Page 97 of The Sculptor

“I blame Ray for most of his attitude.”

Astor chuckles. “Unfortunately, I don’t think she’ll agree with you there.”

My chest aches as I think of her last text to me.You can have your heart. I don’t want it anymore.“Yeah, well, I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that argument. She’s done with me.”

Guess she’ll get that annulment after all.

“Oh, yeah?” Astor laughs. “You think Ramsey Ford, who has waited on you for eighteen years, is suddenly done with you?”

I shake my head. “Don’t talk about it like it’s not serious. Langston likely gave her the same thing he did us.”

“He gave her the documents that revealed Remington was raised with another family until several years ago?” He acts like the evidence is simple to understand.

“There was a picture of him and me at the bottom,” I add, “with a closing statement from an investigator.” The words flash through my head.

The subject has been living with the paternal uncle for the past year. Subject seems to have a relationship with his father and uncles. Case Closed.

“If Ramsey received the same documents, she will think that I knew he was here all along, and I didn’t tell her.” I can only imagine the betrayal she must feel, thinking I was trying to keep her from her son.

“Duke.” Astor’s tone seems incredulous. “Do you really think she believes you would do such a thing?”

“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly. “If our roles were reversed, and I had been looking for him only to find out he had been living with her and Langston…” I shrug. “People can change in eighteen years.”

And I’ve spent months telling her I wasn’t the same man she thought me to be.

“She’ll think I married her to keep her away from finding the truth at Langston’s.” I can feel the blood whooshing through my veins as my heart picks up in a panic. “She’ll think back to me taking charge and leaving her out of the plans. She’ll remember my visits with Vance.” Tears prick my eyes as I bury my head between my hands. “She’ll think I wanted to keep him all to myself.”

“You know that doesn’t make sense,” Astor argues, his voice calming but not enough to keep me from lashing out.

“You and I have seen some crazy shit over the years,” I tell him. “You know as well as I do that nothing brings out the insanity in a relationship than fighting over a child.”

I’ve had clients want whole new faces just to hide from their husbands. It’s not a stretch to think they would do something drastic to hide a child, too.

Astor stands. “I think you’re letting fear get the best of you, brother. Ramsey needs time to process it, but I’m positive she’ll come to the same conclusion we all have.”

“And what conclusion is that?”

He smiles and pulls his keys from his pocket. “That Duke Potter is a good man and an even better husband.”

“You didn’t mention father,” I add, standing up.

“I thought Remington might want to add that part.”

I rear back. “You know he won’t.”

Astor laughs. “You’re probably right, but we won’t know for sure until we ask.”

He starts walking toward the door.

“Are you suggesting we go talk to himnow?” It’s dark, and well, I’m not sure I’m ready to face him and Vance. It’s one thing to talk to Astor, who is calm and understanding, but it is another to face off with two of the least patient people in the world.

“I’m suggesting you don’t waste another minute away from your son. I think you’ve earned an audience with the boy you breathed life into.”

Duke

Astor purposely drove slowly, giving me time to think of what I wanted to say to Remington. However, the whole spiel I concocted completely escapes me when Vance opens the door with a nasty scowl on his face.

I couldn’t help it. The competitive brother in me rose to the surface. “I want to see him,” I demand.

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