Page 81 of Sing with Me

She did that when she was beyond nervous.

With Dad away in Atlanta solving their company’s financial problems, Diehl was glad he was here tonight to lend Mom whatever support she needed. Pushing mid-seventies, Mom had more lines on her face now than she used to. Maybe it was the sunshine outside or the tanning salon.

“Have they?” Zeta asked again.

“I expect it any day now,” Diehl said. “It’s been expedited. Maybe Friday. Why?”

“Good. It will only confirm what we already know.” Zeta shifted in her seat.

Mom sniffled.

“What is going on?” Diehl asked, arms across his chest.

“You’re not the father of either child, Diehl.” Zeta drew a deep breath, as though in great relief.

“Come again?” Diehl leaned against the door frame for support.

He must not be hearing it right.

Zeta waved a piece of paper that had magically appeared in her hand. “Elisa and Ethan belong to Luigi Bellini.”

“How could that be?” Mom blurted. “How?”

Diehl didn’t know either. “Wait. Elisa was born twelve years ago, which meant she was conceived thirteen years ago, thereabouts. Ethan was born nine years ago. I don’t recall Isobel hanging out with someone else other than me ten or thirteen years ago.”

“That’s the way it goes, sometimes,” Wilson said. “We were all blindsided. I never said our daughter was a saint.”

“You’re saying that after we married, Isobel carried on a multi-year on-and-off affair with Luigi that resulted in two children.” As Diehl said it, the reality finally sank in, and he began to feel anger rise in his chest. “The other day, you said that a year ago, Isobel met with her lover in Italy shortly before she died.”

Mom wept softly.

Diehl didn’t go to her. Shame shrouded him, but he couldn’t run from this now. He had to show strength. How could his wife be having an affair under his nose? It was his work, wasn’t it? He had been so busy with work that he had neglected Isobel to the point of pushing her into someone else’s arms?

How would Grandpa Brooks handle this if he had been alive?

Well, Grandpa wouldn’t get himself into such a situation.

Diehl felt like a fool. His marriages—both to the same woman—had been one big sham to fund Isobel’s Italian tryst. He knew it now, though too late.

If he could help it, he would never marry again.

Marriages are overrated.

“The test is accurate.” Wilson made a noise. “I paid too much for it to be faulty.”

“Luigi signed an acknowledgment of paternity,” Zeta said. “He agreed to let us raise them.”

“Let me call my attorney,” Diehl said. He texted Mark Gill. The family attorney would know about Diehl’s legal rights.

“Where are my kids?” Diehl looked at Mom.

“They’re in the indoor pool next door,” Mom said. “Too hot outside.”

“Who is with them?”

“Malik’s men.”

Security. Good.

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