Page 81 of Lucky In Love

“We’re hoping you won’t need an order to cooperate, as there isn’t really time to go through the process.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

They gave him the condensed version of the story.

“Maeve is that little girl’s mother, regardless of the fact that Quinn gave birth to her. And she’s not looking for child support or anything from you if she makes it through the surgery okay. But if she doesn’t, and you are Ciara’s father, she wanted you to at least have the option if you wanted it,” Doc said.

“I can’t believe they thought I was the father of the baby all this time and neither of them told me.”

“Maeve said she had no way of finding you. She always believed you had the right to know.”

“Damn right I did,” he said. There was anger in his voice.

“You need to take some time to process this,” Doc said. “But the first step is the paternity test to know for sure. Quinn admitted to being with several other men beside you around the time she got pregnant.”

“Quinn. That’s one manipulative, deceptive piece of work. She was so convincing. And Maeve. I screwed up and when I realized Quinn had lied, I tried to apologize to Maeve. She couldn’t forgive me. I don’t blame her. I know I didn’t do right by her. I really felt bad about that.”

“You can make that up now, if Ciara is yours,” Doc said.

“And if so, trying to take Ciara from her would be wrong. She’d share custody if that’s what you decided you wanted, but it would kill her if you tried to take her away,” Jackson said.

“I wouldn’t do that. Can I talk to Maeve even before we get the test results? I’d like to help her if she’d let me, even if Ciara isn’t mine.” He paused and shook his head. “The fact that Quinn isn’t going to help her shouldn’t surprise me, but it does. There’s a special place in hell for that bitch.”

Jackson and Doc exchanged glances.

“Maeve’s blood pressure cannot elevate,” Doc said. “That could be devastating to her health.”

“I get it,” he said. “I don’t plan to upset her.”

“Let us make sure she won’t be stressed to just hear from you,” Doc said. “Now, that paternity test?”

Chapter 6

Foxtrot

They held Blain Sullivan off from contacting Maeve until the paternity test results were back. Jackson was in contact with Blain throughout, and Jackson had learned several things about him. One, he was not in a relationship. Two, he had no children. Three, he’d thought about Maeve a lot over the years. He considered her the one that got away. Four, his enlistment was up in less than a year and he planned to re-enlist. And five, he wanted to do the right thing.

Doc received the results on the Saturday after St. Patrick’s Day. Maeve’s surgery was scheduled for the following Monday morning. It was positive. Blain Sullivan was Ciara’s father. Maeve and Ciara were spending the day at Doc’s house so Ciara would be used to Elizabeth and their home, as that’s where she’d be staying during and after Maeve’s surgery. Plus, with many in the office, she was babysitting both of Jackson and Angel’s children.

Doc and Jackson conferred with Angel regarding the results and then the three of them left the office to go tell Maeve the results. The two couples had become Maeve’s main support system, and Maeve considered them family now. Doc texted his wife to let her know they were on the way over with the news.

Maeve wasn’t sure what emotions she felt as Doc interpreted the test results. Ciara’s paternity was never in question as far as she was concerned. But to have confirmation filled her with hope as well as fear. Blain had assured Doc and Jackson he wouldn’t try to take Ciara away from her, but the fact that he could caused panic to well up inside her.

“He wants to see you,” Jackson said. “He said he wants to help you through the surgery and after. And that was regardless of whether he was Ciara’s father or not.”

“He’s also said he regrets that he was swayed by Quinn and has always felt bad for doing you wrong,” Doc added.

Maeve’s eyes darted between Angel’s and Elizabeth’s. She was closer now to these two women than she’d ever been with Quinn. “If I trust him and he betrays me, I’ll never get over it.”

Angel took her hand. “Jackson and Doc believe him, thinks he’s being genuine. And they can both spot bull shit a mile away. But you need to do what feels right.”

Elizabeth took her other hand. “You started this to do the right thing for Ciara.”

“You’re right. I started this. I can’t very well delay his meeting with his daughter now that he knows.”

“He doesn’t know yet,” Doc said.

Maeve wasn’t sure what he was saying. Was he offering to bury the test results? “I’ve always thought he had the right to know. I just pray he doesn’t try to take her away from me.” She glanced across the room to where Ciara played with the other children. “And if anything happens and I can’t take care of her, it wouldn’t be right to burden the four of you with her.”