Taste. Part 34

"Absolutely!"

"She's threatened to use my kink against me."

"Unless you subject Luca to any of this, your s.e.xual toys or activities behind locked doors have nothing to do with your ability to parent. Has Luca ever seen any of your female attire?"

"f.u.c.k no!"

"As it should be. Keep it away from him, and you'll be fine. Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Sort of."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm in a new relations.h.i.+p with an architect from San Francisco."

"How's that working out?" Bob queried. "Seeing as how you live two thousand miles apart?"

"As I said, it's a new relations.h.i.+p. I met Lil a couple of weeks ago during the Taste of Chicago, and we hit it off."

"Is he planning on moving here? I can tell you right now, if you have any hope of joint custody, it won't be out of state."

Grier nodded. "I understand. I'm not going anywhere."

"Well, I guess that's it for now." Bob gripped the edge of the kitchen table and pushed himself up. "Give me a dollar and let's get the ball rolling."

"A dollar?"

"You've got to hire me, don't you?"

"But, sir, a dollar?"

"That's for starters," Bob explained. "I'll bill you for every second I spend on this case."

Grier handed over the money.

THE three men made their way out of the Dilorio home, crossed the street, and walked down a couple of blocks to where the Garcias lived. There were three cars in the driveway, and one of them was Ali's BMW. "Well, your brother's here, so at least all the players will be around," Santino noted. three men made their way out of the Dilorio home, crossed the street, and walked down a couple of blocks to where the Garcias lived. There were three cars in the driveway, and one of them was Ali's BMW. "Well, your brother's here, so at least all the players will be around," Santino noted.

Grier felt a wave of anxiety slam him in the stomach. The last thing he wanted was a confrontation with Ali, but he was prepared for the worst. The aroma of fresh garlic was redolent in the air as they walked through the front door. It reminded him of his childhood, and the many hours he'd spent sitting at the Garcias' table, partaking of the Filipino cuisine while waiting for his mom or dad to get home. His mouth watered at the thought of lumpia and pancit, his two favorite things. "G.o.d, that smells good, t.i.ta t.i.ta," Grier said, bending down to kiss Nita on the cheek. She'd come to the front door to see who'd arrived.

"We're preparing for the party tomorrow, but you can have some if you're hungry."

"Maybe later."

"What's going on?" Enteng said, sauntering out from the kitchen. He was holding a wooden spoon in his hand and looked like he'd been elbow deep in frosting.

"We need to talk," Santino said. "You know Judge Sterling, don't you?"

"Sure," Enteng replied easily. "You live down the street."

"How's it going?" Bob nodded, pulling out his candy and extending his hand for the proffered shake."

"Pretty good. I apologize for the mess, but my daughter is marrying Santino's son tomorrow."

"That's what I heard," Bob replied.

"Where's Luca?" Grier interrupted.

"He's with his friend Nathan. We thought it would be best if he stayed out of our hair while we're preparing all the food."

"Oh." Grier's mouth turned down in disappointment. "Is it okay if I get him later? I have some presents for him."

"Sure," Nita replied. "You know where Nathan lives, right?"

"Near the high school?"

"Yeah, that's the house."

Jillian and Ali walked into the foyer, and her eyes rounded in surprise. "You're back."

Grier nodded. "We need to talk."

"About what?"

"You know what."

"Your timing is spectacular."

"It needs to be addressed."

"Not now."

"What are you guys talking about?" Ali asked. "Jill?"

"It's nothing, hon. Why don't you go in the living room with Mom and Dad? I'll follow in a minute," Jillian said, smiling sweetly.

"Don't linger," Ali said, giving her arm a squeeze.

"Let's gather around a table, shall we?" Bob Sterling directed the group, accustomed to leading and being obeyed.

Jillian held back and tugged at Grier's sleeve, dragging him into another room off the hallway. "Will you tell me what the f.u.c.k you're doing here?"

"What I should have done a long time ago. I'm claiming my son."

"You piece of s.h.i.+t!"

"I'm sorry, Jillian. I won't let you put Ali's name on Luca's birth certificate. He's mine, and I want the world to know it. You and Ali will probably have your own children, but Luca is all I have. Give me the opportunity to be a real father, not just his sitter."

"Ali will leave me when he finds out."

"No, he won't. Ali loves you."

"Yes, but can he handle this situation?"

"Come on, Jillian. The man is marrying you tomorrow."

"I don't know that he will if he finds out I've slept with you."

"You have to give him more credit."

"If you insist on doing this, I will destroy you."

"Why? Why does this have to be so difficult when all I've ever wanted was to make Luca happy?"

