In Love with John Doe (14 page)

She’d worried that this day would come, but had never
really
believed it would. For someone who prided herself on addressing every issue head-on, this time she felt like pulling the covers over her head in the hopes that it would go away.

She heard the door open. “I’ll be up and make you something to eat in a minute, sweetheart.”

“Are you okay? Is there anything I can get you?”

Jack.
She’d forgotten they’d made plans to grill out.

“I forgot to call you.” Tears welled up in her eyes and filled her voice. “That wasn’t very nice.”

“Don’t cry.” He sat on the bed and brushed the tears from her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s just a migraine,” she murmured, the meds making her tongue thick and clumsy in her mouth. “I haven’t had one in a long time. It’s partially hormonal, mostly stress.”

“Was it this thing with Mimi?” he asked. “Is that what brought this on?”

Lexi choked back a hysterical giggle. “Mimi is the least of my worries.”

“What can I do to make it better?”

“There’s nothing you can do,” Lexi said, welcoming the inky darkness that was rapidly closing over her. “I’m afraid there’s nothing anyone can do.”

After dinner he helped Addie with her homework, said prayers with her at bedside and then tucked her in. When he returned to the living room he tried to watch television but found it difficult to concentrate. Despite knowing she needed her sleep, he was seriously tempted to wake Lexi. He didn’t like it that she was distressed yet he didn’t know enough to be able to fix whatever bothered her.

Opening the refrigerator door, Jack pulled out the cola he’d been craving since he’d walked through the door. He’d barely taken a sip when he heard a bedroom door open. His lips lifted in a wry smile. It figured Addie would get up just when he’d grabbed a soda.

He turned, hiding the can behind his back. But it wasn’t Addie who ambled into the room but a very rumpled Lexi. She’d changed into an obviously much loved pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved green shirt that didn’t show any skin. Her dark hair stuck out in the back and there was a criss-cross pattern on her cheek from a blanket. But when her eyes brightened and a smile lifted her lips, Jack’s heart answered with a rush of love.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Better.” She rubbed the back of her neck with one hand. “The headache is almost gone.” She glanced around the room. “Where’s Addie?”

“In bed.”

“So early?”

“It’s after nine.”

Alarm skittered across Lexi’s face. “Ohmigosh, she has to be starving.”

When she turned toward the girl’s bedroom, Jack touched her arm. “Relax. She’s already eaten.”

Confusion blanketed Lexi’s face. “But how?”

“I may not have a memory, but I am not without talent.” Jack shot her a wink. “We had soup and a sandwich and milk. Lots and lots of milk.”

The tenseness which had gripped Lexi’s shoulders eased. “Thank you.”

“It was no trouble.” Jack waved a dismissive hand. “She’s a nice little girl. You’ve done a good job raising her.”

Lexi thought about the letter and a wave of despair washed over her. “That may not matter.”

Jack sat his soda on the table, took her hand and led her to the sofa. Once she’d sat down, he took a seat beside her.

“Tell me what’s wrong.” His warm brown eyes invited confidences.

Lexi’s gaze drifted to the side table where her purse sat, the letter peeking out from the side pocket. It was hard to believe that one minute everything could be wonderful and the next…

She shuddered and swallowed the sob that rose to her throat.

Jack’s arm closed around her shoulder. He tugged her close. “Talk to me, sweetheart. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s wrong.”

How long had it been since she’d had someone to lean on? Someone to share her burdens? Ever since her father had died she’d been on her own. Lexi brushed the tears from her cheeks with the pads of her fingertips. “There’s nothing you—or I—can do. Drew has money on his side.”

“Drew? Your ex?” Jack’s gaze turned sharp and assessing.

Lexi took a deep breath. “Remember when I told you I’d written to him several months ago asking him to relinquish all claim to Addie and he hadn’t written back?”

A knowing look filled his eyes. “Is this about the letter you received from the law firm in Ohio?”

Not trusting her voice, Lexi pressed her lips together and nodded. Her emotions were raw. If they were any closer to the surface she’d be bleeding.

“So he’s not interested in your proposal,” Jack said. “That’s okay. It doesn’t change anything.”

