“So what’s going to happen? What are we going to do now?”
For the first time in two days, Sin and Nedra smiled. Neither of them was surprised that their son would want to be in this fray with them, and he did deserve a place there.
“Our next step is breaking the news to your brother that another man is claiming him as his son,” Nedra said.
* * *
Nedra adjusted Trevor’s lithe form in her arms as she rose from the rocking chair to put him in the bed. He was growing so fast. His legs were getting long. She gave him a peck on the cheek. It seemed that he was such a little thing when she used to rock him to sleep nightly. He had always been small for his age, but like his brother, he was rapidly getting taller. She liked to think that it was the love and care that she and Sin gave to them that was responsible for their healthy development.
Placing Trevor in the bed, she covered him with a sheet. Immediately, he flipped it off his body. He didn’t like a lot of cover over him. That was one of those little quirks that only parents knew about their children. It was something that this Jamison man didn’t know. That was for sure. Nedra sank onto the bed to sit beside her sleeping son.
If she lived to be a hundred years old, she would never forget the look on his face when he was told about his biological father. It was a look of pure terror, and it broke her heart. He had a barrage of questions.
“How can the man be my father and not Colin’s?”
Sin handled that one. “Children can have the same mother and not the same father and still be brothers and sisters.”
“So Colin’s still my brother, right?”
“Nothing will ever stop me from being your brother.” Colin’s words were emphatic, filled with not only passion but with his anger about the situation that had turned their lives inside out. His demeanor frightened Trevor.
“Why does that guy want to bother me?”
Nedra sought to reassure him. “We’re your parents, Trevor. We love you, Colin and Gillian more than anything in this world. Your biological father didn’t know that he had such a wonderful little boy, so when he found out, he was curious about you. That’s not that unusual. You’ll meet him. He’ll meet you and then…”
“Then I can come home?” He sounded so hopeful. His eyes reflected all of the trust he had in his parents to tell him the absolute truth. But how could they make promises that they might not be able to keep? Sin responded.
“We’ll do everything we can to see that you come home to us.”
The boy seemed to relax a little as Nedra hugged him to her. He had heard the words “come home,” but Colin had heard the words “do everything we can.” They weren’t reassuring enough for him. Her eyes caught those of her eldest son, and she could see the fear. It matched her own.
Nedra caressed her son’s head as he slept peacefully. How long that would last was in question. The first night had been rough. Trevor’s night had been a sleepless one with occasional tears. That was when she started rocking him, four days ago. The situation that they found themselves in was overwhelming for the adults, and it had to be doubly so for a little boy.
When he was much younger, reading to Trevor and rocking him had been a nightly ritual. Then a year ago when he turned eight and realized that his little sister was being rocked also, he made the announcement that he was too big for the “baby stuff,” and the rocking ceased.
She and Sin had discussed its resurgence, and they had disagreed. He felt that it was regression, that she was “babying” him. She had informed him testily that he was correct, Trevor was her baby. What she hadn’t told him was that she needed to rock him for her own peace of mind. The warmth of his body snuggled against her own was reassuring. It reconfirmed her motherhood, offered her comfort and much needed hope. Each time that she held him close to her, she prayed that she would not have to let him go.
The sound of the bedroom door opening caught her attention. Sin entered the room. He had checked on Colin and rocked Gillian to sleep. He had no objection to his daughter being rocked since she was only five.
Walking over to the bed, he smiled down at their son. “How’s he doing?”
Nedra continued stoking Trevor’s hair. “He fell asleep right away.”
“Did he ask any questions today?”
Every question that their child had about what was occurring they vowed to answer to the best of their ability.
“No, none tonight. What about Gillian?”
They had decided to share with their daughter what was happening with Trevor at a later date, but ever vigilant, Gillian had sensed that something was wrong that Monday morning at breakfast. Although Nedra and Sin tried to present happy façades for the sake of the children, neither Trevor nor Colin could conceal their anxieties. Their sister knew that something was wrong. Having been asleep during the Sunday night revelation, she had not been included in the family session. Subsequently, she had badgered the boys so mercilessly for information that they had threatened not to talk to her again. Finally, her parents decided to tell her as simply as possible what was occurring. They told her that Trevor had two daddies and that his first one wanted to meet him. Every day she continued to ask questions that could help her understand what was happening.
Sin sighed as he thought about their precocious daughter. There was no doubt that she kept him on his toes. “Tonight, she asked me why God let bad things happen to people.”
“Oh, Lord.” A lump formed in Nedra’s throat. She swallowed it. These last four days had been difficult for everyone in the family, including their little girl. The boys were quiet and withdrawn. Nedra had trouble sleeping. Since Sunday, she had not slept more than three hours at night, and each time that she awakened, she would find her husband already awake. A pall had fallen over the once happy household. The uncertainty of the future had everyone concerned.
