Gifts

Chapter 15 – A Pawn in their Game–1

Alden narrows his eyes at me and looks back at Kent. I’m a little shocked, I admit, that he hasn’t addressed me yet. I stand awkwardly in front of him and Daniel quietly takes my hand, giving it a squeeze of support.

“Is this for real, Lippert?” Alden asks, a threat behind his glare.

Kent nods slowly. “We did a test. It’s a 99% genetic match for paternity. I can show you the paperwork upstairs, and you can have it verified by your own doctors. But, with that kind of proof at hand, Alden.” He spread his hands out, hoping Alden takes him at his word. “Why would I lie?”

Alden nods and returns his gaze to me, staring for a moment. Then, he shocks me again by breathing out a huge breath of air and rubbing a hand down his face. “Damnit, but you look like your mother,” he mutters.

eyes.

My mouth falls open when I see the glimmer of tears in his My heart goes out to him, then. He’s a solid rock of a man, but I can see that deep feelings run beneath.

“Where is she?” he demands.

Surprised, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “She died,” I say, grimacing inwardly at my bluntness. Alden’s face falls minutely. Surely, after all these years, he knew it would be unlikely that she would be alive, but still – he’s upset by the

“When?” he asks.

“Years ago,” I whisper, sorry to be the one to tell him. “I was young – I had just turned six.”

I feel horrible – I had no idea that he cared for her as much as he clearly does. I had assumed she was

what had Fiona called

herself? a goomah. His mistress, or his girlfriend, not someone he really I cared about.

crossing his arms over his barrel chest.

say, my voice hardly more than a whisper

sharply and then turns his head away, gathering himself together. “And where has she been laid to rest?” Alden asks, not looking

– in the churchyard. I can take you there, if you like,” Isay,

He turns his burning eyes to me. “In a churchyard?” He shakes his head. “He didn’t respect her, then,

emotions turning, then, from pity to anger. How dare he suggest that David

as I take a step forward. Daniel holds my hand tighter, in a warning that comes too

nothing,”

“He raised me

you from me,” the words

cower back, my eyes going wide. Alden takes a heavy step towards me,

me the truth, girl,” he says, taking another step. “Did he know about your parentage? Did he

I stay silent,

“He kept you from me, my daughter, not

I can’t imagine the kind of things my mother must have gone through. She must have experienced moods that made her decide to pack up and leave him, to give up everything she’d ever

B

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Gifts

A Pawn

Game–2

I let myself get

voice rings out behind me, cool

angry eyes to him but

on my hand, “that our agreement, years ago, to unite our families through marriage is holding strong. Your daughter is engaged to my son. I anticipate that

trick,” he says. “How can they be

is quick to answer. “We met before, by some miracle,” he says, giving Alden a small but earnest smile. “We

fact

at mine, and suddenly realize that Daniel is in on this. He and his father carefully planned this meeting,

whether or not I want to marry Daniel.

my mouth to protest, but Alden interrupts me.

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