Page 65 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars

Elora glances at me, eyes wide. I swallow hard. “Oh. And?”

“There’s a ninety-nine-point-nine percent likelihood that I’m your father.”

My brain goes blank. I stare at Elora. She grins and says something, but I can’t process the words.

“Well,” I say. “Shit.”

Edmund laughs. “Yeah. Bit of a shock, eh? I actually got the call a couple of hours ago, but I spent a while talking to Isabel, and then I rang Claire and Marie. I wanted to take their temperatures, you know. Find out how they felt about it before I called you.”

“I understand. What was their reaction?”

“Isabel was terrific. I knew she would be—she’s solid as a rock, and it all happened before I met her anyway, so it wasn’t like I cheated on her or anything. My oldest, Claire, was matter of fact and wanted to know all the details. Marie, my youngest…” He laughs again. “She’s super excited and desperate to meet you.”

I haven’t blushed in about twenty years, but heat creeps through me now, making my face burn. “Oh.”

“And I want to meet you, too,” Edmund says. “Of course. It’s a very strange predicament, but there are worse things than being told you have a son you didn’t know about, especially one as accomplished as you. I Googled you, by the way. You sound like a very interesting guy.”

I’m such a mixture of emotions that my throat tightens, and I can’t speak. I look at Elora, finding comfort in her big blue eyes.

Elora clears her throat. “Hello, Edmund?”

“Oh, hello! I didn’t realize there was someone with Linc.”

“We’re in the car and he put you on speakerphone. I’m driving. He’s okay, just a little choked up.”

“Are you his girlfriend?”

“No, an old friend. He used to live with my family at Greenfield—my dad is the chaplain there.”

“Greenfield? The school for… ah…”

“Troubled teens,” she says easily. “Yes. He came to us at fourteen after his father… Don… well, I’ll let Linc tell you all about that when he sees you. But he lived with us for four years before moving to the UK at eighteen.”

“I see. Well, I’ve had a few hours to process the news, but I was shocked when I heard. So give yourself time.”

“I’m okay,” I say, finding my voice. “Sorry. It’s just…” Again I trail off. How do I explain the exultation flooding through me right now?

“Don wasn’t a nice man,” Elora says. “And Linc has had to live with the thought that he carried his DNA inside him for a long time. I think he’s overwhelmed that the shadow hanging over him has finally lifted.”

“Well, I’m no angel,” Edmund says.

“Like father, like son,” Elora teases. “I think Linc was a pirate in a previous life, so maybe you were too.”

Edmund laughs. “We’ll have to go to Tortuga and Nassau and see if it rings any bells. Look, are you able to come to Queenstown? If you can’t, I’ll come up to Wellington, but I am supposed to be teaching this week and it’s tough to get time off work.”

“No, no,” I say, “I have a few days yet. I’ll fly down tomorrow.”

“I’ll make sure I’m home by four. Come for dinner. You’ll be able to meet Isabel and Marie. Claire’s in Dunedin, unfortunately, but eventually you can call her, if you want to.”

“Okay. You’ll text me the address?”

“Will do. I’ll let you go now and recover. But… I’m glad you contacted me.”

“Me too. Thank you for responding so well.”

“Like I said, it’s not every day you find out you have a son. Sleep well. Goodbye Elora.”

“Bye,” she calls out, and I say goodbye and end the call.

---