Marrying the Marine-epub (22 page)

Barely inside the house, Willa asked, “How she gone leave this boy with you and he don’t even know you?” she started. Before Braylon could respond, she said, “He doesn’t look anything like you.  Well, he does have your eyes. But that don’t mean a thing. I bet he ain’t yo—”

Braylon shook his head.  “Grandma. Not in front of him.”

Willa touched Drayton’s arm.  “Baby, who’s your real daddy?” she asked, ignoring Braylon.

Drayton pointed. “He is!  We’re going to play football!”

The adults gathered inside the kitchen around the table while Drayton sat in the family room playing with the toys Madison had stored inside his backpack.

“Would y’all like something to drink?” Braylon offered, sitting at the table with his grandparents.

“No. We’re good,” she answered for both her and Drake. She then placed her hand on top of his. “I know you want to do what’s best for Drayton if it turns out that he’s your son.  But, if you’re not happy, your son won’t be happy. That child will see it in your eyes if you’re miserable. You don’t have to commit to Madison in order to raise your son.  Now I know you didn’t ask for my advice, but I’m gone give it to you anyway—you need to keep your promise to Sandella and marry her.”

“Now ain’t that the truth!” Drake said. “Sandella has been like a daughter to us. She’s a beautiful person…inside and out. They don’t make them like her anymore.  And Madison, well,” Drake patted his chest, “something just don’t sit right in here with me when it comes to that girl.”

Braylon’s mind once again flashed back to the day his father had walked out on him. He’d left his mother and his siblings for another woman, and it’d nearly destroyed them all. He didn’t want to ever bring a child of his pain like he’d experienced. So leaving Drayton wouldn’t be an option if he was his son. He just couldn’t do it.

“I agree with you both. Sandella is the perfect woman for me. I love her more than anything in this world. But if Drayton is my son, then I’m going to raise him in a home with a mother and a father. I will never leave him like my father left me.”

“So your mind’s made up?” Drake said.

“Yes, it is.”

Willa stood. “Apparently your mind is made up and there’s nothing I can do to change it. But just know I had a dream last night about fish.” Her brows hiked.  

“What do fish have to do with anything?” he asked, pushing his chair back, then standing.  He glanced back over his shoulder at Drayton, who was now coloring. When he returned his gaze back to his grandmother a big smile was plastered on her face.

“When a person dreams about fish, it means someone close to them is pregnant. All my girlfriends have hit menopause so it’s not one of them.  The only other person close to me that can remotely be pregnant is Sandella.” She shrugged. “Looks to me you done got yourself in a mighty fine mess here.”

Drake chortled.  “Stop with all those myths, Willa, and let’s go.”

For the first time in days a light chuckle escaped Braylon’s lips. “Grandma, you are too funny. I don’t believe in those old wives’ tales.”

“It’s gone be true. You just wait and see,” she laughed, making her way toward the front door.

Braylon crossed in front of Willa to open the door and found an African-American mailman standing in his doorway. “I have a certified letter for Braylon Wexler.”

“That’s me.” The bald-headed gentleman handed him the letter and Braylon signed his name on the electronic device. “Thanks.”

The young man nodded.  “You’re welcome, sir. Have a great day.”

Braylon’s pulse thudded wildly in his neck as he examined the envelope from the Diagnostic Laboratory Clinic containing the paternity results regarding little Drayton. The last time he’d spoken with the clinic, they’d stated it might take another week before he received them because Madison had taken her sweet precious time getting Drayton tested. But now, finally, here they were. 

Nervous, he inhaled deeply. The contents inside would determine his fate with Sandella—a woman he adored. Would he end up marrying the woman he loved? The woman that made his heart swell with love and bubble over with joy? Or would he end up with Madison only for the sake of raising his son?

Can I really stomach a life with Madison knowing my heart belongs to Sandella? Maybe Grandma is right, being with Madison just for the sake of Drayton will be a disaster.

“What’s wrong?” Willa asked, forcing him to snap out of his daydream.   

“These are the paternity results.”

Impatience developed in Willa’s voice. “Well, don’t just stand there. Hurry up and open it.” She put her hands on her hips.

Drake cleared his throat. “Maybe you should read the results when you’re alone.”

