My Sister's Husband

Chapter One

Leta could tell what was coming next. It was always the same when Thom T got that look on his face. Although her answer was always the same, it was as though he hoped one day it would be different. She wished she could make it so.

He would let out a long sigh, and her heart would bleed for him. She never chastised him for continuing to ask the question that was uppermost in his young mind.

Now that he was attending kindergarten and seeing that so many of his schoolmates had fathers, it was natural for him to be curious.

Leta waited for the question. She never lied to Thom T, as far as she knew. The one truth she didn’t tell him was Rosalind, his mother and her sister whom she had not seen or heard from for years, had come one day on an unannounced visit and put a surprise in Leta’s arms.

Leta had been home alone when Rosalind made her appearance. She acted as though she was expected, and Leta should feel privileged that she came.

Rosalind gave Leta a look of distain as she observed her attire: a housedress and apron. Leta wore her almost black hair pulled back into two fat braids hanging down her back, revealing her heart-shaped face, and eyes of such dark brown that they seemed black, naturally arched eyebrows, and lashes that resembled sable brushes. Her nose was not thin like her mother’s or sister’s and a little too broad, some would think.

It’s for breathing, she always said. Her full lips smiled down on the sleeping bundle her sister had handed her.

The baby opened his eyes. Dark like hers, they seemed to reach out to her. Then he closed them and went back to sleep.

Oh, Rosalind, he’s beautiful, Leta whispered, not wanting to wake the child.

Yeah, right, Rosalind replied offhandedly. He’s going to look just like his father, big and dark. He’ll probably be just as hard to handle, Rosalind thought. His name is Thom T, she tossed over her shoulder, already bored with her sister’s cooing over the kid. She left the house saying she had an errand to run and didn’t come back.

She called the next day to say there was no room in her life for Thom T So, as Leta had nothing better to do, she could raise the child. Rosalind said all this, and more, and then hung up, not giving Leta time to disagree. Rosalind also remarked that as Leta was so unattractive and uninteresting, she would probably never marry and have a child on her own, so felt she was truly doing Leta a favor.

That was over four years ago. A last name for the father was not mentioned.

Leta had fallen in love with Thom T from the moment her sister had put him in her arms. He was only three or four months old at the time, and since then, Leta had raised him as her own. She lived in fear that one day some man would show up to claim his son, but right now, when Thom T asked, Will my daddy ever come to see me? all Leta could answer was, I don’t know, darling. I’m sure he will one day. That promise was half-hearted.

Couldn’t you call him? Thom T breathlessly added a new twist to his inquiry. Mickey calls his daddy all the time. They talk on the phone a lot. Couldn’t you call him and ’splain I’d like to see him?

This took Leta by surprise. She realized he’d been giving this situation a lot of thought.

I would, Thom T, of course I would if I knew where to call, but you see, I don’t know where he is. I really don’t know who he is, she added to herself. As the man had made no appearance in all these years, Leta thought that he, like her sister, had washed his hands of the child. It was times like these that she could strangle her selfish sister for doing this to this adorable little boy.

Leta often thought about this man she had never met or seen. Thom T did not take after his mother, so he must take after the unknown father. Thom T was big for his age, robust and strong, with lots of dark, curly hair and big brown eyes that twinkled. Besides his curiosity about his father, he was a happy child. A well-loved child. In appearance, he could have been Leta’s child.

Leta had wondered if the man even knew he was a father. Knowing her sister’s mixed-up reasoning, she couldn’t be sure.

She had come to love Thom T all the more as the years passed, so for her sake, she didn’t care if the man ever showed up, but for Thom T’s sake, she prayed one day he would. Without her being aware of it, Leta’s prayer was about to be answered.

Chapter Two

Theodore Thomas Edmonton III sat in shock, staring at his ex-wife across the desk. She eyed him smugly.

Well, how much will you pay to get your ever-loving heir? What’s it worth to you? she asked as she nonchalantly glanced at her well-manicured fingernails.

What heir? What are you talking about? You said you were on the pill. You walked out of my life five years ago. Any child you’ve had since could not be mine, Theo protested strongly.

