David Castlemain was looking at Remington's collection of jade figurines that were sitting in the glass-fronted bookcase behind the piano when Remington and Laura entered the room. "Nice place you've got 'ere," he told them. "Big and roomy." He waved toward the French doors. "Big yard for the boy to play in. And a swimming pool. No way I could give 'im anything like this."
"Then why take him away from it?" Remington asked, ignoring Laura's frown of disapproval.
Constance entered with the requested coffee, and then made herself scarce as Castlemain answered Remington. "Johnny's my grandson. 'E belongs with family."
"Pity you didn't feel that way six years ago," Remington pointed out, watching Laura hand Castlemain a cup of coffee. "Or when Trina came back asking for your help."
"I wasn't worried about Trina. She could take care of 'erself. Always 'ad. And as long as she was there to take care of the boy, I didn't worry about 'im. But now, 'e's an orphan-"
"He's *not* an orphan," Remington pointed out. "He has his *father*."
"Really? You're certain that you're 'is father, are you?"
Laura placed a hand on her husband's arm to quiet him before the argument could escalate further. "Mr. Castlemain, your daughter's letter said that she wasn't sure whether Remington or Ian Colverson was Johnny's father. Just before he died, Ian Colverson told Remington and Johnny that he'd taken a paternity test and it was negative."
"Which leaves me," Remington pointed out.
"Trina liked men," Castlemain told them, putting his barely touched coffee to the side. "Kept a string of them. I never knew from one day to the next 'oo she was seein'. I knew she was seein' you cause you spent so much time in the pub. But most of 'em, 'ad no idea 'oo they were. Didn't want to know, truth be told. Could 'ave been any of 'em what knocked 'er up."
Remington's upper lip curled in disgust. "You-"
"Rem," Laura said softly, giving him a warning look. She was as disgusted as he was by the way David Castlemain spoke of his daughter. But it wouldn't do any of them any good for the two men to come to blows over it. "So, you think there might have been a- third man Trina was involved with- and that man would be Johnny's father, not Remington."
"It's possible," Castlemain nodded, surveying the room again before he looked at Laura. "Could I please see my grandson now? There's a lot of time we 'ave to catch up."
Laura started to turn toward the door, but Remington's hand on her arm stayed her. "And if we refuse? If I tell you that Johnny doesn't want to see you or have anything to do with you?"
"'E doesn't know me yet. The judge said that you 'ad to let me see 'im." He looked around the room again, finally finding the telephone near the doors into the foyer. "Maybe I should just give 'im a call-"
Remington released Laura's arm. "Very well. You'll see him. But you put one foot out of line, Castlemain, if you so much as mention the lie that he might not be my son, so help me, I'll-"
"I 'ave rights, Steele. I won't run off with the boy, so you've no worry there. I want all this to be nice and legal-like. Not going to do anything to jeopardize my chances of 'avin' 'im with me, where 'e belongs."
Laura gave Remington a look that clearly said, "Behave yourself", and left the two men alone to go and get Johnny. He wasn't in sight when she opened the door to his room-, which was partially open anyway, as usual. "Johnny?" The bed, with its car-imprinted comforter was fully made.
He spoke from the window seat across the room, where he was sitting behind the curtain, looking out over the back yard. "I'm 'ere, mum," he said in a small, quiet voice.
"Your grandfather wants to see you."
"Dad doesn't like 'im much, does 'e?" Johnny asked, not moving.
"No," Laura said truthfully. "He doesn't. But you shouldn't let someone else's feelings color your own. Give him a chance. We'll be here- but you should at least meet him. Who knows? You might even like him."
"Enough to go back to London with 'im?" Johnny asked, and suddenly his blue eyes were on her. "Is that what you want to 'appen?"
"Of course not," Laura said, sitting on the bench beside him. "I just want you to be happy." She gave him a hug, and then patted his shoulder. "Let's go. If we leave those two alone for too long, there's no telling what might happen," she said, trying to make him smile. It didn't work. His little face remained as grim as before as he accompanied her out of his room and down the stairs.
