night.”
Now tears filled Kelly’s eyes. “My son is such a wonderful child, Madeline. He might have Buzz’s coloring—maybe some of his bravado, but that boy has so much Irish in him that it’s blinding. I never see Buzz when I look at Matt. I see Matt.”
Madeline reached for both of Kelly’s hands. “Kelly, if you love that child, I will, too. We’ll find a way to explain to our kids how they are related. It’ll be strange at first, but we’ll make it work. Okay?”
The two women sat in silence. Their coffees cold. Wiping the tears from their faces.
“Kelly?”
“Yes?”
“Why didn’t you let me know you were pregnant? Financially supporting the baby must have been unbearable.”
Kelly took the time to explain the abysmal New York laws regarding women who became pregnant from rape and chose to keep their babies. “You see? I couldn’t let you know. Buzz would have had custodial rights. You would have had to accept my son and me into your world. I couldn’t do it to you. To the girls. And mostly, please forgive me for saying this, but I believed if Buzz had access to me, he’d rape me or coerce me to have sex with him again. With my son as hostage, I’d never be free of him.”
Madeline pressed her hands to her stomach. “My heavens. I had no idea. I think I want to throw up.”
Kelly laughed. “Join the crowd. Every time I think of those cold hard facts I want to puke.”
Just by looking at Madeline, Kelly could see the woman was as exhausted by their exchange as she was. Difficult as this discussion had been, both women told the truth—revealed their secrets. Their honesty had rekindled a bond between them that Kelly knew would last for the rest of their lives.
“What will you do now, Madeline?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’m going to have to speak with my attorney about protecting myself.”
A grin broke on Kelly’s face. “I have an idea. It’s why I called you in the first place.”
Madeline must have seen the mischief in Kelly’s eyes because she smiled in return. For a fleeting moment, it was as if they were sitting in Madeline’s kitchen hatching a plan for the day, just like old times.
“What is your idea?”
A thought occurred to her. “If you can spare a little more time, I’d like to add another person to our discussion.”
Kelly reached for her phone and tapped Evan’s number.
His voice sent a thrill right down to her backbone even if his tone sounded as cold as an old fish. “Yes, Kelly.”
“Evan McKenna, this is your wife. If you are free, I’m wondering if you’d be so kind as to send your car to St. Paddy’s Cathedral. I have someone with me I’d like you to meet.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THAT EVENING, Kelly reached for two orders from the line, exchanging easy banter with Jake’s assistant cook. She turned and almost dropped the plates. Buzz Campbell stood at the counter. The impact of seeing him in person for the first time after his assault felt like cannon shot blowing a hole right through her. Instinct tossed her back seven years to that helpless moment before she instantly got a grip. That was before she’d grown a backbone and knew how to take care of herself. Campbell could no longer cause her physical harm. But he could make a dent in her personal comfort if she let him. That was not going to happen.
If anything, he’d grown more handsome. His confidence made him look larger than life, approachable. But to her he was just damned ugly. She didn’t like the way he appraised her as if they had unfinished business that he was more than eager to address.
The grin on his face said it all. “Kelly Sullivan. Had I known you were the fetching redhead that Dean said all the newsmen fussed about over here, I would have come in sooner.”
A man in a dark suit stood behind him. She didn’t have to glance out the diner window to know the stretch limo double-parked out front was his.
She handed off her plates to Bunny, who materialized at her side. Jake came out of the kitchen and stood next to her, arms folded. The look he gave Buzz made her want to kiss her cook. He’d get a bonus for this one.
Her gaze settled on Buzz. She forced her face to appear calm. What was this? Family reunion day? Had Madeline told him they’d met earlier? After their