weight of her pain crashed down on her. “I’ll let you know anything I hear from him.”

  “You’d better.” Seth’s tone was implacable. “If your way doesn’t work, we’ll deal with him ourselves.”