Willa waved off his suggestion and shook her head.  “Stop speaking such nonsense, Drake. What better time for him to do it than when he’s with us, his family?”

Braylon’s fingers trembled as he broke the seal of the sturdy envelope. Inhaling a ragged breath, he pulled out the sheet of paper and let it rest in his hand before reading it. With his heart slamming against his rib cage like a sledgehammer, his eyes darted from his grandpa to his grandmother.
Just read the damn results.
Finally, he brought the paper up to his eyes.

“So, what does it say?” Willa’s impatience was getting the best of her.

“Shhh,” Drake encouraged.

Braylon felt his mouth twist angrily. As he reread the patterning results his eyes narrowed. Madison had lied!
That no good, scheming woman!
  He hated thinking of any woman as the “b” word, but damn, that’s what she behaved like. How could she do this to him? Better yet, how could she do this to her own son, that wonderful kid sitting in his family room playing with his toys? 

She’d gone to such great lengths so she could live the lifestyle of a rich wife.  Well, her attempt to get her hands on the Wexlers’ fortune had failed her and rightfully so. 

His blood boiled through his veins. “He’s not mine. Madison lied.” He shoved the paper to Willa and could feel his nostrils flaring.

“I knew it!” Willa shouted after reading the negative report. “I knew that precious child wasn’t yours all along.  She’s a gold digger.”

Drake’s eyebrows dipped.  “Say what? Drayton’s not yours?” Willa passed the paper to Drake so he could read it, too. “Well, I’ll be damned. I’ve seen some low-down dirty women in my lifetime, but this whore takes the cake.”

Willa folded her arms over her breasts.  “Some women will do anything for money.”

Braylon’s temper rose to the point of no return. “Grandma, Grandpa, if you don’t mind, I need to be alone when Madison returns.”

Willa and Drake assented, then left. Braylon marched into the family room where Drayton was still playing. He crouched down beside him to place a kiss on his forehead. A part of him was disappointed to learn this innocent child wasn’t his. But the other half of him was glad, because now he and Sandella could marry and have the life they both wanted.

Torn with conflicting emotions, he pulled Drayton against his chest.
Your mother was wrong for putting you through this. She deceived us all.
“I’m so sorry. I really am.”

Drayton peered up at him with those big squirrel eyes of his.  “What’s wrong, Daddy?”

Braylon’s heart squeezed.

BRAYLON STOOD ON THE DOCK
in his backyard taking in the beautiful sight of the sun shining on the river.  He reached down and grabbed the fishing pole from the wooden planks, then steadied it over his shoulder.  “You swing it like this, sport.” He tossed the line into the water hoping the fishing excursion might help to quell the burning anger brewing inside him. Madison was in for a rude awakening when she returned.

“Can I try, Daddy? Can I fish, too?” Drayton asked, yanking on his pant leg.

Braylon gazed down at poor Drayton. Just when he was getting used to the idea that the boy might be his son, he’d found out he wasn’t. God, he wanted a child, but not like this.  “Sure you can fish.”  He lifted him into his arms, perched him on the wooden railing, then guided his hands to grip the pole. With his big hands covering Drayton’s tiny ones, his mind drifted back to what his grandmother had said. She’d dreamed of fish.

Pleasant fantasies of Sandella carrying his child brought a wide smile to his face. And for the first time in hours the brutal anger he’d harbored started lifting from his discontented soul.  God, he’d love it if she was pregnant.  Considering the notion was highly unlikely, he pushed the idea to the back of his mind.  

Drayton’s lips curled upward.  “I like fishing, Daddy!”

Braylon cringed. 
She even trained him to call me Daddy.  How conniving.
“Me too. I’m glad you—”

“There’re my two favorite boys in the whole wide world!” Madison shouted from the deck of the patio.

“Mommy!” Drayton’s soft giggles melted Braylon’s heart.

He gathered the child in his arms, dropped the rod on the dock, and strode toward Madison as she stood waving in the distance.
She has to leave Hilton Head today. I mean today!
When he reached her, she gazed up at him and settled a soft hand to his cheek. The muscle in his jaw flickered. Thank God Drayton was there because if he weren’t, there was no telling what he’d do. 

“Thanks for watching him for me. I had a wonderful time getting to know the area. I’m going to love it here. I was thinking, for Drayton’s sake, it’d be best if we move in right away. While I’m thankful for the hotel, it’s just too small. And he’s used to a much bigger space.”

