Claiming The Captain's Baby

“What’s going on, Giles?”

He knew he had gotten Jordan’s attention when he addressed him by name. Giles was completely truthful when he told Jordan everything—from sleeping with Samantha, the phone call asking him to come to Wickham Falls, West Virginia, and to the revelation that he was now the father of a seven-month-old little girl and the rights extended to him as her father.

“That’s really a low blow,” Jordan drawled.

Giles smiled in spite of the seriousness of the situation. “I agree. I need to know everything about Samantha Madison Lawson and Mya Gabrielle Lawson. Both were adopted, so I don’t know how far back you’ll be able to go.”

“I’ll have the investigators begin with their adoption records and go forward from there. Is there anything you’ve noticed about the aunt that would make her unfit to be your daughter’s mother?”

“Not really. We spent less than an hour together. Her home is clean and tastefully furnished, and she claims to have taught college-level literature.”

“Does she appear financially able to raise and educate the child until she is emancipated?” Jordan asked.

Giles stared up at the ceiling. “I don’t know. That’s what I need for your people to find out.” Although Mya drove a late-model vehicle, it wasn’t in the luxury category. He also had no idea if Samantha had life insurance, and if she did, if Mya had been her beneficiary. His concern was how she was supporting herself as a stay-at-home mother.

He had called Jordan because he knew he would never divulge what Giles had just told him. However, Giles knew he owed it to his parents—his mother in particular—to let her know that they had another grandchild.

“Are you prepared to accept the results if they come back clean?”

“I’ll have to accept it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop fighting to claim my daughter.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to give up,” Jordan continued, “because I would do the same if I were in a similar situation. What I wouldn’t do is antagonize your daughter’s mother. Try to remain civil with her and perhaps she’ll come around and allow you more involvement in the baby’s life.”

“That’s what I’m hoping will happen.” Giles paused. “Do I have an alternative if the background checks yield nothing? What can I use to sue for at least joint custody?”

“Your only other option would be charging her with neglect. You’ll have to be able to prove that the child has failed to thrive, that she doesn’t get the medical care she needs, or if you’ve witnessed any verbal or physical abuse. I’ve never handled a child abuse or neglect case, but Aziza has. Although she’s well versed in the family court system, I don’t want to involve her in this because she’s so close to her due date. Maybe after the baby’s born and if she feels up to it, I’ll ask her to look into this for you.”

“When is she due again?”

“October 5. The doctor says the baby could come a week before or a week after that date.”

“You still don’t know if you’re having a girl or a boy?”

“No. We want to be surprised.”

“Have you narrowed it down to names?”

“We’re leaning toward Maxwell if it’s a boy and Layla if it’s a girl.”

“I like those names.”

His cousin and his wife were given the privilege of selecting names for their unborn baby, while he’d had no say in naming his daughter. Every time he thought about Samantha’s deception, it served to refuel his anger.

“Look, G, I’m going to hang up because I have a client waiting for me. And don’t worry about the background checks. I’ll have the investigators get on it ASAP.”

“Thanks, Jordan.”

“No need to thank me. Talk to you later.”

Giles ended the call and rested his head on folded arms. He would take Jordan’s advice and not do anything to antagonize Mya because she held all of the cards when it came to Lily’s future. At least for now.

What she wasn’t aware of was his intent to use any and everything short of breaking the law to claim his daughter.

* * *

The following evening Giles opened the door to his apartment and waited for his mother to emerge from the elevator.

Amanda Wainwright stepped out of the car, her smile indicating she was as pleased to see him as he was her. It was a rare occasion when Giles saw his mother without a fringe of hair sweeping over her ears and forehead. Tonight she had styled her chin-length, liberally gray-streaked black hair off her face. She was conservatively dressed in tailored taupe slacks she had paired with a white tailored blouse. She was hardly ever seen in public without her ubiquitous navy blazer, Gucci loafers and the magnificent strand of South Sea pearls and matching studs she had inherited from her grandmother.

There had been a time after graduating college and before he’d joined the marines when they had rarely spoke to each other. However, that changed when Giles called to inform his mother he was being deployed to Afghanistan. After all, he’d owed it to her to let her know he would be going into combat.

That single call changed him forever. It had taken days before he could forget the sound of her heartbreaking sobs. He apologized for severing all communication with her, while she apologized for interfering in his life and attempting to control his future. He returned to the United States after his first tour, shocking his parents when they opened the door to find him in uniform grinning ear to ear. The homecoming signaled a change in their relationship. He was still their son, but he had also become a decorated war veteran.

“Hello, gorgeous.”

An attractive blush suffused Amanda’s fair complexion with the compliment. Giles had been truthful. His mother’s stunning beauty hadn’t faded at sixty-four. It was her tall, slender figure, delicate features, coal-black hair and vibrant violet-blue eyes that had attracted Patrick Wainwright II, who married her after a whirlwind courtship; a year later, they had welcomed their first child.

Amanda rested a hand on Giles’s light stubble. “You are definitely your father’s son. You always know what to say to make a woman feel good.”

Giles kissed her forehead. “You have to know by now that I never lie.” He threaded their fingers together and led her through the foyer and into the expansive living-dining area.

She pointed to the dining area table set for two. “You cooked?”

He seated his mother on a love seat and dropped down next to her. “Surely you jest,” he said, smiling. His many attempts to put together a palatable meal had resulted in either over-or undercooked dishes that always ended up in the garbage. In the end, he preferred eating in or ordering from his favorite restaurants or gourmet shops.

“I ordered from Felidia. It should be here in about twenty minutes.”

Amanda gave Giles a long stare. “Why did you order in? You know I love eating there because the place reminds me of a little ristorante Pat and I discovered when we were in Bologna.”

“I decided we’d eat in because I need to talk to you about something.”

“Please don’t tell me you’re going to rejoin the military.”

Giles dropped an arm over his mother’s shoulders and hugged her. “No. What I want to tell you shouldn’t be disclosed in public.”

Amanda’s eyelids fluttered as the natural color drained from her face. She rested a hand over the pearls. “Please don’t tell me something that’s going to hurt my heart.”

He shook his head. “It’s something you claim you’ve been wishing for. You now have a granddaughter.”

Giles knew he had shocked his mother when her hands trembled, but then she quickly recovered and cried tears of joy. Waiting until she was calmer, he told her everything he’d disclosed to Jordan. He left out the fact that he wanted his cousin to conduct a background check into the lives of his daughter’s mother and adoptive mother.

Amanda sniffled as she opened her handbag and took out several tissues. “What are you going to do?” she asked, after blowing her nose.

“I’m going to take the legal route to claim my daughter.”

“You claim you have visitation, so when can we expect to meet her?”

Giles recalled the designated holidays outlined in the codicil. “It probably won’t be until Thanksgiving.”