Page 69 of Inheriting Miss Fortune

It was enough to stop the Scotts and their attorneys in their tracks and allow us to continue into the clinic without further interference.

“Well done,” I murmured as Susanna stepped forward to check Dev and Lellie in for the appointment.

Dev turned and shoved Lellie into my arms. Thankfully, she came willingly and clung to me as tightly as she’d clung to Dev. “If you’re her representative at this appointment, they’ll let you back with us,” he murmured.

I glanced up and saw the nerves in his expression. He was terrified, and I couldn’t figure out why.

Thankfully, a nurse called us back very quickly, and I followed Dev while Susanna held the door and ensured no one else followed us other than a nondescript junior attorney from Brock’s firm who had been sent as the eyewitness. Kenji settled himself in a chair in the waiting room and remained unruffled.

Orris shot me a final glare as the door closed behind us.

When we got to the exam cubicle, I reached for Dev’s arm. “Hey. You know it’s not a blood test, right? It’s a cheek swab.”

“I know.”

I lowered my voice. “Why are you shaking?”

“What if this is it? What if she’s not really mine?”

I wanted to bark out a laugh, but I could tell he wasn’t joking.

“Devon,” I said, making sure my voice was still low but also firm. “This child is your clone. Look at her. Look at her eyes. They’re the color of southern pine and sweet tea.” I flicked one of her dark curls and then reached out to wrap one of his thicker waves around my finger before tugging. “I wish you could see it like the rest of us do.”

Susanna must have realized what was happening because her expression softened, and she grinned at him. “He’s right. Anyone who saw you holding her out there knows howridiculous this performance is. She looks more like you than my twin brother looks like me.”

Dev inhaled a shaky breath. “Thank you. I know it’s silly. I just got here and suddenly worried that they would find a way to take her from me. The fact I’m her biological parent is the only thing on my side.”

I wanted to tell him that wasn’t true, that there were a million other things about him that made him Lellie’s perfect choice, but a lab tech walked in before I had a chance to speak.

After briefly introducing himself, the tech had everyone sign the necessary consent forms before getting down to business. It seemed to take forever to gather multiple samples and line them up carefully in a tray with barcoded labels indicating Dev and Lellie’s names and birthdates. We even had to sign the envelopes the samples were being sent in. And then, just when it looked like we were done, we each had to sign off on witness statements to ensure proper chain of custody of the samples, too.

Lellie was good throughout most of the long, boring process, only making a break for it once while Dev and I were signing the last few items. Susanna stepped out to take a call, and Lellie tried to follow, but fortunately, her toddler stumble was unsteady enough that we noticed her escape attempt immediately. I headed her off while Dev swooped in from behind, scooped her up, and tickled her.

“Not so much different than cutting horses,” I teased so only Dev could hear.

“True.” Dev gave me one of his genuine, devastating smiles. “And easier with teamwork,” he said softly, making my heart race.

The tech produced a lollipop for Lellie, ensuring her continued cooperation, and we returned to witness the tech slide the samples into the labeled packages, seal them, and sign thefinal couple of forms without incident before making our way back out to the waiting room…

Where everyone and their damned brother was waiting for us.

My happy mood immediately soured, and I could sense Dev’s anxiety rising again.

I’d spotted Dev’s parents as soon as we’d pulled into the parking lot. His father had the same head of dark hair, and his mother had something of Dev in the shape of her face or the set of her mouth. They’d stayed quiet up to now, seeming to wait to be called on by Pastor Scott before asking to see their only grandchild.

My boss approached as soon as we came from the back into the larger waiting room. “I think it would be a sign of good faith to allow the Scotts to take Eleanor for the night.”

I tilted my head at Orris while holding Lellie tighter. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean by ‘good faith’ in this case.”

He frowned. “They’re her grandparents. It’s only right to allow them a visit while all of this gets sorted out.”

Dev’s mom was clearly listening because she nodded her head emphatically, her eyes never leaving her granddaughter.

I felt Dev move behind me. His hand brushed gently across my lower back where no one could see it before he came around me and reached for Lellie with a murmured thanks.

He stepped forward into the center of the small crowd. “Mom, Dad, this is Lellie. My daughter.”

I wondered later if their quick glance at Pastor Scott for permission to approach had anything to do with what happened next. To be fair to Dev, he tried to ignore it at first.

---