Page 7 of The Unforgiven
“Don’t you think we should say something to Sylvia and Logan?” Quinn asked.
“They know,” Gabe replied. “Didn’t you notice how hard they tried to act normal?”
“But Logan is a nurse. He knows what could happen!”
“Yes, I’m sure he does,” Gabe said and pulled Quinn into his arms. “Let’s not talk about Jude anymore.”
She had let the subject drop but couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d learned. She wished she’d made more of a connection with Jude, but there was time yet. She’d try to speak to Logan about Jude the next time they met. It was too touchy a subject to bring up over the telephone, and anyway, Jude left for Wales the week after their dinner and would be away until the beginning of May.
A text from Gabe startled Quinn from her reverie and brought her back to the present.
Gabe:
Can you talk?
Quinn called Gabe’s mobile. It was so good to hear his voice. “Yes, I can talk,” she said.
“Did you meet with Seth Besson?” he asked without preamble.
“I did. He claims not to remember Sylvia or that night at Chatham Manor. He seemed genuine enough.”
“Did he give you a swab?”
“Yes. I overnighted it to Colin. Perhaps I should just leave, Gabe.” Quinn didn’t mean to get emotional, but her voice shook as she tried to hold back the tears. “Will I never know the truth? I seem to be going in circles. If Seth isn’t a match, which seems a likely outcome, then who the hell is my father?”
“Quinn, come home,” Gabe pleaded. “Let this go. It doesn’t matter who your father is, and it doesn’t matter where you got your psychic ability. You are you, and nothing you discover will change that or give you any answers about our baby. If ourchild inherits your gift, then we will do our best to help him or her cope with it and learn how to control it.”
“I know. You are right, as usual, which is very annoying. I was just hoping to talk to someone who’s experienced the same thing, but I reckon that’s not to be.” She sniffled. “I’m officially giving up.”
“No more pursuing strange men?”
She heard the smile in his voice. “No more. I found one of my biological parents; I suppose that’ll have to do. And I have two brothers, which is something.”
“That’s two more brothers than I have,” Gabe joked. “Would have been nice to have a sibling. Speaking of which, how’s our little mite doing?”
“It’s doing well. I don’t even feel pregnant. The morning sickness seems to have passed, and now I’m hungry round the clock. I should get something to eat. I haven’t had lunch yet. But first, I’ll book a return flight.”
“I can’t wait to see you,” Gabe said. “It feels like you’ve been gone for months.”
“Yes, it does. So get off the phone and let me find a flight home,” she replied, smiling happily at his eagerness to have her back.
“I love you,” Gabe said, his voice so low and velvety it sent shivers down Quinn’s spine.
“I love you more.”
FOUR
Quinn zipped her packing case and checked her watch. She still had an hour until she had to leave for the airport. A long day lay ahead. She had been able to book a flight to London on Virgin Atlantic but would have a nearly three-hour layover in Atlanta. By the time she arrived in London and cleared customs, it would be close to midnight.
There was no point skulking in her room, so Quinn went down to the restaurant. Several people were enjoying breakfast on the patio, and the appetizing smell of their bacon and eggs made Quinn’s stomach growl. She ordered breakfast and a pot of tea and tucked in, seeing no reason to ignore the demands of her body. The baby needed nourishment and so did she. She’d lost a few pounds over the past few months, to the dismay of her doctor, but now she would gain them back. Quinn wasn’t overly concerned. Her only priority was the health of her baby.
She was buttering a piece of toast when her mobile rang. It was just after noon at home, so it wouldn’t be Gabe. He had a meeting scheduled and said he would be tied up until around three. She’d spoken to her parents the night before, and Phoebe wouldn’t call her unless she had some urgent wedding business to discuss. Quinn glanced at the caller ID, but the number wasn’t familiar. She considered ignoring the call but changed her mind when she saw the exchange and realized it was a local call.
“Quinn, Seth Besson here,” the deep voice informed her.
“Good morning, Seth.” Quinn wondered why he was calling her. She hadn’t heard from Colin yet but had decided not to wait around. There seemed little point.
“I have the results of the paternity test,” Seth said. “My ex-wife works at a hospital. We’re on fairly good terms, so I asked her to pull a few strings and get this expedited. I just wanted to put your mind at rest, and my own.”