“He wants custody of Addie,” Lexi blurted out.

The shock on Jack’s face would have been funny at any other time. “Beg pardon?”

“Apparently Drew has decided he wants to be a dad after all.” To Lexi’s surprise, though she was quaking inside, her voice didn’t waver. “He’s got the money to make that happen.”

“He’s been out of her life since she was born.” After his initial surprise, Jack didn’t seem all that concerned. “That won’t look good to the court. Has he been paying child support?”

Lexi shook her head. “He never offered. I never asked.”

“That’s another black mark against him.” Jack met her gaze. “May I see the letter?”

“Of course.” Lexi jumped up but stilled when the room spun. She waited, giving the room a chance to right itself. “The pills make me a little dizzy.”

“You sit back down.” He rose and put his arm around her waist. “Tell me where it is and I’ll get it.”

“It’s in my purse.” Lexi gestured with a flick of her head. “It’s that piece of paper sticking out of the side pocket.”

Though she tried for matter-of-fact, the tremble in her voice gave her away.

Jack pulled her closer to him. “This will be okay.”

“I wish I shared your optimism.” Her attempt at a laugh fell flat. She disentangled herself from his arms and collapsed onto the soft cushions.

When Jack crossed the room to get the letter, Lexi rested her head against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes. If only she could go to sleep and wake up to find this had only been a bad dream.

“While I’m up can I get you something to eat or drink?”

Lexi slowly opened her eyes.

“Piece of toast? Some crackers?”

“I’m not all that hungry.” She rubbed a hand across her face, incredibly weary. “Could you bring the letter over here? I’d like to read it again.”

“You’re the client,” he said, then paused. “I mean, it’s your letter.”

Jack returned to the sofa, but only after pulling a sleeve of soda crackers from a drawer in the kitchen. He settled beside her and handed her the crackers. “Even if you don’t feel like eating, I want you to try at least one,” he said softly. “Please.”

Lexi pulled a couple of squares from the already opened sleeve. “If it will make you happy, I’ll do it.”

He responded to her teasing tone with a brilliant smile. “It makes me happy.
You
make me happy.”

She smiled and took a bite of cracker.

As if satisfied, Jack’s gaze dropped to the letter in his hand.

Lexi’s heart clenched as he unfolded the vellum sheet and began to read. She dropped her gaze to the paper and followed along. But she really didn’t need to read it again. She’d reviewed it so many times she had each word memorized.

Jack’s lips tipped upward when he was about two-thirds of the way through the letter. She couldn’t figure out what he found so amusing in a letter that threatened to rock her world.

“No worries.” His gaze lifted. “This letter is nothing more than an intimidation tactic.”

He made it sound like that was a good thing. Lexi’s spirits cautiously rose. “I don’t understand.”

“By sending this to you on a law firm’s stationary, they’re trying to throw their weight around and make you believe you’re at their mercy. The truth is you’re in control.”

He sounded so confident, so certain. Still…

“Are you telling me Drew doesn’t have a leg to stand on?” The fear that had gripped her since she’d first read the letter began to ease.

“I wouldn’t exactly say that.” Jack’s businesslike tone softened at her sound of distress. “He is Addie’s father. And by writing the letter and making that request you, in essence, established paternity.”

“Are you saying this is my fault?” Lexi jumped to her feet, her headache flaring. “That I’m going to lose my daughter because of a stupid letter I wrote?”

The mere thought that something she did could result in Addie having to live with a man who never wanted her to be born broke Lexi’s heart…and made her angry.

“Sweetheart.” He kept trying to put his hand on her, and she kept turning.

“Why does it have to be like this?” She pressed her lips together, fighting tears. “Why didn’t I leave well enough alone?”

He put both arms out, corralling her movements until she folded into him against her will and he held her. “Lexi, darling, none of this is your fault. None of it.”

She clung to him, feeling her anger subside. She took a deep, steadying breath. “Tell me how to fight this. I’m not giving Addie to that man.”

“It’s hard to say what your ex really wants without speaking with his attorney,” Jack advised. “Once I talk with him tomorrow we’ll have a better picture. But I can assure you there’s not a court in this land who’d give joint custody to a man who’s been an absentee dad for all these years. Especially when the other parent is a fabulous mother.”

