She would not condone her son’s reasons for offering marriage without passion and love.
Evan appeared oblivious to his mother’s reaction. “Kelly, as a woman married to me, I could protect you. I know Campbell would welcome the solution.”
Frustration heated her face. She glanced at Julie, who had become uncomfortably silent. Kelly knew she herself would be upset if, as an adult, Matt offered to marry a woman to rescue her when there was no love between them. What was it with these men who thought they could so blithely choreograph a woman’s future? Her attraction to this man was rapidly being replaced with insult.
“You must be joking, Evan.”
He shrugged. “Honestly, I am not. But, if you don’t like that idea as much as I do, then we have no choice but to take my first suggestion.”
The circling argument was making her weary. “Which is?”
“Come on my show and do an interview.”
The boys barreled through the door onto the balcony. The older cousin asked, “Can we have ice cream, Uncle Evan?”
“Sure. Alicia will serve you.”
“Can we watch a movie?”
“If you bring your bowls back to the kitchen when you’re finished.”
Inside, Alicia was already opening the freezer, which attracted the boys’ attention.
Kelly inhaled a fortifying breath. “I should speak to an attorney. I want to settle this quietly.”
Michael returned his coffee cup to its saucer. “Kelly, I think Evan is right on this one point. Senator Campbell is no longer in a position to let these accusations die quietly. He has been publicly accused. He has to admit fault or defend himself at your expense. There can be no quiet solution.”
Kelly wanted to scream. Nothing made her feel more helpless than to be pushed into a situation in which she knew she couldn’t win. In her mind, Buzz Campbell was the giant wielding a huge club and they were mere Lilliputians scurrying around his feet. She would not budge on this one point.
“Make me a solemn promise, Evan.”
“What’s that?”
“No part of my ordeal goes on the air.”
The look in Evan’s eyes said he wanted to pull her into his arms and soothe her. “Kelly, you have to trust me. There is no way around the uncomfortable truth. To win this one, you really must go public with your story.”
Julie expelled a breath. “Kelly, when Evan was a young boy, his uncle—my brother—was killed in Dublin. He was a negotiator for the IRA and was assassinated.”
“Evan told me. How awful.”
“Condolences,” Michael added.
Julie shot a heated look at Evan. “We McKennas feel strongly about fighting for what is right. Quite honestly, I’m a bit shocked my son is willing to publicly lie on your behalf.” She turned her gaze on Kelly. “You must be a remarkable woman.”
“I will not tolerate lies. So you have no worries there, Mrs. McKenna.”
She smiled. “Please, call me Julie. I am glad to hear you are adamant about telling the truth.”
Julie patted her son’s arm. “While Evan’s noble gesture of marriage will protect your safe little world, it would also let a criminal go free to assault other women in the future. Whereas, if you stand and fight, especially with Evan backing you, you have an excellent chance of putting the senator behind bars where he belongs.” She tilted her head in question. “Which choice will give you a peaceful sleep each night for the rest of your life?”
The pressure of tears started again. Kelly understood Julie completely. She had wrestled with her own cowardice for years after not pressing charges against Campbell. But as Matt grew older and the memory of Campbell grew more distant, she didn’t care anymore about the assault. She wanted to live for her baby. Protect him. Let him grow to be a strong, honest man who could contribute to his world. She released a sigh that pained her right down to her soul.
“It’s not about me, Julie. Or the senator. It’s about protecting my son, who is innocent.”
Evan held up a hand. “Protecting a child’s best interest is one thing the law in this state does recognize. If we can get Campbell prosecuted for a crime, we can prove it is in Matt’s best interest to revoke Campbell’s right to custody.”
“You said you could steer the story away from Matt and me? Can we try that approach first?”
He nodded once. “I’ll call Doyle.”
She bit her lip. “I have only one problem with Doyle.”
“What is that?”
“When we spoke in Neverland, he made it pretty clear he’s politically motivated to bring Campbell down. I don’t