The Father of Her Son - By Kathleen Pickering Page 0,63
as mine and clear the air. Then do some digging to get evidence that doesn’t include my future wife to prove Campbell is unfit as a presidential candidate. You can give whatever information I find to Dean and let him run with it. I don’t care.”
“Do you hear yourself, Evan? Marrying a woman to protect her from scandal?”
“It’s been done before, Steve. Besides, I care for her. Seeing this nightmare unfold on her simply hammered home my feelings. You’ve seen enough to know it’s true.”
“I don’t like it. It compromises your position. If you get caught lying it could ruin your career.”
Evan held open both palms. “Well the only ones who could make me a liar are you and Dean. Would you do that?”
Steve didn’t answer.
This was the first time in ten years that Steve was taking a hard-line stance with him. The cold reasoning in his eyes said it all.
Evan let his pen drop onto his desk in resignation. “Wow. That’s too bad. I’m doing this, Steve. Kelly and I will be married in twenty-four hours. I’m planning on making quite a show of our marriage and my son on Monday’s show.”
Steve shook his head. “You with your black hair. Her kid is blond. Who will believe you?”
Evan grinned. “There is a deep Irish gene pool on both sides. I’ll make it work.”
Steve sipped his coffee and winced—it must have gone cold. “I have to talk to the chairman about this. I’ll get back to you.”
“Make it happen, Steve. Trust me. We will sink Campbell in the end and we’ll both be able to sleep at night.”
* * *
WHEN EVAN ENTERED his penthouse, Kelly had the television on, already deep into the second news show at NCTV, which meant she had seen his interviews. Kelly stood at the counter in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in her hand. Matt sat at the counter concentrating on a coloring book.
“Did you like the show?”
Kelly punched the air. “One for the team. Loved the interview with the air force gal.”
Evan laughed. “She was a hit.”
Matt jumped to his feet. “I’m going with you today. Mom told me!”
Evan pulled Matt into his arms, his grin matching the boy’s. Evan hugged him, glad that the kid had accepted him. He whispered only for Matt to hear. “You okay with having me as your new dad?”
Matt leaned in. “Are you my dad?”
Oh, God. Here’s where the lies began. This kid could be shattered if the truth ever changed. He sought out Kelly across the top of his head, her eyes riveted on them. At her nod, he looked back at Matt. “Yeah, Matt. This is great news to me.”
“What took you so long?”
Evan laughed. “Well, I suppose your mom wanted to make sure you liked me.”
Matt gave him their secret handshake. “Can we live in the penthouse?”
“Sure! We’ll play basketball every night after your homework.”
Matt frowned. “I have homework?”
“Well not yet, but you will someday.”
The thought of watching this kid grow up hit with the enormity of the decision he and Kelly had made. Now, if he could just get her to trust him—heck, finally love him. One day at a time. First he had to get them in the clear with the senator.
Evan put Matt back on his feet. “You finish coloring. I have to talk with your mom before we go.”
She approached him, coffeepot in hand. “Will you be having your usual breakfast, Evan?”
“Don’t know if I can eat. I’m nervous about our next appointment.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THEY ASCENDED THE few steps to the Manhattan Marriage Bureau on Worth Street. Kelly had taken Matt with them because Julie was busy. Bunny had too many distractions at Neverland to keep an eye on him, and Michael had a packed day at his parish. She did manage to set up a playdate with Jared, but Donna couldn’t pick Matt up until after two. Trying to balance her efforts to keep calm with the license application while keeping Matt in tow didn’t give her much time to tap her own reactions to what was happening.
Perhaps that was a good thing.
Evan had taken her hand while they walked at an easy pace down the street, as if they had all the time in the world to absorb their surroundings. She in turn, held Matt’s hand and had to tug once in a while when he gawked at memorabilia sold at vendor stands.
Kelly’s mouth dropped open at the number of people applying for licenses at computer kiosks in the