upset.” He reached for her hand, but she pulled away from him.
She laughed harshly. “Of course I’m upset. Did you expect me to be happy to have you steal him from me?”
He arched a dark eyebrow in a silent reminder that his claim to Gabe was stronger than hers. “I expect you to want what’s best for him.”
“I do.” She congratulated herself on the restraint that kept her from slapping the arrogant look from his face. “I don’t believe taking him from the only family he’s ever known constitutes what’s best.”
“I’m not taking him from you,” he denied in exasperation.
“No?” she mocked him. “You’re seeking custody. What would you call it?”
He shifted his position against the desk, crossed his ankles and leaned back. “Gabe is my son, my responsibility.”
“I commend you on your sense of duty.” With her heart being torn in two, she couldn’t prevent the sarcasm. She crossed her arms over her breasts, more to contain the fresh wave of pain than out of defiance. “But you need more than duty to raise a baby. You need love and patience and understanding.”
He glanced around his office then back at her. “I’m aware of what it takes to raise a child.”
“There’s more to raising a child than education.” Feeling cornered, she stood and hugged herself as she paced. “Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?”
“I didn’t have the test results. My attorney only filed the petition today.”
“But you knew what you were planning,” she accused, remembering with a sense of betrayal how pleased she’d been at his willingness to have the DNA tests done. Little had she known he’d use the results to undermine her position as Gabe’s guardian.
Her heart rose to her throat as she realized she had no legal claim to Gabe. His care had passed from her sister to Samantha by right of family taking care of family. Nobody had questioned her custody. Until now, when it might be too late to protect Gabe’s interests.
“You’re right.” Alex looked her straight in the eye, challenging her. “I should have told you of my intentions sooner. Just as you should have told me Gabe was my son earlier.”
Oh no, he wasn’t going to make her feel guilty.
She’d turned her life upside down to bring his son to him. Maybe Alex was right. Maybe the decision to wait hadn’t been fair. But she’d needed to know in her heart that introducing Gabe to Alex was not only right, but safe.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. She’d never dreamed he’d try to take Gabe from her. In her experience, men didn’t stay around to raise their own children. And she’d learned the hard way—when her fiancé left her rather than help with Sarah—that they didn’t care to take on the raising of other men’s kids, either.
Heaven knew she’d hoped Alex would take an interest in Gabe, but deep down she hadn’t really believed he would.
“You didn’t believe me when I did tell you.” She voiced her outrage. “You have no right to blame me for trying to protect Gabe. I gave up a job I’d had for five years and moved him to a new state so he could meet his father. Don’t tell me I haven’t done my part. It takes time to—”
Alex held up a hand. “All right. Calm down.”
“Do not patronize me.” Seething with temper, her breasts heaving with the force of restraining her anger, Samantha informed him, “I won’t let you take him from me.”
“It’s done. The papers have been filed.”
She clenched her teeth, bracing herself against the anxiety his words instilled. “I’ll fight you. My sister made it clear she wanted him raised by her family.”
His eyebrows lowered. “Your sister’s wishes don’t concern me. She had no right to use me for stud services then hide my son from me. I believe the courts will agree.”
“So that’s why you’re doing this,” she responded to his bitter claim. “To get back at my sister? And I suppose it doesn’t matter that Gabe will be hurt by your actions?”
“Gabe is my main concern. He needs a stable home.”
“He has a stable home.” Agitated, she paced to the bookcase then back. “He’s a good baby, but taking him from the family he’s become accustomed to will only upset and confuse him. Even traumatize him.”
“I’m his father. I am family,” he said, not unkindly. “He’s young, with the right structure and guidance he’ll adjust.”
Samantha cringed, his words like a dagger to her heart. “I love him,” she challenged Alex. “Can you say the same?”
Silent, he stared at her.
The shrill ring of the phone broke the tense moment. He frowned at the interruption. She watched his internal struggle, but in the end duty won. He rounded the desk and snatched up the receiver. “Sullivan.”
She headed for the door. Wanting to escape, to rethink and regroup. And to plan what to do next. Let him take his call. She was out of there.
“Samantha.”
The authority in his voice stopped her. Reluctantly, she half-turned, looking at him over her shoulder.
He stood with his hand over the mouthpiece, his expression resolute. “I haven’t been given the opportunity to love him. Isn’t that why you brought him to me?”
Stricken, she turned away. That’s exactly why she’d brought Gabe to him.
In the hall, she slumped against the wall, her heart in shreds as she thought of the hard man on the other side of the door. He threatened all the family she had left.
Gabe had someone fighting for him. But she feared she’d be the one to lose.
On Saturday Samantha secured the strap on Gabe’s car seat, dodging his busy fists to do so. She’d told him about Alex’s bid for custody, but of course he didn’t understand. He didn’t worry, as she did, that their time together might be limited. “I should just pack you up and run away with you. Then he couldn’t take you from me.”
“Ducky. Ducky,” Gabe said hopefully.
“That’s right.” Smiling at his one-track mind, Samantha chucked him under the chin. “We’re going to feed the duckies.”
He’d been cranky with teething pains today, and since the sunny afternoon had chased away the morning chill, she’d promised him a trip to the pond to distract him.
Thank goodness he didn’t understand. He deserved happiness and security. As long as he was with her, that’s what he’d get.
After handing him a cookie and making sure the bag of bread crumbs was out of his reach, she straightened from the back seat and closed the door. Turning, she practically stubbed her nose on Alex’s chest.
“Oh!”