When they entered the living room, it was to find both men still standing in the same exact place they'd been when Laura had left, eyes locked in a silent battle of wills. It was only Johnny's entrance that broke the contest, ending it in a draw as Remington and David both turned to look at the child.
Johnny moved to stand before Remington, as though looking for protection from the unknown. Remington placed his hands on his son's shoulders, glancing at David once more before saying, "Johnny, this is your mother's father." He thought he'd choke if he had to use the word "Grandfather". David Castlemain had never been that to Johnny.
"Hello, Johnny," David said, his voice breaking slightly. "Gawd, you look like your mother. Same dark 'air and blue eyes. The big man drew a deep, shuddering breath, giving the appearance of being overcome. He held out a hand. "Come over here, lad."
As Remington's hands tightened slightly on Johnny's shoulders, the boy looked up at him, then at Laura, looking for guidance. Seeing that Remington wasn't responding, Laura touched the hand closest to her, grasping Remington's fingers in hers, removing them from Johnny's shoulder. She nodded to Johnny, but he waited another moment for Remington to do likewise before stepping to stand before his grandfather.
"'Ello, Grandfather," Johnny said in a quiet and uncertain voice.
David placed his hands on Johnny's shoulders. "I can she so much of 'er in you." He glanced up to where Remington was standing, watching them. His blue eyes moved to Laura. "Would it be all right for the lad and me to go outside?"
"I think so," Laura answered before Remington could refuse.
"Just stay within sight of the house," Remington warned as David turned the knob to open one of the French doors.
Laura followed him over to the door as he watched them. "I think Johnny's safe enough out there, Rem," she said. "A six foot privacy fence- and the back gate is locked. He couldn't possibly get Johnny out without our knowing it."
"I just don't trust him, Laura," Remington told her. "He's lying about the other men."
She looked up at him. "Are you certain of that? Isn't it just possible that Trina *was* everything he says she was?"
"Trina never made any secret about how she made enough money so she wouldn't have to depend on the pittance her father paid her for working at the pub. But I was certain that she wasn't- during that month, anyway. Except for Ian. And I didn't know who he was- just that she was keeping time with another man. She never mentioned anyone else."
"But if Castlemain can convince the judge that there *might* have been someone else, someone other than you or Colverson-" she took a deep breath. "You're going to have to agree to the paternity test, Remington," she said, knowing what his reaction would be.
"No. Johnny's my son. I can feel it. I know it," he insisted, touching his chest, "in here. I know that boy as well as I know myself, Laura."
"Wouldn't it be better to remove all doubt as to his parentage, then? Remove any ammunition that David Castlemain might use against you? If you can take a medical report declaring that you're Johnny's biologically father into court, he won't have a leg to stand on," she said.
Remington's eyes lifted to something behind Laura. "Yes, Constance?" he asked the housekeeper, who was hovering in the doorway.
Laura turned as well, hearing Constance ask, "Will there be another for dinner, Mr. Steele?"
"Not if I can help it," Remington muttered, tapping the doorframe with the side of his fist.
"We're not sure yet, Constance," Laura answered. "Johnny and Mr. Castlemain are still talking- Is dinner ready?"
"Very nearly, Mrs. Steele. But I can keep it warm-."
Remington grabbed at her words as a drowning man might grab at a lifeline. "No, that won't be necessary, Constance. We'll be right in."
"Very good, Mr. Steele," Constance said, leaving the room.
Remington opened the French door and stepped out onto the flagstone patio. "Johnny?" he called out toward the swing-set beyond the oak tree, where Johnny was sitting, swinging slightly, listening to David Castlemain. "Supper's on the table."
As Johnny returned to the house, Remington noticed that he allowed Castlemain to keep a hand around his shoulders, listening as the older man spoke to him.
