Family (6 page)

Okay, so maybe they’d find some dirt on John and his kids. But it wasn’t the sort of dirt that would stick. The paparazzi would sniff out the next story, and the Baxters-Dayne’s birth family-would be old news.

“Can’t you see it going that way?” he’d asked Dayne.

Dayne was slow to answer. “You can’t tell about the gossip rags.” He sighed, and the sound of it rattled John’s soul. “The Baxters would always be fair game-no matter how much time passed. If you got a speeding ticket or visited the hospital or were caught in a public place in Los Angeles or New York, anytime any of you spent time with me, you’d be subject to the click of the cameras.”

His voice faded some. “As long as I’m at the top of their list, you would be too.”

The view Dayne had presented was sobering, and it made John understand why Dayne had kept his distance. Still, he couldn’t help but think it was possible. Once he told his kids, they would be flexible enough to make it work.

Whatever Dayne decided, nothing could take the edge off the joy John was feeling for one single reason-he had found their firstborn son. If Elizabeth could see him now, if God allowed His people a window from heaven, then she had to be rejoicing with him. The boy they had prayed for and longed for and missed with every passing year was found.

The microwave beeped three times. John pulled out the plate 37

and placed a small heap of salad next to it. “Lunch is ready.” He raised his voice loud enough for Ashley to hear.

“Coming.” There was the sound of feet bouncing down the stairs and Ashley appeared, her face taken up with a sad smile. She hadn’t lost all her baby weight yet, but she had never looked more beautiful. She stopped and held out her hands. “I love it.”

“Salmon?” John looked at the two steaming plates, then back at his daughter.

She giggled and came to him. A quick hug and a kiss on the cheek and she stepped back. “My painting.” She took one of the plates to the kitchen table and sat down.

He joined her at the table with his plate. “Let me guess. “John loved this, the easy banter he shared with Ashley. Especially after so many years when she’d kept her distance, years before she let God and Landon into her life. He stroked his chin, teasing her. “It’s a painting of the world’s most precious baby. This wonderful couple is holding him between them, and the sunlight can’t spill enough gold on their faces.”

“Hmm.” Ashley grinned. “That might be next.” She poked her fish with a fork. For a while she looked at him, a knowing look, as if maybe that would be enough to convey the details of her current painting. When she spoke, her voice was softer than before. “It’s of him, our older brother.”

John felt his jaw go slack, and adrenaline raced through his veins. How could this be happening? How had Ashley once again found out the truth before anyone else? He searched her face. “You … you know him?”

Surprise flashed in her eyes, then an understanding. “No, Daddy. Of course not.”

She sat up straighter in her chair. Her expression slowly took on a faraway look. “But I see him.” She touched her finger to the place above her heart. “In here I feel like I know him.” Her voice held a familiar longing, familiar tone.

She sounded like Elizabeth, the way Elizabeth had talked whenever she spoke about Dayne.

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“I understand.” Maybe it was time to give her a little more information. He set his fork down and felt his expression grow more serious. “I’ve been talking to him. Your brother.”

The color left Ashley’s cheeks. “You have?” She was motionless, probably trying to make sense of this newest detail. “How come you didn’t say anything before?”

“He wants to meet you.” John rested his forearms on the table. “All of you. He knows your names and ages, who you’re married to, the names of your children. He knows everything.”

Ashley stood. “Really?” She raised both hands and looked upward. “Thank You, God.” She made a sound that was mostly a laugh. Her words came faster than before. “So when’s the meeting? When are you going to tell the others? And why did he change his mind?”

John felt his heart sink. Maybe telling her this much wasn’t such a good idea.

“Sit down, honey. Please.”

The smile stayed on her face, but she did as he asked. “I can’t believe this, Dad… . Tell me.”

“It isn’t that easy, sweetheart.” He leaned closer, willing her to understand.

“There are special circumstances. His life … his life is very different from ours. He hasn’t decided if it’d be good for us if we all met.”

Ashley went limp against the back of the chair. “Of course it would be good.”

She searched his face as if the entire conversation made no sense. “We aren’t asking him to move in with us. We want to meet him.” Her voice had grown loud, and she made an obvious effort to lower it. “You want to meet him, don’t you, Dad?”