Chapter 12
On Monday Nedra and Sin met with the attorney that Sash Adams-Plaine had recommended. His name was Donovan Murdock. In his late thirties, his youthful face belied the sharp mind behind the round, wire-rimmed glasses he wore and the head full of unruly hair. Her mother used the term “red bone” to describe African Americans with red coloring. Nedra had never asked where the term came from, and she hoped that the words weren’t derogatory, but it was an apt description of Donovan. His round, light brown face was open and friendly and filled with freckles. Both his hair and his moustache were a dusty red. He was a man who spoke softly and listened closely. He also took copious notes. She liked him the minute that she met him. Sin chose to reserve his opinion until he got the desired results, but they both liked the fact that he worked quickly.
On Tuesday, he called and informed them that he had set up a meeting with Jamison’s attorney. Wednesday when he called, he informed them that he and the attorney wanted the Reasoners and Jamison to meet. Nedra was willing, but the issue became one on which she and Sin disagreed.
“What’s the point?” He had fumed last night as she attempted to discuss the matter with him. “The man wants our son, and we don’t plan on letting him have him. Case closed.”
She hadn’t pressed the issue then, but it had to be decided. The sadness that engulfed the household threatened to become impregnable. She didn’t want that to happen. Perhaps if they met the man—
“What did you tell her?” she asked referring to the heartbreaking question their daughter had asked.
“I told her that I didn’t know.” There was a tinge of bitterness in Sin’s voice. He kissed Trevor on his brow.
He and Nedra left the room. When they entered their bedroom, he headed for the bathroom while Nedra went out onto the balcony for a breath of air. Leaning against the rail, she inhaled deeply. The air was fresh and crisp; the sound of the ocean tide in the distance was soothing. Hugging herself, she let the hypnotic rhythm of the sea pacify her. She needed this. She didn’t know that Sin had joined her on the balcony until he slipped his arms around her.
“What are yo
u thinking?” he whispered, pulling her back against him. Nedra relaxed in his arms. He placed a kiss in her hair.
“I was thinking about how precarious life can be. It can change in the blink of an eye, so we have to enjoy every second that God gives us.”
Sin sighed, but didn’t answer. “Let’s go inside. Your arms are cold.” Nedra followed him into the bedroom.
Normally, Nedra would take a shower before retiring for the night, but she needed more. The whirlpool was beckoning, but instead of heading for the bathroom, she flopped down listlessly on the bed. She watched Sin as he moved around the room getting ready to retire.
“You know that we have to make a decision about meeting with Jamison.”
Sin kept moving. “Why?”
Nedra frowned. “Why what?”
“Why should we meet with him at all?”
“Oh, Sinclair!” Nedra shut her eyes for a moment. She could feel a headache coming on as well as a fight. She didn’t need either.
Sin had made his position clear with Donovan. He didn’t plan on giving up any parental rights, DNA or not. The attorney had recognized that it was a mixture of pain and fear speaking, not rationale. He hadn’t argued. She didn’t want to do so either, but it was time to talk reality. She could no longer let her husband put his head in the sand.
Sighing heavily, she sat up and propped her back against a multitude of decorative pillows adorning the custom-made king-size bed. “Honey, this is not going to go away no matter how much we might want it to. The proof of his parentage can’t be denied.”
“But we need to know something about what kind of man this Jamison dude is.”
“And that’s exactly why we should meet him.”
Annoyed, Sin came and stood over her. He folded his arms across his chest and glared at Nedra. “And how is meeting him one time going to accomplish that?”
Nedra ignored the sarcasm she heard in his voice. “It accomplishes more than not meeting him at all! He wants to see his son…”
“Correction! He wants to take our son.”
“If we met him, maybe we can talk him into settling for visitation rights rather than full custody.”
“Visitation?” Sin recoiled.
“Like it or not, this man will have some kind of influence over our child, and I need to know if it’s going to be a positive or a negative one.”
Once again, Sin didn’t answer. His expression was tight. Walking around to his side of the bed, he slipped out of his silk robe and tossed it on the bed. Pulling the covers back, he crawled in beside her and jerked the sheet over his naked body. Nedra could feel the tension radiating from him. She knew that he was shutting her out. It was time to give him space.
Rising, she went into the bathroom where she undressed and ran water into the Japanese soaking tub, one of the many amenities they enjoyed in their ultra-modern bathroom. She stepped into the soothing waters and leaned back to enjoy the sensation.
The winds of change were rising in her family’s lives, and they were far from pleasant. She could only pray that things would get better.
This disagreement between them gave her an uneasy feeling nestled deep in the pit of her stomach. She and Sinclair talked about everything. This had become an intricate part of their marriage, but this situation with Trevor threatened to bring changes that could break more than their hearts, and it was scary.
Sinking deeper in the temperate water, Nedra closed her eyes. She knew her husband well, and she was very much aware of the power that she held over him. He wasn’t one to withdraw from her, especially at a time like this. Normally, she could expect him to creep silently into the bathroom, lock the door behind him and join her. This tub was their private playground almost as often as the shower. They would pleasure one another in secret ways known only to each of them, and then they would…
Behind closed lids, Nedra listened to the distinctive sound of the bathroom door slowly opening and closing, then—click. The sound of bare feet against plush carpeting brought a slight smile to her face. It was good to know that some things hadn’t changed—yet.