When the two of them entered the living room again, Laura spoke. "Would you like to stay for dinner, Mr. Castlemain?" Laura asked politely, ignoring the angry look she received from her husband.
"Not this time, Mrs. Steele. But I appreciate your askin'." He looked down at Johnny. "I'll be around, lad. If you want me to be, that is?"
Johnny hesitated as he glanced at Remington. "I- I think I should get to know you," the boy said slowly.
"Good lad," David said, and ruffled Johnny's dark hair before looking up at Laura and Remington. "I'll call from now on before I come," he promised. "I just wanted to meet the lad. I 'ope you can understand that."
"Let's go wash your hands, Johnny," Remington said, putting his hand on Johnny's shoulder to turn him away. "Good evening, Mr. Castlemain," he said before leading Johnny out of the room toward the kitchen.
"Thank you, Mrs. Steele," David said. "I appreciate that you seem to understand 'ow important it is for a man to 'ave his only grandchild-"
"My only concern is what's best for Johnny," Laura told David. "He's what's most important here, don't you agree, Mr. Castlemain?" she asked pointedly.
"Of- of course 'e is." He nodded his head, donning his cap as he left the house via the door she opened for him. "I thought maybe I'd decide when I saw 'im that 'e'd be better off here- but I know now that I want 'im with me. To- to try and make up for all the mistakes I made with 'is mother."
"Laura!" Remington called impatiently from the dining room. "Your food is getting cold!"
"Good night, Mr. Castlemain," Laura said, closing the door and turning to join her family in the dining room.
Remington shook his napkin out into his lap as she took her seat. "Nice of you to finally join us," he commented, picking up his fork.
Laura chose to ignore his anger and picked up her own fork, looking at Johnny. "What did you think of your grandfather, Johnny?" she asked conversationally, noticing how Remington hesitated as he brought his fork to his mouth.
Johnny shrugged, fork in hand, as he pushed his food around the plate. "'E seemed okay, I guess. Said 'e loved me. And that 'e wanted me to go back to London with 'im."
"Eat your supper, Johnny," Remington said in an obvious attempt to end the conversation. "It's getting cold."
"I ain't very 'ungry," Johnny said. "Can I go to my room?" he asked Laura.
"May I," Laura corrected gently. "Are you sure? Constance made this dinner especially for you and Remington. And I *think* she's got a chocolate mousse for dessert," she said temptingly.
"I'm tired," Johnny said. "Not 'ungry."
"Then go to your room," Remington said. "I'll be up later to tell you a story- if you'd like me to-"
Laura wasn't sure, but she thought Johnny hesitated a moment before nodding in approval and leaving the room.
They listened to him climb the stairs in silence, each pretending to concentrate on their plates. As soon as he was certain Johnny was out of hearing, Remington said. "Bloody lot of help you were, asking him that."
"I wanted to know. I thought he might *want* to talk about his grandfather."
"And I don't want you encouraging Johnny to have a relationship with that man," Remington insisted, putting his palm against the tabletop. "I wont' have it. He is *not* Johnny's grandfather, I don't care if he was Trina's father. He was never a father to her- never showed any interest in her life- why should we take it for granted that he's suddenly a changed man and wants to make amends, eh?"
"The courts might see it differently," Laura pointed out. "Johnny *has* to be allowed to make up his *own* mind in this, Remington. Without your emotional baggage interfering. It's not fair to him. How do you know that he wouldn't *prefer* to be back in London instead of here, in a strange place?"
Remington rose from his chair, barely managing to keep his voice down as he accused, "You never wanted him here at all, did you?"
"That's crazy!"
"Oh, come on, Laura. If he goes back to London, then you can stop trying to be Mother of the Year. You can stop trying to prove to yourself and your mother and your sister that you can be the best mother in the world and still have a career."
"I thought I'd been doing pretty damn good at both," Laura declared, becoming angry as well.
