I want to know—”
“I’ll consider your request for another DNA test for William, and I’ll inform you of my decision as soon as I’ve made one.”
The abrupt about-face along with her tangled nerves nearly caused Kelly’s legs to give way. “Why the change of heart?”
“Because you’ve caught my attention. Hopefully, you haven’t caught anyone else’s.” He didn’t add more regarding that ominous comment. “If I do consent to the test, I’d prefer to have a complete picture. Or as you so cleverly put—a start. That means you’ll allow me to have your son’s DNA tested, as well.”
It made her ache to think of someone, some stranger, out there who might have a legal claim on Joseph. However, she understood his request all too well, since she felt the same need to find out the truth about William. Blood wasn’t necessarily thicker than water, but she couldn’t deny the pull it had on her.
“Do you happen to know who Joseph’s biological father is?” Kelly asked, dreading the answer, but knowing that she needed it.
The muscles went to work again in his jaw. “No.”
She was either paranoid, or that was a lie. “Meredith and I talked a few times. She didn’t mention him, other than to say he wasn’t in the picture.”
“She didn’t talk about him to me, either,” he insisted, his voice tight.
So, unless the father was dead, he was out there somewhere. But what Kelly had going for her was that he hadn’t tried to claim William so far, and that meant he probably wouldn’t try to claim Joseph, either.
She prayed.
And that was one of the reasons she hadn’t wanted this baby switch in the hands of the police. Or the press. Newspapers tended to pick up that kind of story, and while she couldn’t keep Joseph’s biological father from seeing him, she truly hoped Meredith was right—that he wasn’t in the picture.
This way, Kelly could proceed with her plan. First, verify that William was her son. Then petition the court for custody of both boys.
Well, she could after she got past one more obstacle.
“You said you had no plans to adopt William.” She paused, and mentally wrestled with how she should say this. “Is that because you don’t want children?”
Nick Lattimer turned, faced her. Behind him, the rain and the wind assaulted the window. There was even a dramatic slash of lightning across the night sky. He stood in the center of the glass. Calm. Except for one thing. His right hand had clenched into a fist.
“You honestly don’t know about my brother?” he questioned.
Confused, she shook her head, not sure where this was leading. “I know you have one,” she said. Kelly tried to recall her research notes. She’d read a mention or two of his brother, but that was it. She couldn’t imagine what he had to do with any of this.
“Among other things, Eric is possessive,” he explained. He shoved his hands back into his pockets. “With things, not people. He inherited the bulk of the family estate, which, according to the terms of my mother’s will, he doesn’t have to share with me.”
Oh. She got it. Kelly quickly filled in the blanks. “But Eric would have to share with your heirs?”
He nodded. “Except he wouldn’t share. My brother is a violent, dangerous man.”
That sank in quickly, too. Kelly flattened her hand over her chest and dropped back a step. “Are you saying he would hurt a child of yours?”
Nick Lattimer walked closer, his footsteps punctuated with a roll of thunder. “Not hurt. Eric would eliminate the child.”
That sent her heart to her knees and stole her breath. “I’m sorry. So sorry. Now, I understand why you were concerned. You thought your brother sent me here to get the DNA sample.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time. But I thought that after three tests, one of which I let his personal physician perform, that Eric’s fears would be put to rest.”
It was a chilling revelation, but Kelly couldn’t help but think this would fuel her case to get custody of her son. Nick Lattimer might even welcome having William away from his brother’s paranoid watchful eye.
Kelly knew she would welcome it.
She didn’t want her son associated with a would-be killer, and as long as William remained at the Lattimer ranch, he would be in danger. It was sickening to think of it. She wouldn’t go through that again.
She couldn’t.
She hadn’t been able to save her husband, but she could certainly do something to save their child.
“May I see William?” Kelly had to clear her throat and repeat it so it would have sound.
Lattimer didn’t respond. Seconds passed. Very slowly. And even though there were no overt signs of the debate he was having with himself, Kelly knew there was indeed a debate. But after what he’d just told her, she could understand why. Maybe he still didn’t trust her. Maybe he thought she was working for his brother, Eric.
And maybe he simply realized that he could lose William to her.
After all, he’d raised William for thirteen months and no doubt loved him as she loved Joseph.
“A photo will do for now,” Kelly added. “If you agree to the test, well, maybe then…”
He hitched a shoulder toward the doorway where she’d first spotted him. “Follow me.”
She did, after Kelly got past the initial shock and after she got her legs to cooperate. Nick Lattimer had already given her a huge concession just by agreeing to think about doing the DNA test. She certainly hadn’t really expected him to allow her to see William.
The adjoining room was just as lavishly decorated as the fake nursery. A sitting room of sorts. With another fireplace, a pair of oversize cushiony chairs, and a great view of the formal gardens. It’d be an ideal place to spend some quiet time with a child.
All along, since the moment she’d known she would be coming to the ranch, Kelly had tried not to think of how her biological son was being raised. Literally, in the lap of luxury. There was no way she could compete with this.
Yet, even that certainty wasn’t enough to stop her from getting the truth. Or from getting custody. Because she could give William something that Nick Lattimer couldn’t. She could give him safety, away from Nick’s brother.
He pressed something on the underside of the mantel, and the serene pastoral painting above it disappeared. It’d been a hologram on a thin screen. A very convincing one. Another room appeared.
A nursery.
A real one.
Without saying a word, he pressed more buttons beneath that mantel so that a camera zoomed in on the crib. No blue-satin-trimmed blanket this time. The child was covered with a very homey-looking quilt. A mobile of colorful butterflies dangled overhead.
