Had she brought this moment upon herself by speaking the truth to her brother? It was hard enough revealing her secret once, but to say it again—especially to a newsman? Jay Doyle was proof enough of what a reporter would do for a story. Could she depend on Evan to hold her best interest in mind over a newsworthy scandal? Difficult as it was to reveal her past to Michael under a church vow, telling her story to Evan could be like broadcasting her personal life to the world and bringing the wrath of Senator Robert Buzz Campbell right to her door. Then again, Doyle had already done that. Now it was time for damage control. Evan had asked her to trust him. Bringing him into her confidence would be the ultimate test of his loyalty.
She released the breath she held. “Jay Doyle came into Neverland two weeks ago to ask me the very same question.”
“And you said yes. Hence, the snooping and the photographer. So, can I assume the rest of Doyle’s accusations are fact?”
She couldn’t just blurt out the facts. She glanced over to where Matt played pinball. “Young towheaded boys can look like a multitude of people. I plan to sue Mr. Doyle for his accusation.”
Evan shook his head. “That is not an answer, Kelly. Talk to me. If Campbell reacts the way I think he will, he’s going to demand a DNA test to prove his innocence. Then it won’t matter if you tell me the truth or not.”
She watched Evan for a long moment. While she felt her defenses rising to protect her and Matt from the cruel and ugly world divined by Buzz Campbell, a part of her understood she needed help in keeping Matt safe. Somehow, her son had to disappear off the media radar. No one could make that happen better than Evan.
She pulled at nonexistent lint on her jeans.
Evan leaned forward. Lowering his voice, he said, “Kelly. Please. This situation will do nothing but escalate. I want to help.”
She met his gaze, her chest tightening with fear. Her worst nightmare was turning into real life, and so much was at stake: Matt’s innocent world, her reputation, their privacy and the absolute worst—the very real chance that Buzz Campbell might try to take Matt from her. There was no more room for dalliance here. She had to commit.
She released another heated breath. “Buzz Campbell will not be able to prove his innocence with a DNA test.”
To his credit, Evan didn’t react. He studied her, as if gauging a fine balance. Very softly he asked, “Were you lovers?”
Her cheeks heated, but she would not look away. She struggled to keep her voice low because, God help her, she wanted to scream.
“He raped me, Evan. I packed my bags and left the next morning after giving Madeline Campbell some inane excuse for quitting. The bastard took my virginity. I had never, I repeat, never dated a man before he touched me. I was twenty and came from a very strict family. If Herbert George hadn’t taken me in, I don’t know what would have happened to us, because I could not go home.”
She closed her eyes to keep from having to meet his gaze. There, she’d said it. Now she fought tears. She’d already shed enough of them with Michael and had no intention of crying in front of Evan, especially because losing her composure now would draw Matt’s attention. She had yet to tell her son about his uncle Michael, let alone the fact that some strange man might try to claim him as his son.
Saints alive. How was she going to protect Matthew now? Unshed tears pressed against her closed lids.
The feel of Evan’s fingers wrapping around her hand startled her. She opened her eyes to see tamped-down anger in his eyes.
“Why didn’t you have Buzz arrested?”
She leaned back into the cushions, the sense of helplessness and guilt from that night feeling real, yet so foreign. She had come so far since then, but the scar still ran deep.
Across the room, Matt jumped up and down as the pinball machine hit yet another jackpot. Her heart ached, thinking about the onslaught this little boy was about to face.
“Kelly?”
She released a breath. “The senator told me it was my fault that he assaulted me. He said I seduced him by walking around his house with a body like mine and caring for his children as if I was their mother and his lover.