"But can you honestly tell me that you wouldn't' mind not having to take the time away from work to attend the school conferences, the football games and all of the rest?"
"You've gone mad," Laura decided. "Stark raving, totally mad! You're putting words in my mouth- Have I ever *once* complained about attending a meeting at school?"
"No. But I can see how tired you've been lately. You come to bed every night totally exhausted-"
"And have you had *any* reason to complain about-"
"No," he said, lifting a hand. "But if Johnny weren't here- then you wouldn't be so tired. You'd have more free time for yourself. Be honest. You thought about that today, after Castlemain showed up, didn't you?"
"Remington-"
He tossed his napkin onto the table beside his plate. "I've lost my appetite as well. I'll be upstairs telling my son a bed time story." He rose from the table and left the room.
Laura sat there, wondering why she had hesitated. Was he right? Did she wish their lives were less complicated by the addition of a six-year-old little boy with dark hair and blue eyes and enough charm to wrap them both around his little finger?
Constance appeared from the kitchen and began gathering plates. "I was afraid they wouldn't have much in the way of appetite this evening," she fretted. "After what happened this afternoon. Would you like some of the mousse, Mrs. Steele? Or should I put it into the refrigerator for tomorrow?"
"We'll have it tomorrow, Constance," Laura said. "Thank you." Even chocolate wouldn't help her tonight.
***
She went upstairs to tell Johnny goodnight, and found Remington just opening "The Cat in the Hat", one of the child's favorite stories. At least, it was the way Remington read it. He had such a knack for voices, and changing the timbre of his voice that he made even the Dr. Seuss classic come to life- even for Laura.
"Good night, Johnny," she said, ignoring Remington's look of doubt as she gave the little boy a hug and kiss.
"You goin' to stay and listen to Dad read to me?" he asked.
"Not tonight. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
He nodded, and she left the room, going back downstairs to what Remington called her study. Like the living room, it had French doors that led out to the patio and pool. She sat down at the desk, turning on the Correa lamp that sat on one corner, but found that she couldn't concentrate on the contracts she needed to look over.
Turning off the lamp, she went to the French doors and stepped onto the patio, looking up at the clear, moonlight sky. A shiver went through her, even though the evening wasn't really cold, and she rubbed her arms, trying to stay warm, not wanting to return to the house just yet.
She never heard him come out of the house, never realized he was there until she felt his jacket drop over her shoulders. "Thanks," she said.
"You looked cold."
"Is he asleep?" she asked, glancing up at the dark window of Johnny's room?"
"Dr. Seuss succeeds again," he told her. He stood there, hands in his pockets, looking out over the back yard. "Laura, I'm sorry-"
"No," she said, interrupting him. "You were right- in a way. When Johnny first came to us, I *did* resent him a little." She sighed. "I simply had no idea how we were going to manage to fit him into our lives while we got a marriage on its feet, and took care of business." She looked out at the swing set that Remington had insisted on buying for Johnny before they had even moved into the house. "But now- I can't imagine what life would be like without him. Without seeing him swimming in the pool, or kicking a soccer ball around the yard, running up the stairs," she added, her voice catching as she fought back the tears.
Suddenly Remington's arms were around her, holding her close. "I know. I know. The idea of losing him terrifies me as well. I think that's one reason I'm so hesitant to take that bloody paternity test." Laura looked up at him. "What if it's negative?" he asked. "What if- Castlemain is right and I'm *not* his father?"
"Would it make such a difference about how you feel?"
"No," he said softly, lowering his head for a moment. "Oh, no. Nothing could do that. That little boy has got such a stranglehold on my heart that I would want him here under any circumstances."
"Then-"
"What if-" he stopped, taking a deep breath before continuing. "What if the knowledge that I wasn't his father- his real father- changes the way he feels about me?" he asked, his voice so soft that Laura had to strain to hear it. "What if because of that- he decided to go back to London with Castlemain?"