* * *
“So Winston refuses to help you at all?” Angry, Carla slammed a pot down on the top of the electric range.
Sharon almost winced at the tone of incredulity in her voice. She felt bad enough about Winston’s refusal, and her friend wasn’t helping the situation. Gripping the telephone receiver, she stood at the open window in her bedroom and stared blankly at the colorful garden below. The floral fragrance tickled her nostrils, but it did nothing to relieve her distress.
“But Trevor is your godson, for goodness sakes!” Carla continued. “That means that he’s your husband’s godson, too, by marriage, or something like that. I just don’t believe that he could be that insensitive.”
“He’s not insensitive. It’s just that this is business…”
“Business my butt! This is a child’s life…a family’s future. To hell with his business!” This time it was a frying pan that got the abuse. She abandoned her attempt at dinner to turn her attention to more important matters. “If he can do something about stopping this Jamison guy from taking Trevor, then he ought to do it. What kind of man is he anyway?” She wasn’t giving an inch.
“He’s a good man, Carla.” Sharon drifted across the room to sit on the bed.
“That’s what you used to say about Richard.”
Sharon bristled. “Listen, I am tired of you bringing up Richard’s name every time it looks like I’m making a mistake with a man!”
“Don’t jump on me because your husband’s a traitor.”
“A traitor!” Her words brought Sharon to her feet. “You better get yourself together and get off my man’s case! He didn’t even know Trevor or anybody in the Reasoner family a few months ago. You can’t expect him to come riding to the rescue for people who are practically strangers!”
“Hell, he married a stranger. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
Sharon was so stunned by Carla’s words that for a moment she was speechless.
“Yeah, I said it and I meant it. You brought home a stranger as your husband, Sharon. Somebody that you met on vacation. We, your family, the people who love you, accepted the man with open arms. He seems like a decent guy. With time maybe I could come to love him, too, but I don’t really know him, and time is running out. My godson—your godson—a beautiful, talented, loving little boy might lose his family, and your husband might be in a position to help him and he refuses to do it. I can’t accept that. I won’t accept that. So, I’m hanging up now because if your position is to defend that, I’d rather not continue this conversation. Love you. Good bye.”
Livid, Sharon stood with the receiver in her hand, vowing not to call Carla ever again in life. Slamming the receiver down angrily, she was about to pick it up, call Nedra and complain about Carla’s outrageous behavior before she caught herself. What would she say? Carla was angry because Sharon’s husband wouldn’t help keep her best friend’s family together? No, she couldn’t call Nedra. But she needed to talk to someone. Who? The people closest in the world to her were unavailable, and her husband’s attitude was the problem. She had talked to him until she was blue in the face. Winston wasn’t budging.
Walking across the sitting room, she dropped into a chair. She should have been at work today, but she had called in because of morning sickness. No one at work knew that she was pregnant yet, so she had used exhaustion as an excuse. That was close to the truth. She was tired. The friction between her and Winston was wearing her down.
Sighing, Sharon got up from the chair and started pacing the room. It was times like this that she missed her parents the most. She needed someone to talk to about all of this, but presently there was no one. She might as well go to the mall and spend some money.
Sharon was about to leave the room when the telephone rang. She answered it.
“Hello, Duncan residence.”
“Hi, Sharon. This is Jessica. What are you doing h
ome?”
* * *
Winston Duncan leaned back in his chair with his feet propped on the desk. It had been a rough day, and he was enjoying the few moments of quiet that he wished he could fill. That way he wouldn’t have time to think about the problem that was developing in his marriage. He and Sharon were building a wall between them that they may not be able to transcend, and he was fearful. She made it clear that she resented his not getting involved with this custody case between Jamison and the Reasoners. He resented her asking him to do so, especially when he tried to make it clear to her that there was nothing he could do. From what she had told him, the DNA evidence was nearly 100 percent conclusive that Royce Jamison was Trevor’s biological father. That was ironclad. Case closed.
The Reasoners were good people. He felt badly for them, but the child’s fate was in the hands of the court system now. He and Sin got along well. He liked the guy. He could only imagine what the man could be going through as the boy’s father. Although he hadn’t gotten the opportunity to speak with Nedra at length, she seemed like a great lady. He looked forward to getting to know her better—that is if she or her husband spoke to him again after the custody case was settled.
Winston was worried about Sharon’s stress over the situation with her godson. It wasn’t good for her or the baby. He loved the woman with every fiber of his being, and if anything happened to her or their child—
Grabbing his briefcase from under his desk, he started tossing papers from his desk into its interior. His day was over. He was going home to his wife. He and Sharon would go out to dinner and talk about this business. Not doing so was becoming detrimental to their relationship, and he couldn’t let that happen. He wasn’t one to share his problems with others. He liked to solve them himself. It was obvious to his parents and to his daughter that something was wrong between him and his wife, but he planned on the two of them solving this situation before it got out of hand.
Sinful Intentions Page 11