Lexi found reassurance in Jack’s words. And his support meant the world to her. But she wasn’t convinced having him talk to Drew’s attorney was the best move. Though she didn’t have a lot of money in savings, she had some set aside for emergencies. It appeared now was the time to pull those dollars out of the bank and hire an attorney of her own.

“I appreciate the offer, Jack.” Lexi spoke slowly, choosing her words carefully, not wanting to offend. “But I’m not sure you’re the best one to make the call. You—”

“I
am
the best one, Lexi,” Jack protested. “No one cares about you and Addie as much as I do.”

“I understand that,” Lexi said, holding up a hand. “But this is a high-powered law firm with some of the finest attorneys in Ohio—”

“I graduated from one of the top five law schools in the country. I’m considered one of the best family law attorneys in the United States.” The words flowed from Jack’s lips, bold and confident, as if he was arguing a case before a jury. “I can hold my own with any firm.”

Lexi wasn’t sure which of them was more surprised by the declaration.

“You’re a lawyer?” she finally sputtered, breaking the shocked silence first.

“I am,” he said hesitantly then more forcefully, with more sureness. “Yes, I am.”

She met his gaze. “If you graduated from one of those schools, we should be able to look through pictures of past graduating classes and find you.”

“I’m in no hurry.” It might have been his imagination, but Jack sensed Lexi pulling back. She seemed afraid that once he discovered his true identity he’d be leaving her and Addie. Nothing could be further from the truth. Knowing his background would only enhance their life together in Jackson. He was sure of it.

So sure, in fact, that he wanted to talk about their future. But this wasn’t the time. Not when she was still operating under the influence of migraine medicine. Besides, he needed more information for tomorrow’s phone call. That had to be their priority tonight. “Tell me about Drew. How did you two first meet?”

“I don’t want to talk about him,” Lexi said. “I want to know what he wants and how to fight him.”

“Humor me.” Jack took her hand, relieved she didn’t pull away. “Please.”

After a long moment she sighed. “We were juniors in college. We met in a statistics class. He was acing the class and I…wasn’t. He offered to tutor me. It wasn’t long before we started dating.”

“Was he a good boyfriend?”

Reluctantly Lexi nodded.

“You dated for what? Four years before you got pregnant? Did he change much during that time?”

“Not really.” Lexi chewed on her lower lip. “Drew always knew what he wanted out of life. Once he finished his MBA, he was going to Oxford to get his doctorate. The plan was we’d marry and I’d go with him.”

Jack’s encouraging smile kept her talking.

“It was that last year of his MBA when things turned rocky.” Lexi’s lips tips upward. “I was finishing my master’s in social work and loving it. I wanted to stay in the States and get a job. I didn’t see why he had to go all the way to England for more school. Then I found out I was pregnant.”

“That must have been hard.”

“I was shocked. We’d always been so careful.” Lexi paused for a second before continuing. “But we’d talked about getting married that summer anyway so although it was unplanned, I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

Jack could tell by the tone of her voice that Drew hadn’t shared that opinion. “How did he react when you told him?”

“He blew up.” Lexi exhaled a ragged breath. “He accused me of deliberately getting pregnant in order to keep him in the U.S. He wanted me to have an abortion.”

Jack bit back an expletive.

“I considered it,” Lexi admitted in a barely audible voice. “But I couldn’t.” Her gaze dropped to her hands. “When I balked he told me if I had the baby, I was on my own.”

“Bastard.”

Lexi’s chuckle held no humor. “True.”

“You could have gotten child support,” Jack said. “He’d have had to pay whether he wanted to or not.”

“I know,” Lexi said with a sigh. “But I didn’t want his money or the control it would give him over me. I managed on my own. I’m proud of that fact.”

“You’re a strong, amazing woman, Lexi Brennan.” Jack brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.

“So how are we going to fight him?” she asked. “What’s the strategy?”

“Tomorrow I call the law firm and see what he’s really after,” Jack said. “Until then we just sit tight.”

“You won’t let him take Addie from me?” The fear in her eyes tugged at his heartstrings.