He’d told her this much. She might as well know as much truth as he could give her. “I have met him, Ash. I met him last month. He flew here, and we talked at the park downtown.”

This time she looked as if she might pass out. “Wow.” She pursed her lips and exhaled. “I … I don’t know what to say.”

John picked up his fork and took a bite of salmon. It was 39

colder than he liked it. The whole time he watched his daughter. “I’m telling you this now so you’ll see God’s working here. There’s progress.”

Ashley seemed frozen in place. “You’re serious. You really met him?” She pushed back from the table. “What’s he like? Does he look like us?” She raked her fingers through the roots of her hair. “Dad, I have a hundred questions. Did you tell him about me, that I’m the only one who knows about him?”

“I did.”

“Okay … so, did you tell him I want to meet him?”

This was harder than John had imagined. How could he keep up the facade when the truth was that Ashley had already met him? Dayne had given her a ride home from drama practice last fall. Both of them had spoken about the incident. God…

help her understand. Let it all work out one day soon. He cleared his throat. “I told him. And he’s thinking about it.” He lowered his brow, pleading with her.

“Keep praying, Ash. Really.”

She hesitated. “So what’s he like?”

“He’s nice.” John could see Dayne’s face, hear him the way he’d sounded on their recent conversations. “I think you’d like him.”

A dozen curiosities danced in Ashley’s eyes. “Does he look like me or Brooke or who?”

The question was easy. “He looks like Luke.”

“I can’t believe this.” Ashley stared at him and then out the window. For nearly a minute she was quiet. “Pray, right? That’s what you want me to do?”

“Yes, Ash.” John’s heart hurt. With everything inside him he wanted to tell her the whole truth. “Please understand.”

She nodded and ate the rest of her lunch in silence. “I need to get back.” She stood and took both their empty plates to the kitchen sink. When they were rinsed and placed in the dishwasher, she turned to him. “Devin’ll be hungry.”

She kissed his

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cheek. Her lips formed a smile, but her eyes remained flat. “Thanks for lunch.”

“Ash, you’re mad.” He took tender hold of her hand. “Please don’t be upset.

Things are moving in the right direction.”

She looked deeply into his eyes for several seconds. Then the intensity of her expression eased. “Can I ask you one favor?”

“Anything.” He hated the pain this was causing them both. How could he have known that his older son would be a top Hollywood movie star?

“Tell the others they have another brother. As soon as possible.” Her tone was kinder now, imploring him to see the request as possible. “He could call today and tell you he’s ready to meet us.” She motioned toward the door. “But Brooke and Kari and Luke and Erin … they know nothing about him.” She paused. “You can’t wait until next spring, Dad. Please… tell them now.”

John’s stomach flip-flopped. He wanted to argue that it was too soon, better to wait until their brother had made up his mind, until a decision had been reached. But in as much time as it took for the argument to flash across his mind, he knew she was right. What would Dayne think if he called and wanted to come for a visit, only to find out that John had dragged his feet in telling the others?

Ashley leaned closer. “They’ll be okay, Dad. Nothing’s going to change the way they feel about you and Mom.” She smiled, and this time her eyes held the familiar glow. “Nothing ever could.”

Her words infused a strength into his veins that surged through him and made the answer obvious. He nodded slowly, as if his body were still trying to imagine the possibility. “Okay.” He looked beyond her to the window. He felt like a man standing at the open door of an airplane ready to jump. God would have to provide the parachute. That much was sure. He met her eyes. “I’ll tell them.”

“This week?” She gave him the same look she’d given him as a 41

little girl when she hadn’t cleaned her room but wanted to spend the night at a friend’s house anyway. “Please …”

This week, God? Without any time to get ready …

My son, I am with you… .

The silent exchange took only a moment, but it brought with it a peace and certainty John couldn’t deny. He put his arm around Ashley’s shoulders. This time he allowed the hint of a smile. “Yes.” He walked her to the door. “This week.”

After she was gone, he stayed at the window and stared at the deep blue sky.

