“What the f**k is wrong with people, Brody? Huh? What did I ever do but be nice to people and look what it gets me.”

Anger burned in his belly that this woman could get under his skin so deep and then use it to hurt him with what he wanted so much.

“What if she’s telling the truth? Have you thought of that for one second? My god, Adrian, are you going to try to tell me you never f**ked random women you don’t remember?”

“I think I’d remember if I had a kid, for f**k’s sake! You remember the last one. It was a baby then. We were just lucky I was on tour in Europe for six months and couldn’t have been the father. All the money I had to throw at lawyers and then the f**king label was all up in my face about publicity and media this and that to make me look nice. I was hung out to dry on all the gossip sites. People called me a deadbeat, for f**k’s sake. All because some stranger needed some cash and decided to pretend some other guy’s kid is mine.”

Brody sighed heavily and sat on the edge of his desk. “Shut up. Just stop talking for a second and listen.”

He did stop because he rarely heard that tone in his brother’s voice. Displeasure and disappointment. In Adrian.

“You can’t look at the world like this. You can’t just suspect everyone because of what some people did. I’m not saying you should automatically believe her. But you’re not even paying attention to what happened.”

Adrian tapped his thumb and then his pinky to his thigh, over and over, faster and faster.

“She came here to tell you the details and you didn’t let her speak. No, you flirted with her and all. She’s lovely so I get that. But then she tries to explain and instead of getting more detail from her you yell insults at her in a crowded café.

“She said—and I heard because I was listening—that her sister didn’t tell her for the boy’s whole life who the father was. She found out a week ago and she came to you pretty quickly.”

“How the f**k can I believe her? Huh?”

“You’re a stupid ass**le sometimes, Adrian. Yes, some nasty skank tried to extort money from you with the daddy card in the past. But the guy I know and love surely understands he can’t judge all and sundry by the acts of some dumb bitch.

“You’d just turn your back on this because why? Huh? Do you think I’d just sit here knowing I could have a nephew out there, not even thirty miles from here? Do you think I could turn my back on a boy who was yours? Huh? And the real question is, can you?”

Chastened, Adrian sat, hard.

“If she’s telling you the truth, do you realize what she just risked? If she’s telling the truth, don’t you want to know? If you have a kid, how can you not follow up? Are you saying you don’t care?”

He heaved a giant sigh. “I’m afraid.”

His brother just listened.

“I’m afraid to hope that it’s true and then what if it isn’t? Chances are it’s not. That’s not how this works.”

Brody’s anger softened and he blew out a breath. “I get that. But you can’t ignore it. Look, she contacted you. She gave you personal details. She gave you her attorney’s card. There is no reason we can’t get an answer. The boy can get a DNA test and that’s all you need. If she’s lying, we can figure out if she’s trying to extort money from you, or if her sister duped her too. If our kin is out there in the world, we need to know. You’re a good man, Adrian. Strong. Loving to your family and friends. I know you better than anyone in the world. I love you and I believe in you. You can be a good father too. I’ve seen you with my kids, with Alexander and I know this with every part of my being. You have so much love in you.”

“I know! I want that so much it’s not funny. I’ve been wondering about contacting an agency to adopt if I can’t find the right woman in a few years and do it that way. I want children.”

He sighed as Brody sent him that damned knowing raised brow of his.

“All right. I’ll call Cope, see what he’s found out and we’ll get my attorneys on this. I don’t have to deal with Gillian Forrester at all. Not until we know answers.”

“I’ve got your back on this. You know that. I’m here for whatever you need.” Brody clapped his shoulder.

5

Gillian waved good-bye to one of her students, watching her pull down the long driveway to the road. She had students ranging in age from six to fifty-four. Most were just learning, but a small group were exceptional. She’d been encouraging the one who’d just left to audition for a spot at Berklee.

They had an excellent program on scoring and composition and the girl had a lot of promise.

Halloween was now less than a month away. Funny how fast the fall had taken hold. Tina had been dead nearly a month and though it was sad, Gillian was grateful Miles wasn’t much bothered by the death of his biological mother.

They hadn’t been close. Tina had simply given Miles to her sister, signed the papers and moved on with her life. She never remembered birthdays and rarely Christmas. Never asked after Miles on the rare occasions she managed to call.

But Gillian had sent her sister pictures anyway. Sent pictures of first smiles and emerging teeth, of steps and first days of school. Had sent handbills and poorly photocopied cast lists of every musical performance and play.

Of her blood family, only Gran had ever cared about Gillian and Miles. And Miles had been inconsolable after her death. For months he’d just burst into tears or would be in a bad mood. Gillian had been similarly bereft. But keeping Miles emotionally healthy had helped her deal with her own grief.