Baby On His Doorstep by Diana Whitney

Author:Diana Whitney [Whitney, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-11-04T05:47:46+00:00

“Your lawyer on two.”

Colby took the call quickly. “Jack, has the ruling come down?”

“It’s what we expected,” came the droning reply. “The judge upheld your guardianship pending the final hearing next month.”

The interim order was indeed anticipated since the Sinclairs’ perfunctory request for temporary custody had not specified substantial cause as required by statute. Still, Colby was relieved that this small step had gone his way, although there were other questions that remained to be answered, questions that kept his shoulders rigid and his focus intense. “Were my parents awarded visitation privileges?”

“Oddly enough, they didn’t request any.”

Colby exhaled all at once, massaged his moist forehead.

“I hadn’t expected they would. They’re not fond of children.”

“That seems a bit paradoxical,” Jack replied. “Why would people who don’t care for children turn around and sue for custody of one?”

“Their motivation is not my concern.”

“It should be. If your parents are striving to fulfill some kind of clandestine agenda, we should certainly be aware of that before the hearing.” Jack paused, waiting for Colby’s response. When none was forthcoming, he sighed. “I like to think that our relationship goes beyond that of attorney and client,” he said. “So I’m going to draw upon our friendship, and cut right to the chase. What’s going on between you and your parents that I don’t know about?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on, Colby. From what you’ve told me, neither you nor your sister have had contact with your parents for nearly a decade. Now out of the blue, they’ve come forward to claim the illegitimate child of a daughter who according to you was disowned by them years ago. Why would they do that?”

A sharp pain stabbed between Colby’s brows. He pinched the bridge of his nose, searched his desk drawer for an aspirin. “That’s a good question, Jack. I suggest you pose it during their deposition.”

A sigh whistled past the phone like exhaled cigarette smoke. “I don’t like surprises, Colby, which is why I make a point of inspecting family closets for old bones before someone starts flinging skeletons from the witness stand.”

“I’ve told you all you need to know,” Colby snapped with more force than he’d intended. He swallowed two aspirin dry, took a moment to compose himself. Clearly his lawyer wasn’t going to let the matter drop. Today, tomorrow, next week, sooner or later Jack would insist on answers, so Colby decided to throw out an explanation that was close enough to the truth to be accepted. “I can’t imagine anything Eugenia and Kingsley would abhor more than learning their blue blood runs in the veins of a bastard grandchild. Since Megan quite clearly exists, their only recourse is to control the world’s access to her.”

“You believe they’re only seeking custody in order to send her away?”

“Yes,” he replied firmly. “I do.”

“Can you prove it?”

“No.”

“Speculation isn’t evidence, Colby.”

“Then ask how they raised their own children,” Colby shot back. “Ask about the boarding schools, the holidays spent in Europe while their kids stayed home with servants, or even worse, spent Christmases alone in deserted dorm rooms.

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