I was pregnant when I left you, Rosalind said loudly. Then, with effort, she composed herself. I didn’t know it when I left, but I gave birth to a miniature you exactly seven months after we broke up. That’s the reason I never came to court to contest the divorce. I knew you’d be generous, though I know it almost broke you. She laughed. You wanted out of the marriage so badly you gave up two arms and a leg. So I saved the kid for the future. Well, the future has arrived and I need a nest egg. A good-sized one so I can move on with my life. When I left you, it looked like you were a bad proposition. Since then you’ve really had some lucky breaks.

They were not lucky breaks, Theo informed her. I’ve earned every dime I’ve made. You did me a favor cutting out when you did. It gave me time to concentrate on business instead of spending so much time dreaming about going out and partying. He reminded her of their many differences and disagreements.

At heart, Rosalind was a party girl. She had married Theo because he owned a business and was very well thought of in high society. He had all the right connections. Their wedding was attended by all of the most important people in the political and business worlds. Of anything good that had happened in his life, even after their divorce, she felt he owed her a share. She’d been keeping an eye on him and knew he had not remarried, which she thought was because he was still in love with her. The word ex-wife was not a part of her vocabulary.

You owe me for that. She felt responsible for all his success. The look on his face stopped her. Whatever. She shrugged. But if you want to see your little darling, she said facetiously, you’d better cough up and cough up big. You can afford it.

How do I know the child is mine? Theo asked reasonably, keeping himself in tight control. Her emotional blackmail angered him, but he had to move with caution. If, in fact, the child was his, he would pay almost anything for him. His experience with Rosalind had soured him against the thought of ever marrying again, and had put the thought of an heir out of his mind.

You’ll know. Rosalind laughed. He’s the spitting image of you. Even as a baby he had Edmonton written all over him. He was big, and I knew he was going to be big just like his father if he kept on growing the way he was when I left him. She stopped abruptly.

What do you mean, ‘when you left him’? How long ago was that? Theo wanted to know.

Long enough, Rosalind replied indifferently. I found a good nanny for him, and I owe her too. I promised her a piece of the action. I just told her to be patient. She’s been patient long enough, as I have. So you’ve got to make it worth it for both of us.

Rosalind watched his reaction. His son in the hands of some stranger who was looking after him for money, a piece of the action. Theo was livid. What kind of person was she to assist this woman in keeping his child from him? He’d find out who she was, and when he did, he’d make her pay for her part in this farce.

Oh sure, he’d pay Rosalind. He’d missed the first four years of his son’s life. He would miss no more. You have the birth certificate? Theo queried.

Right in my purse, she assured him. To be turned over to you on my receiving my, ah, gift. She smirked.

Oh, you’ll get your money, he promised, but only after you have signed papers to state you are relinquishing all claims to the boy.

Well now, Theo darling, do you think I intend to make this a life thing? Don’t you trust me? She laughed raucously.

No, I don’t, he replied promptly. He pushed a button on his desk and asked Bertha, his secretary, to call Stuart Klein, his best friend and attorney. Tell him I have to see him immediately. Then he added, And you come in with him when he arrives. I want you to take a statement. Have it witnessed and notarized.

Yes, Mr. Edmonton, Bertha answered, not having the slightest idea what it was all about. She had never liked the former Mrs. Edmonton. She had gold digger written all over her. But she was an undeniable beauty, and Theo had been blindly smitten. A very expensive smiting.

Bertha had been glad when the woman scooted out of the relationship. His paying her off had all but broken him. He had always been like a son to Bertha, and like so many others, she’d stuck by him when things were at their worst. When the business seemed to be failing, though, Rosalind walked out. So when she walked back in demanding to see him, Bertha felt sick in the pit of her stomach.

The bad penny had returned.

Theo had never known anything to affect him as had the realization that he was a father, even if the baby did come from this strange, ferociously greedy woman sitting across from him. As much as he wanted it to be true, he still had some doubts.

She seemed more than a little nervous. But he would take no chances. If he flatly refused her, there was no telling what she would do to the child. He’d check out the child and its whereabouts before he handed anything over to