The Father of Her Son - By Kathleen Pickering Page 0,71
grudge because she had flirted with him and he didn’t respond to her advances. Buzz had moved on in his career and left her behind with an excellent reference for employment elsewhere for which she completely deserved.
Dean didn’t even blink. He accepted Campbell’s condescending yet well-played answer as if there was no other.
Evan knew before he spoke that Dean was going in for the kill. He had seen the same ruthless look settling on Dean’s face in office meetings when he’d worked around another reporter’s back to get a story. Dean must have considered this interview one hell of an opportunity to further his career because this broadcast would destroy his ties with Buzz, and Evan. When this interview was over, Buzz would have nothing to do with Dean ever again. He’d probably work on destroying Dean, but Dean was too green to be aware of that danger. Not when Steve and the boys upstairs probably promised to protect him.
As for Evan? He’d let Campbell do his dirty work regarding Dean. Evan had more important issues to clean up.
Dean opened the file and extracted a sheet of paper. The camera panned on both men. Evan didn’t miss the momentarily raised eyebrows when Campbell recognized what Dean held.
“Then, Senator, can you explain this DNA test showing that the six-year-old boy of the woman reported as this family’s former nanny is your son?”
Buzz did what all good speakers do when caught with their back against the wall he gave an indirect answer.
“Well, I’d have to be able to believe a report like that, son. Trust the source and all.”
“But, Senator, I obtained this report from a DNA sample I obtained from the boy, along with a DNA sample of your hair in a comb in the NCTV makeup room. This is, indeed, fact. I supplied you with a copy and asked you to explain it for the American people, but you remained silent.”
Buzz Campbell looked like he wanted to explode. He placed both feet on the floor and leaned forward, not caring about the camera angle as much as, Evan suspected, caring very much to make an impression on the viewing audience.
Kelly started trembling. Evan tried to bundle her in his arms, but she pulled away. She rose to her feet, terror filling her face as she stared at the screen as if the devil himself stood before her.
When Campbell spoke, she flinched.
“One of the most unfortunate aspects of wanting to be a servant for the American people is having my personal life aired in public. I did not respond to you, Mr. Porter, because this information came as an utter shock to me. A shock of such magnitude that I had to speak with my wife and my pastor before I could come forward.
“Let me tell you. This news does not make me happy, but for reasons other than you might suspect. This nanny of whom you speak was a trusted member of our household. We all loved her. I would like to spare the poor woman from airing the details. Let it suffice to say that she developed a crush on me of which I had no idea. One night I feel asleep on the couch after working late and she seduced me in my sleep.
“She is a beautiful woman and it was a weak and less than lucid moment before I realized what was happening and it was too late. I fired her immediately. She left the next morning. Madeline has forgiven me, which is all the absolution I require. Now, she joins me in wanting to know for sure if this boy is really mine. If he is, we intend to file for custodial rights. This was an issue I had hoped to settle privately because clearly Ms. Sullivan never approached me with paternity for a son. Clearly, her shame for what she’d done caused her to protect her privacy, as well.”
He pressed his lips together as if making a hard decision. “I would like to believe the American people understand I am a man who can make dire mistakes just like any other man. But, I am also willing to claim responsibility for my actions and make amends. I plan to do that, Mr. Porter. Now, this interview is over.”
The senator did not rise. He simply sat back in his chair and stared at Dean as if the man was invisible. Then the camera cut.
Kelly stared blindly at the screen, struggling for breath. She didn’t know what