Page 63 of The Forgotten
“OK,” Emma said, clearly relieved not to have to give it up.
“Did you have a good day at school?” Quinn asked once they were in the car, and Emma was strapped into her seat.
“We had Show and Tell,” Emma replied.
“So, what did you show?”
“I brought Mr. Rabbit and told them that my mum bought it for me when I was a baby,” Emma replied sadly. “I didn’t tell them she died.”
“You don’t have to tell anyone if you don’t want to,” Gabe said. “What did the other children bring?” he asked in an effort to distract Emma from her sadness. She went into a litany of items, describing each one in detail. Quinn’s mind began to drift as she rested her hands on her handbag. Stephen Kane’s DNA was inside it, but there was also a pregnancy test that she’d picked up at Boots before boarding the train. It was time to confirm her suspicions and share the news with Gabe if the test was positive. Maybe she’d even do it tonight.
FIFTY-FOUR
“So, what was Stephen Kane like?” Gabe asked after reading Emma a story and tucking her into bed. He sat down next to Quinn on the sofa and pulled her into his arms. They hadn’t been able to talk about Quinn’s visit to Leicester with Emma in the room, but Quinn felt Gabe’s gaze on her all through the evening, gauging her mood and offering silent support.
“He was all right. More forthcoming than he needed to be, actually. He said that he’s sterile and couldn’t possibly be my biological father.”
“Do you believe him?” Gabe asked.
“He gave me a sample readily enough, which leads me to believe that he was telling the truth. I’ll verify it with Colin, of course. He also said that Sylvia had been a willing participant in their affair. He called her ‘aware’. Said she knew what she was about,” Quinn said.
“Not an innocent victim then, as she’d like you to believe?”
“Well, it’s his word against hers, as it is with all of them. I don’t think anyone would readily admit to taking advantage of a young girl. And people do tend to rationalize their actions in their minds, turning the facts this way and that until they fit with what they wish to believe of themselves.”
“That’s certainly true.” Gabe nodded and looked away, his gaze fixated on nothing in particular. She knew him long enough to recognize it as a gesture of avoidance. He was bursting to say something but was desperately trying not to influence her one way or the other, and if she stared him down, he’d crack.
“Gabe, I know what you are thinking, so you might as well look at me,” Quinn said.
“Do you?” Gabe asked, still not making eye contact.
“Yes. You are thinking that Sylvia lied to me again and again, and that she might have manipulated the facts to gain my sympathy.”
“Well, it is possible, is it not?” Gabe replied, turning to face Quinn, eyes narrowed in speculation. Someone who didn’t know Gabe would think that he disliked Sylvia and chose to blame the victim, as many would, but with Gabe, it was nothing personal. He believed in facts which could be supported with solid proof. And, more than anything, he wanted to protect Quinn from getting hurt.
“Yes, it is. Rhys didn’t dispute what happened that night, but then again, he is still guilt-ridden by the whole thing because he was ashamed about being coerced by his friends into doing something he clearly hadn’t been comfortable with, with a girl who was too drunk, or drugged, to put up much of a fight.”
“Look, Quinn, Sylvia might have been pure as the driven snow, or she might have been the village slag; you’ll never know the truth, and ultimately, it’s for you to decide if you want to judge her or just chuck it all up to ancient history. She is, without question, your biological mother, and somewhere out there is your father. Of course, whether Seth Besson raped her or shagged a girl who was a willing partner makes a big difference to any possible relationship you might have with him. So, if or when you meet him, perhaps you should give him a fair chance, since you don’t actually know if he’s guilty.”
“So, now you approve of me meeting him?” Quinn asked, trying to hide her amusement.
“I know that you won’t rest until you do, so I will keep my opinions to myself and follow you to the ends of the earth, or to the United States, in this case. I will help you see this to the bitter end.”
“Thank you, Gabe. That means the world to me.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I want you to be happy, and I know that finding out the truth about your heritage and your gift will bring you peace. And whether you choose to have a relationship with your birth parents or not, you will be a happier person for knowing where you came from.”
“And speaking of being a happier person,” Quinn said, smiling into Gabe’s eyes. “I have something to tell you. I’m pregnant,” she said and watched Gabe’s eyes light up with joy. It wasn’t until that moment that she knew that she was truly happy about her news. She’d taken the pregnancy test while Gabe was with Emma, and the proof now lay at the bottom of the rubbish bin. The test came back positive, just as Quinn knew it would. And she was glad.
Gabe pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Oh, that’s wonderful news, love. I’m thrilled. Sometimes I don’t know who is more psychic, you or my mother.”
“What do you mean?”
“I spoke to her this afternoon and she asked me when you were due.”
“What?! How could she possibly know?”
“She said that she saw it in your eyes when we came to collect Emma. She said you can always tell, if you know what to look for.”