Braylon tightly curled his hand around her wrist and lowered her arm to her side. “Please keep your hands to yourself.”

She blinked, deception contorting the features of her face. “What’s gotten into you?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Drayton, go inside and play with your toys,” he suggested.

“But I want to stay with you and Mommy.”

“I need to speak with your mommy alone. Okay?” He slid back the patio door and after Drayton entered, he closed it behind him. “How dare you?”

Stark fear darkened Madison’s pupils. “How dare I what?” She played dumb quite well.

“I received the paternity results today. And guess what they revealed?”

Diverting her gaze sideways, she scratched the back of her neck.  “Today? I thought they wouldn’t be ready for another week or two. I just gave them the blood sample before coming here.” She chuckled. “I hope they didn’t rush them and make a mistake.”

Liar!
He clutched her shoulders. “Stop it,” he barked through clenched teeth.  “You lied. The paternity results confirmed Drayton is not mine.”

Tears welled up in her eyes then started rolling down her bright red face. “Yes, he is yours. If the results came out negative, they’re wrong.” She swiped at the tears trailing down both cheeks. 

He huffed. “Of course they came out negative…Madison…because he’s not my son.”

“No. Don’t say that. He’s your son. This has to be a mistake,” she cried.

Gritting his molars, he put his hands on his hips, closed his eyes, and counted until his temper tamped down. When he reopened his eyes, he couldn’t stand the sight of her. “I tell you what. I know a very reputable doctor here…let’s drive to his office right now and have another paternity test done. I’ll call him right now to see if he’s available,” he stated, entering the number on his phone.

“Good afternoon. Dr. LeRoux’s office.”

“Good afternoon.  This is Braylon Wexler calling for Dr. LeRoux. I’d like to make an app—”

Madison’s hand flew up to grab her head. “Okay. Okay. He may not be yours.”

Braylon tapped the screen on the cell without saying goodbye, ending the call. Infuriated, he said. “There’s no maybe in it, Madison. You outright lied!”

She cried, “I didn’t lie, Braylon. I honestly thought he might be yours.” She wiped the drips running from her bright red nose.

Infuriated, he hiked his brows.  “You thought he
might
be mine? Really?
Might be mine
.” He signaled quotation marks with his fingers to emphasize the
might
. 

She sniffled.  “Yes. It was between you and one other guy.”

“Just one, huh?”  He pinched the bridge of his nose feeling an intense pain jabbing his temples. “So…since you knew I had a fifty-fifty chance of being Drayton’s father, you just decided to put two sticks in a can and draw?” He stepped closer to her, his heart writhing with disgust. “Or did you select me because you wanted to live the fancy lifestyle you thought you’d get from marrying into a wealthy family?” He wiped a hand down his face.  

“I’m sorry. I was hoping once you got to know him it wouldn’t matter whether he was your son or not.”

Jesus Christ!
Braylon looked beyond a weeping Madison into the family room. When his gaze landed on Drayton sitting on the floor looking back at him, his heart softened. “Look…Drayton is a great kid, and I actually like the little fella…a lot. But he needs to develop a relationship with his real father. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have someone I need to go see.”

“Who, Sandella? She’ll never love you like I do, Braylon. Never.”

Braylon pulled the sliding glass door open. “Please, Madison…do us all a favor and just leave.”  

SITTING IN THE CAR,
Sandella swung her feet to the asphalt and slid out. After she closed the car door, she paused and took in the sight of the beige, one-story building in front of her. Although this building was where she temporarily housed SugarKanes, perhaps after her building on the ocean was finished, and
if
she continued growing, she could purchase this building and turn it into a small, eclectic Southern diner.

Tears wet her eyes. Hurt gripped her heart.
If it hadn’t been for Braylon, none of this would’ve ever happened. I miss him. It makes no sense for him to end his relationship with me just because he has a son. Why me?

She kicked at a pebble lying in the gravel, then began making her way to the front of the store. Struggling to hold back the cry dying to escape her, she clambered the steps. As she unlocked the door, a cool breeze rolled off the ocean from across the street and pricked her scalp. When she entered the bakery, the sweet smell of freshly baked pistachio muffins crept up her nose.