Accidental Father Read Free Page A

exasperated, as if she wanted to yell, That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.
    One time. He and Marissa had slept together one time.
    But one time was all it took.
    Obviously.
    â€œHow old is the boy?”
    It took every bit of strength Alex could muster to keep his voice steady. His mind raced to do the math: If Marissa carried the baby nine months…and it had been nearly two years since he’d last seen her—since that night …the child would have to be just over a year to even possibly be his.
    â€œHe’ll be fourteen months old on the twenty-eighth of this month,” Julianne said. “I have his birth certificate right here. Your name is on it.” Fourteen months.
    She’d said the words as though they were any words: “Nice weather we’re having” or “I like dogs.”
    Fourteen months.
    The time frame fit. Oh, hell.
    Â 
    As Alex Lejardin studied Liam’s birth certificate he looked as if he’d seen a ghost. He sat there and stared at the paper for a long time—his featuresblank, the color fading from his sun-bronzed cheeks.
    If she didn’t know differently, she might believe this was the first he’d heard of Liam. But she knew better. Marissa had told her he knew. Marissa had said Alex left when he found out she was pregnant. That he had chosen not to be part of Liam’s life. Marissa had come to terms with it, but Julianne wasn’t going to let Alex get away with denying all knowledge of the boy. The liar.
    â€œLook, don’t worry,” she said, mustering the strength to say what she came to say. She had to say it, just spit out the words, because the longer she danced around the issue, the harder it would be. “I’m not here to ask you to take custody of him. But a little financial support would certainly help the boy. Marissa had no life insurance, no benefits—another hazard of the thankless job that cost her her life.”
    She choked on the last word and bit her bottom lip to keep the tears at bay. She hated this—everything about it. Losing her sister. Having an orphaned nephew. And now, being forced to face Alex Lejardin with her hand out. Begging for money went against every fiber in her being. She was used to scraping by on her modest income with the orchestra. She’d even learned to plan ahead sothat she survived during the times when the orchestra couldn’t make payroll. That was the price she paid for her music, to do what she loved.
    The life of the starving artist was fine for a single woman, but not for a baby boy who’d never asked for this fate in life.
    Alex raked his hands through his hair. His eyes searched the small, cluttered room as if looking for a way out.
    She waited stoically, watching him. The way he went to such great lengths to put on this act sickened her. She disliked him even more, watching him try to squirm his way out. Even though she wanted to tell him to save his act for someone more gullible, she knew she’d stand a better chance of gaining his support if she stayed calm.
    She’d do it for Marissa.
    For Liam.
    â€œI wouldn’t be here if it weren’t an emergency.” Her voice was steady now, as emotionless as she could render it. “I am a musician with a symphony orchestra, and the arts are…well, the arts are struggling in America. I simply want to be certain that Liam has what he needs. The money I’m asking for isn’t for me; it’s for his—”
    Alex slammed his hand down on the desk.
    Julianne flinched and leaned back into her chair.Just a little. It was instinctual when a man this vibrant showed such emotion.
    â€œWhy didn’t she tell me? All this time I’ve had no idea I have a child. A son. ”
    She met his gaze and the anguish she saw threw her off kilter. Then he looked away and squeezed his eyes shut.
    He opened them after a deep exhalation.
    â€œI’m sorry.” He shook his head.