Laura wanted to comfort him; to assure him that something like that couldn't happen. But the practical side of her mind told her that it could. "We have to let Johnny make the decision, Remington. We can't force him to stay where he doesn't want to."
"He's six years old, Laura," Remington pointed out.
"Yes, but as you yourself have said time and time again, he's not six years old mentally. That little boy has been shunted from relative to relative all of his life, with no say-so as to what *he* wants. Don't you think it's time someone gave him that choice? Let *him* decide what he wants?"
"I guess you're right," Remington said, drawing her against his chest again. "I wonder if he'd take a bribe?" he asked, and Laura looked up at him.
"Rem-"
"Just kidding," he assured her. "I hope." He managed a smile. "Let's go to bed, eh? It's been a long day, and I think we both need to hold each other for awhile."
"Sounds good to me," Laura agreed.
"I do love you, Mrs. Steele," Remington said, dropping a kiss onto her lips as they turned toward the house.
"And I love you," Laura replied.
***
After their meeting with Mr. Curlew, Mildred reminded Laura that she had agreed to help out at the Bake Sale that Johnny's class was having at lunch. "I can go," Remington offered, seeing her tired face.
"No. I'll go," Laura said. "I need your expertise at Mr. Curlew's shop, looking things over to see if you can find any clues about the robbery." She gave him a quick kiss. "I'll be back in an hour or so."
"Be careful," Remington told her.
"Besides, it will give me a chance to make sure they know not to release Johnny to anyone but the people on our list."
Remington nodded. "Good idea. For all Castlemain's protestations that he won't take Johnny without the blessing of the court, I don't trust him."
Laura nodded and left, waving once as she disappeared down the corridor. Remington stood there, staring at the doors for several moments. "Does she look tired to you, Mildred?" he asked.
"I doubt either of you got much sleep last night after what happened," Mildred reminded him.
"On the contrary. Laura slept like a baby. I'm the one who didn't sleep," he confided.
"I'm still running that check on Castlemain," she informed him. "Nothing yet."
"Keep looking. There has to be something that man's background that would make him an unfit guardian for Johnny."
"You mean other than the fact that he disowned Johnny and his mother for six years, you mean?"
"Precisely." He slipped his sunglasses on. "I'll be at Curlew's Jewelers, Mildred," he told her.
"Gotcha, Chief."
***
Remington managed to concentrate on Mr. Curlew's walk in safe for the next forty-five minutes, long enough to confirm that whoever had stolen the diamonds had either been a top-notch safe cracker- or that it had been an inside job. He was just reassuring Mr. Curlew that he was already having his sources track down whether or not the gems had been fenced locally when the telephone rang and a sales clerk answered. "Curlew's Jewelers. May I help you?" The young woman held out the telephone. "It's for you, Mr. Steele."
"Thank you." Remington took the telephone. "Steele here."
"Oh, Mr. Steele," Mildred said urgently. "Thank goodness you're still there."
His first thought was that something had happened to Johnny. Perhaps Castlemain had decided to kidnap him- "What's wrong, Mildred?"
"It's Mrs. Steele. She collapsed at Johnny's school."
"Collapsed?"
"Passed out cold, right in the middle of selling chocolate chip cookies!"
"Is she still there?" Remington asked, mentally calculating how long it would take for Fred to drive to the private school that he'd enrolled Johnny in a year ago.
"No. They called an ambulance for her. They took her to Mercy."
"I'll call you from there, Mildred. Where is Johnny?"
"Johnny's teacher said that he insisted on going with her."
"Okay. Thank you, Mildred." He hung up, barely noticing Mr. Curlew's confused look. "I have to go, Mr. Curlew. I'll be in touch with you as soon as we have some news."
"Of course, Mr. Steele," Mr. Curlew was saying, but Remington didn't wait long enough to hear anymore.
He left the shop and got into the limo without waiting for Fred to open the door. "Mercy Hospital, Fred. And don't worry about the tickets."
To Be Continued---