chided herself. How unflattering to indulge mistrust when Evan had been nothing but spot-on in all his help. Despite her concerns, she very much appreciated that she wasn’t alone with this Doyle debacle, but she had to make the decisions. Listening to Evan’s advice didn’t make her weak. He gave her food for thought. She sat back in the chair.
“Okay, so I can’t take Matt back to Neverland for a while. I can take him to Michael, but first they have to meet, and Matt would have to get comfortable with him before I left him.”
Evan shook his head. “No, Kelly. We’re talking now. Tonight. Tomorrow. Just stay here. There are two guest rooms down the hall. I won’t even know you are here.”
“What about Neverland?”
He shrugged. “You can go. They don’t need DNA from you.”
“There is no way I can take him back to school, either.”
“I know. This is going to be tricky.”
“What do you suggest?”
He grabbed the menus. “We order lunch. Then, we fortify our forces.”
She tilted her head at his grin. “What do you mean?”
“We call my mother.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
NO SOONER WAS pizza delivered than Kelly’s cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number but the area code was Brooklyn. It could only be one person. She answered.
“Kelly, it’s Michael.”
“Hello, Michael.” She waved a reassuring hand at Evan’s questioning gaze and gestured that she’d take the call on the balcony. Once outside, she leaned against the balustrade soaking in the view over tree-lined Central Park. “I guess you’ve seen the news.”
“Looks like the good Lord brought me here in time to help.” His brotherly concern sounded so familiar. She realized how glad she was to finally have family on her side of the ocean.
“Michael, please don’t breathe a word of this to the family.”
“Do you think this event will make international headlines?”
She closed her eyes at the thought. “God, I hope not.”
“How can I help?”
“I’m not sure. I’m with a friend right now. He’s offered to let us stay here. We have to keep Matt away from Senator Campbell.”
Michael was silent a moment. “I am not having very kind thoughts about that man.”
She laughed. “Believe me, Michael, I know the feeling.”
“I’d prefer you come here.”
“I already thought of that but Evan’s penthouse is close to Neverland and the closest thing to a fortified castle as I can get.”
“You’ve never heard of the church as sanctuary?”
She sighed at the hurt in his voice. Men. Ever the protectors. “Michael, can you come into Manhattan? Evan is asking his mother to help. I sure could use some brotherly support, and it is time for Matthew to meet you.”
He didn’t hesitate. “When?”
“Tomorrow? I have to arrange the schedule at Neverland to give myself some time off.”
“I’ll be there after noon mass.”
A wave of relief filled her. Big brother would come to the rescue without a hint of reprimand. “I’ll wait for you at Neverland.”
He questioned, “So, who is the Evan with whom you are planning to stay the night?”
Kelly chuckled. “Evan McKenna. He’s a friend, Michael. The television morning show host for NCTV?”
“Ah. Well, at least he is Irish. Are you dating him, lass?”
“No, Michael. I don’t date. I have a son to raise. You can see the arrangements for yourself tomorrow.”
“Ah. I see. Well, then. Till tomorrow. And, Kelly?”
“Yes?”
“You are not alone. Ever.”
She pressed a hand to her heart. Her response was choking her throat. “I know it, Michael. Thank you.”
Evan and Matt were hatching some plan for playing manhunt through the penthouse after lunch. Evan had removed his suit jacket and loosened his tie. His ability to make a crisis seem like an everyday event was not lost on her. A wave of warmth filled her. Men like Evan and Michael restored her belief that not all males were heartless. That said, she’d never lose sight of the fact that even these men—while willing to help her—would handle her situation differently if she gave them the reins. Handing over her control would never happen, but she wasn’t fool enough to refuse the help they offered.
“Everything okay?” Evan asked.
She nodded once. “It was my brother.”
Matt’s eyes went wide. “You have a brother?”
His question was pure curiosity, as if it wouldn’t even occur to him that Kelly had withheld information. She sat down next to Matt and shot a quick glance at Evan, who leaned back from the counter as if giving her space to speak.
She smiled at Matt. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Where is he?”
“He used to live in