merely nodded, not answering the rhetorical question.
“I don’t even know what to say to you,” Carson admitted.
Graham exchanged a knowing look with Brooks. They both knew Carson was on edge, and it definitely cost him to admit it. The poor guy had been on the fence about whether to fully accept Sutton as his father, whether to approach him and listen to what the old man had to say. But they were here now and Graham was more concerned about Carson’s feelings than anything else.
“Have a seat.” Sutton turned his attention to the twins. “All of you.”
Carson remained still, staring at his father. Graham moved first to take a seat on the sofa on the other side of the oriental rug across from Sutton. Brooks sat beside him and finally Carson took the last spot on the end.
Sutton shifted in his seat. Graham wasn’t sure if it was nerves or if the old man was simply trying to get comfortable. Sutton wasn’t the type to show his emotions, so Graham doubted he was feeling anything but smug. He’d called Carson to come, and he had.
“Why did you want me here?” Carson finally asked, breaking the silent tension.
“You’re my son.”
Graham snorted, ignoring Sutton’s frown and quick, disapproving look.
“So you’re expecting us to get to know each other now that I know the truth and you’re sick?” Carson asked.
Sutton turned his face to the fire. Orange flames licked against the black stone. The Chicago air was cooling quite a bit, hinting at an early winter. Graham found it easy to focus on the weather, on the fire, on anything other than the fact he didn’t want to be here. Oh, he wanted to be here if he was going to get a name, but the chances of that happening were about as good as Sutton recovering from lung cancer.
“What you decide to do is up to you.” Sutton coughed, and that’s when it was apparent how sick the man was. This coughing fit wasn’t short and it wasn’t quiet. Finally, when he was done, he turned back to Carson. “I wanted you to know that I truly loved your mother.”
Brooks tensed beside Graham. Of course he’d bring their mother into the conversation. He’d pretend that he knew her well, that he was heartbroken to leave her. Sutton had left Cynthia alone and pregnant, just like he’d found her. Only this time she’d been pregnant with his kid and he hadn’t known it. Still, a lowly waitress and outsider wouldn’t have fit into his high-society world of luxury homes, cars and diamonds.
The atmosphere of anger and bitterness in this room enveloped them all. There was so much to be said, but at the same time they were dealing with a dying man...and Eve’s father. The grandfather of Graham’s baby.
Graham stared at Sutton and tried to imagine the man from the picture on Eve’s mantel. The man who held his daughter on his shoulders at some amusement park. Sutton may be ruthless, he may have had countless affairs, but he loved his children. Considering that he had been shocked by the news of Carson’s paternity, Graham wasn’t surprised he’d called Carson to his home. Sutton wouldn’t sit back and just ignore his child.
But he had no problem ignoring his ex-lover’s other children.
“If you loved our mother, then tell us the name of our father,” Brooks stated. “You were with her long enough. She would’ve confided in you.”
Sutton shook his head. “It’s because I loved Cynthia that I won’t betray her confidence. If she’d wanted you to know, she would’ve told you.”
“Tell them.” Carson’s low demand shocked Graham.
“It’s not my place, son.”
Carson let out a humorless laugh, eased forward and rested his forearms on his legs. Hands dangling between his knees, he glanced toward Brooks and Graham. Trying to offer silent support, Graham nodded for Carson to go on.
“My brothers deserve to know their father,” Carson said, looking back at Sutton. “They keep hitting dead ends. If you can help them—”
“I didn’t call them here,” Sutton interrupted. “I wanted to see you. I don’t have much time, though my doctors keep telling me I’m a fighter. I’m realistic.”
“All the more reason for you to tell us,” Brooks stated. “You may be the only other person who knows. We don’t even know if our birth father is aware of us.”
Sutton simply stared back. He gave no hint of what he knew, no sign that he even cared if they were struggling. Graham never liked the man from his dealings with him in the corporate world. He’d been sneaky and underhanded. He kept secrets, even from his staff. Graham had actually seen one of Sutton’s previous employees win a case against the old man, but that had been during Graham’s internship so he hadn’t had a hand in that win.
Graham knew Sutton wasn’t about to give up the name, if he even knew a name. For all Graham knew, Sutton was just stringing them along. How had Eve turned out so loyal and honest?
Obviously Eve’s mother had a hand in raising her daughter right and was smart enough to finally leave Sutton after years of unfaithful marriage.
“I want to make something clear,” Sutton went on. “Cynthia was the love of my life.”
Graham didn’t want to hear this, didn’t want to be subjected to more lies. But one glance at Carson made Graham realize that his younger brother wanted to know. Not that Carson was naive, but Carson was more prone to forgiveness than Graham or Brooks. So Graham remained silent, though he had plenty of thoughts racing through his mind.
Sutton’s eyes didn’t leave Carson. “I would’ve given anything to be with Cynthia. But my wife was so well connected in Chicago society, it would’ve been career suicide to leave her. Plus, she would’ve made life hell for Cynthia, and I couldn’t allow that.”
“Would you have made the same decision if you’d known about me?”
The underlying tone of vulnerability was something Graham had never seen from Carson. Graham’s younger brother was a rock, he was always in control, but this little meeting was getting to him. Graham prayed Carson would hold it together.
“I would’ve gone through hell to be with my son.”
Sutton’s answer sounded honest. Graham fully believed the man would’ve sacrificed his marriage to Eve’s mother. No doubt Sutton would’ve wanted a son to raise, to mold into his heir. But Eve had filled that role, and she was doing a remarkable job. Maybe too remarkable.
And just like that, his thoughts had once again strayed to Eve during this meeting. He’d be checking on her again when they left here...especially after that little picture she’d sent to torture him.
“I want to hate you,” Carson muttered.
Graham glanced over in time to see Brooks give a manly, reassuring pat to Carson’s shoulder. They were here for Carson, to support him. If he wanted to embrace Sutton as his father and live out these days happily ever after, then that’s what they’d do. But Graham wasn’t so willing to forgive the bastard.
“I know you do,” Sutton agreed. “And you have every right. But I couldn’t die, not without
