“Oh please, tell that to your future son or daughter when they don’t inherit what’s rightfully theirs because you decided to take on another man’s burden.”
“You can't seriously think that something so trivial would matter.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. I want to be the one to tell you this, but you’ve left me no choice. A long time ago, before your father or I had control of Lakeview, your grandfather put a clause into the family bylaws that only Wheeler blood could inherit the stakes.”
My jaw clenched. It didn’t matter that Harrison was my son. Even if he wasn’t, I’d still feel the same way about Stacy. Knowing that he would only get what was rightfully his because he was a true Wheeler rubbed me the wrong way. It wasn’t right. What if one of my brothers fell in love with a single mom like I had, but her child wasn’t his? I was starting to understand the frustration Jackson had felt.
“Mother, I don’t care what the family laws say. If I want to give everything to Harrison, I will. If the family doesn’t like that, then I will walk away from them before I do my son.”
She gasped, her face paling as my father sat up for the first time from where he was pouting in his seat. He didn’t like to corner his sons, and, in his mind, if we weren’t hurting anyone and kept making a profit, our lives were our own. The second the words slipped from my mouth, I recoiled away from them. It had been a mistake. I’d let my mother get me worked up, and the truth just slipped out.
“That boy is your son?” She asked.
I nodded. “That information cannot go beyond us. We are still working through things. I do not need or want your involvement whatsoever.”
“Well, that definitely changes things. I’d like to sit down and meet with this woman as soon as possible so we can discuss the child.”
“That’s exactly what isn’t going to happen. You are not to go anywhere near Stacy or Harrison, do you understand me?”
“Oh, please, you are ridiculous. I’m sure this woman knew who you were when she slept with you. I’m surprised it’s taken her this long to come forward with demands. Should I assume it’s money she’s after? Dear God, the lawyers are going to have a field day with this!”
“Mother!” I snapped. “What goes on between the mother of my child and me is none of your business. I cannot make this any more clear. You are not to go near her.”
“I have rights as that child’s grandparent, you know. We’ll need to get a DNA test done, of course.”
“He’s my son, there is no testing needed.”
She scoffed. “Come now, don’t be naive, Walker. Obviously, this woman wanted to land a big fish, and she did. There is no reason to be sentimental towards the situation. I’ll have the attorneys petition the courts for a copy of his birth certificate, and we can move ahead.”
“My name isn’t on his birth certificate.”
“What?” She said. “Well, then that makes this a lot easier. If she didn’t put your name on it, there is no reason to believe that he is yours. Please don’t tell me you expect us all just to take her word for it?”
“I don’t expect you to do anything. I’d prefer if you stayed out of it. Stacy didn’t hunt me down; I found her and discovered Harrison was mine. She wanted nothing to do with the Wheeler family. Don’t you see that? If you stick your nose into this now, you may scare her, and she’ll flee.”
“That’s just ridiculous. No woman would want to run from a Wheeler. Especially since it seems that you have feelings for her. She would be an idiot not to lock you in.”
My anger had reached its boiling point. I’d hoped that talking with my mother would go smoothly, but it was quickly becoming apparent that no one answer would satisfy her. She had discovered another Wheeler, and her protective instinct had taken hold. While it was a quality I truly loved about her, it would also be my undoing if I didn’t make a move to placate her.
“Listen, mom, things with Stacy and I are going really good right now. We had dinner last night with Jackson and Hailey. If you just stay out for a little while longer, I know that Stacy will come