"What about me and everything I ever wished for? I wanted to be your wife, and have a family with you, but you had to go and destroy everything."

"I never lied to you."

"Yes, you did. All those years when we were growing up you played along."

"Jillian, we were children, and I didn't know any better. You must know that I care for you deeply, and you'll always have a special place in my heart for the simple reason that you're the mother of my child. Regardless of the circ.u.mstances of his birth, I consider Luca a gift, and you made it possible."

"If you love me that much, drop this whole notion of claiming him. What difference does it make whose name is on the birth certificate? You'll have access to Luca whenever you want him."

"I want him to know I'm his father."

"It doesn't matter what's on paper," Jillian blurted.

"It matters to me."

Santino came around the corner and stood there looking at the pair with his arms akimbo. "Are we doing this or what?"

"Coming, Dad." They trailed Santino into the dining room, and Jillian kept slanting dagger looks at Grier, hoping he'd change his mind. Finally, they took their positions around the large table and listened as Bob began to speak.

"The reason I'm here is because Santino and Grier have retained my services as legal counsel."

"For what?" Enteng and Nita asked simultaneously.

"Grier would like to legitimize his claim as Luca's father."

Enteng looked at Santino in horror. "What is he talking about?"

Santino looked at Grier. "Go ahead, son."

Grier felt everyone's eyes on him as he took a deep breath and plunged forward. "I'm very sorry that I haven't come clean sooner, but I am am Luca's birth father. It happened the night of the prom. I've kept the truth from you because at first I was too scared of how you'd react, and then later, Jillian asked me to remain silent. Now that she and Ali are getting married and talking about adoption, I can't keep quiet any longer." Luca's birth father. It happened the night of the prom. I've kept the truth from you because at first I was too scared of how you'd react, and then later, Jillian asked me to remain silent. Now that she and Ali are getting married and talking about adoption, I can't keep quiet any longer."

Ali reacted immediately. "That's bulls.h.i.+t if I ever heard it. You're f.u.c.king gay!"

"Yes, I am, but it doesn't take away the fact that I fathered a child with your girlfriend who was, at that time, my best friend."

"Jillian, is this true?" Nita's tears were already flowing down her cheek.

"No, it's not," Jillian said emphatically.

"It's over, Jill. Tell them," Grier begged. "Please."

Everyone turned to Jillian, and she had the decency to pause for a minute, as if she was actually thinking about confessing, but in the end she remained steadfast. "He's lying."

Ali said loudly. "It's your word against hers, Grier, and frankly I'd rather believe my fiance, and not my gay brother."

"How about if you believe your dead mother instead?" Santino said furiously, slamming the proof of paternity on the table. "Deny that, Jillian!"

She picked up the letter and the DNA report, and her perfect fawn-colored complexion turned pasty white. Her eyes became slits as she stared at Grier hatefully. "Fine," Jillian spat out. "I admit it. He's Luca's father, but it wasn't all hearts and roses. Grier forced me to have s.e.x. It was date rape."

Everyone stood at once, and Enteng grabbed Grier's s.h.i.+rt and hauled him across the table. "You son of a b.i.t.c.h. I'll kill you."

"Let him go!" Santino shouted.

"f.u.c.ker," Ali growled and ran around to the other side of the table, tugging on Grier's arm forcefully. "I'll kill you myself."

"Get away from me." Grier shoved Ali away. He glared at Jillian. "You're lying! I hope to h.e.l.l you'll have the decency to tell everyone in this room that you've fabricated the entire scenario around Luca's birth, but I'm done being nice. I'm filing a court order to block any adoption proceedings. Luca is mine, and nothing you say or do will change that."

"I'll have you arrested," Jillian shrilled as Grier got ready to walk out the front door.

Chapter 33.

"WAIT a G.o.dd.a.m.n minute," Bob thundered. "Everyone be quiet, and you"-he pointed at Grier-"sit down!" a G.o.dd.a.m.n minute," Bob thundered. "Everyone be quiet, and you"-he pointed at Grier-"sit down!"

Grier pulled out a chair and sank into it reluctantly. All eyes turned to him, and he felt like a piece of garbage and wanted to bolt.

"Now," Bob said, laying his lollipop down on the table, "let's be adults about this. I'm telling you right now, once this gets out of hand, you'll be dealing with Child Protective Services and a lawsuit. So, Jillian, we can do this the right way, or you can continue to insist on your ridiculous accusation of rape. Tell me, do you have proof that Grier raped you?"

"No."

"As a professional, and a healthcare provider at that, you must be aware that a charge of rape is not something one throws out without backing it up with solid evidence. Did you go to the hospital after the alleged incident?"

"No."

"Did you describe your attacker in minute detail to the police?"