There would never be an easy way to tell his adult children about their older brother. But it had to be done. He could write them each a letter, explain the situation the best way he knew how. Then he could ask them to call when they were ready to talk. He pictured Dayne, sitting beside Luke perhaps at this minute, the trial just getting under way. Yes, Ashley was right. He needed to get past this next step.

The sooner the better.

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43

All night Dayne tried to think of a way to take the pressure off Katy.

He was still thinking about it that morning when his attorney, Joe Morris, pulled up out front in a rented black Suburban. Dayne wore a dark Armani suit, a crisp white buttoned-down shirt, and a conservative Yves Saint Laurent tie. This wasn’t his typical about-town clothing, which meant the cameramen would be all the more anxious to get his picture. Maybe that would mean more attention aimed at him and less on Katy. At least he hoped so.

He stepped out of his house and instantly heard the stir of photographers. Six of them lined his sidewalk, each with a camera aimed at him-the only paparazzi willing to give up a place in line at the courthouse for photos of him leaving his Malibu home. They fired a battery of questions at him.

“Will the woman testify today or tomorrow?”

“Is she staying at your house, Dayne?”

“Dayne, who is she? What’s her name? How long have you two been dating?”

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He ignored all of them and slipped easily into the waiting SUV.

Joe grinned at him. “Hope you brought your popcorn. The courthouse is a circus from what 1 hear.” He pointed to the cup holder adjacent to the front-passenger seat. “I picked up Starbucks. Got you a venti double-vanilla latte. Your favorite.”

Dayne snapped his seat belt in place. “A double?” He looked over his shoulder at the paparazzi, hurrying to their cars, anxious to follow him. “Pretty sure I don’t need a double shot to feel wired this morning.” He picked up the drink and breathed in the steam. “If I wind up on the ceiling, you get to scrape me off.”

“Whatever you need.” Joe had one hand on the wheel. He pulled onto Pacific Coast Highway, then glanced in his rearview mirror. “Wow.” He clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “They’re out for blood today.”

There was the sound of screeching tires behind them.

Dayne didn’t turn around. “You got that right.” He let the warmth of his drink soak through his hands and into his body. “It’s no big deal. I’m used to it. Try to ignore them.”

Joe’s eyes opened a little wider. He had no funny comeback, almost as if he hadn’t thought about that before. This was the life Dayne lived every day-not just when a big trial was about to begin.

The attorney grew quiet and turned his attention entirely to the road. He deftly moved the Suburban through the morning traffic toward the criminal courts building. The crime had taken place outside the jurisdiction of Los Angeles, but early on both attorneys and a judge agreed that the trial would be better off in Los Angeles. If nothing more than for the fact that the LA courthouses could better handle the sheer volume of media interest.

“You nervous?” Joe held his coffee in one hand. He took a quick drink and returned his cup to its place on the console.

“No.” Dayne’s answer was sure, confident. “Should be an easy conviction.”

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“Yeah.” Joe glanced at him. “I meant about Katy Hart. You seem sort of distracted.”

Dayne sighed. Was he that easy to read? He shifted so he could see his attorney better. “I’m worried about her.” Dayne hadn’t told his attorney about his deeper feelings for Katy, and for another five miles he wondered if he should. Joe was safe-he wouldn’t talk to the press. And if he knew, maybe he’d be more determined to help protect Katy. Besides, now that the photographers had photos, there was no point hiding the truth. “Hey, Joe … about Katy.”

“I know. You want her shielded from the press.” He gave a quick nod. “I’ve got Luke Baxter on it.”’

His brother. Dayne wanted to laugh. How could any of this actually be happening?

“Okay … but there’s something I need to tell you.”

Joe gave him a longer look, one that told him this probably wasn’t the time for surprises. “I’m listening.”

“Katy and I …” Dayne looked straight ahead. He waited a long time, trying to find the right words. Finally he uttered a single laugh. “There’s no other way to say it. I’m crazy about her, Joe. I’m in love with her. Seriously.” He could hear the amazement in his own voice. He hadn’t been this straightforward with anyone but John Baxter. “I’ve had feelings for her ever since I met her.” There was no stopping now. The truth spilled out like water from a dam. “A couple photographers caught us last night on the beach. It was just a quick kiss, but it’s on camera.”