Page 31 of Luke

Paisley

“I think you should go ahead and get the test when we add you to his birth certificate.” Paisley had thought of nothing else last night and all this morning while they talked with Jon.

Luke turned to face her and arched one blond brow at her in question.

They were sitting at the dining room table, Luke burping Garrett as they talked.

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea,” Jon agreed.

“It’s not necessary,” Luke countered.

Paisley sighed. There was no doubt in her mind that Luke was Garrett’s father. There was simply no way it could be anyone else. She hadn’t slept with anyone for a while before Luke, only two other people ever and they were years ago now. She also hadn’t been with anyone else since.

“It would be nice to have it confirmed and out of the way,” Paisley told him.

“You know that I don’t think there’s any way he’s not mine, right? You don’t have to prove it to me.”

“Right, and I appreciate the faith in me, but it’s not for you. It’s for everyone else.”

“Honestly, it’s not be a bad idea. It can’t change anything once you’re on the birth certificate and would appease social services while we work to find out what is going on there.” Jon’s focus remained on his computer screen. “It also wouldn’t be bad for the two of you to get married if you haven’t talked about that yet. It would ensure a lot of things went a bit smoother when it came to all of this.”

Luke opened his mouth, but Paisley cut him off.

“How would it help?” She didn’t understand how this was going to solve anything.

“Well, then you are bound together and they can’t come up with a reason to get you to leave here as easily as they might without the marriage. Nothing is foolproof, of course, but it would certainly help some. It shows a united front to everyone.”

“I hear what you are saying, but that seems very archaic to me. Do things still work that way?” Paisley questioned. To have marriage brought up again was bizarre to her. How in the modern world, did marriage make a difference?

Luke watched the exchange quietly as she and Jon talked.

“Sadly, yes. The things that change and open up for people when they get married are wild. I agree it’s an outdated system and I won’t force you to get married if you don’t want to. I just wanted to put it out there that it has the potential to ease things when it comes to Mr. Hawkins weaponizing social services against the two of you.” Jon held her gaze.

“How much would it really help?” Paisley pushed.

“Well, for starters, it negates the DNA test for Garrett. There’s no arguing with the birth certificate, sure, but also the mother’s husband. Then there’s the matter of social services not wanting you to be included in things. It seems suspicious but I don’t see to what end. My concern is that they are going to try to alienate you from them.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Luke interrupted.

“I never said you would. I was just saying that it’s much more difficult to do that if the two of you are married.” Jon returned to his laptop screen.

“You don’t have to, Paisley,” Luke reminded her. “I know I’ve asked before, so I don’t want you to feel pressured. It’s totally up to you and no hard feelings at all if you don’t want to.”

She nodded, acknowledging Luke, and sat forward in her seat to focus on Jon.

It took a lot of effort, but she managed to mostly pay attention while Jon was there. Her mind wandered to what would happen if they did get married. Would it really change anything?

At most it would make it harder to break up. They already lived together, and despite her worries that Luke was still playing house with her and would change his mind, would it really change anything in the end? She couldn’t really figure out what.

“Okay,” Paisley said quietly, interrupting Luke and Jon as they said their goodbyes.

“Okay what?” Jon asked.

“Really?” Luke asked at the same time.

“I want a prenup though. I don’t want any of your stuff if we get divorced, and I don’t want your father to think that’s why we are getting married.”

“That’s not—” Luke started.