Page 28 of Luke

“How can you be sure?”

“Why is this being asked,” Luke bit out.

Paisley put her hand on his chest. Calm was the only way to deal with this. “Because we were in bed together.”

“Are you two married?” the woman sneered.

Paisley swallowed. She was about to take things too far and tell the woman where to shove her questions.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business. There’s no law that says we can’t sleep together if we aren’t married. We clearly already have, hence the child upstairs.”

“I never said there was an issue. I simply asked a question,” the woman, who hadn’t given Paisley her name still, challenged Luke. “Feels a lot like you have something to hide here with the way you’re acting.”

“Think what you want. I don’t like being accused of anything.”

“Luke,” Paisley shushed him. “Ma’am, how can we help you from here? You’ve seen the home and Garrett. Is there anything else?”

“I must say, I am surprised that you are the calm one. It doesn’t go along with the report that was made and that might be enough. There will be follow-up visits to this home to ensure that the child is continuing to be well cared for and that nothing has changed.”

“I’d be happy to schedule those for when we will be home.” Luke took Paisley’s hand off his chest and gripped it in his.

“That’s not how these work. They will be unannounced visits so that if there are drugs”—she pointed a look at Paisley—“or anything else you don’t have a chance to hide them.”

“She doesn’t do drugs,” Luke snapped.

“I didn’t say she does,” the woman said calmly.

“I will take a drug test right now if needed. I don’t do drugs, but I don’t want to create more problems either by arguing. That’s proof enough, right?” Paisley pleaded.

“There has been nothing here for me to believe that claim is true, however follow-up visits will be noted and required. If they find anything, then the child will be removed.”

“That’s it? We can’t just clear our names right away?” Luke took a step toward her.

“This is a process, and what is in the best interest of a child is what will be taken at the highest value. Parents that set a good example, are sober, and care for their child are the top priority. One last thing that needs to happen is a paternity test to confirm you as the father.”

“What?” he roared. “You are not taking blood from my son just to appease my father.”

“I’m sure I don't know what you mean about your father. This will also be painless, a cheek swab only. You’ll need to come by the office this week and have it done.” She handed Luke a card.

Paisley quickly snatched it from him before he could crush it. “We’ll be there.”

“You aren’t needed.”

“Don’t talk to her like that,” Luke snapped at her tone.

“Sir, you need to calm down.”

“You are in my house, snapping at the mother of my child, hopefully my wife one day, and telling me to calm down? No. I think it’s time that you leave because I feel like anything else you have to say would be best served in writing.”

Paisley gasped as Luke dropped her hand, ushering the woman out the front door and closing it behind her with a loud slam.

“Luke,” she said softly, “take a breath.”

“I just can’t believe that we are doing this. That any of that just happened. He’s not going to quit.” He was yelling by the time he finished.

“We will get through it. It’s not that serious, and they can’t say we are doing anything wrong because we aren’t.”

Chapter Thirteen

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