Page 31 of Ultimate Freedom

“Then, by law, how can this man have any right to Charlie?”

“He’s willing to take a DNA. It’s the only way we can prove for sure he is who he says he is.”

“Just because his sperm checks out, it doesn’t mean he’s a father.”

“That’s true. But the government’s mandate is to keep children with their parents if at all possible.”

Demi’s heart sunk. Now what?Jesus help me, I don’t want to lose him, especially to a stranger who couldn’t be bothered to find him in eleven years.Hoping for time, she asked, “Can’t you get Charlie’s sample now and leave him here until you know for certain? And even then, don’t you have to be sure he’ll be taken care of? What does this man do?”

“I can’t go into any details other than to say he’s relatively new to the area. And yes, I could get Charlie’s sample now.” Mrs. Stanch leaned back in her chair and took off her glasses to clean them on a tissue she’d taken from her pocket. Her salt and pepper hair frizzed around her face, giving her a grandmotherly appearance, but the stare from hard eyes told another story. This woman was nobody’s fool.

Charlie chose that moment to come back into the house and seemed to pick up on the tension. His glance flew to Demi, and he held her gaze. “What’s wrong?”

Not willing to hide the truth, Demi forced the subject. “Mrs. Stanch says your father has suddenly materialized. Says he showed her pictures of you two being together. Do you know who this man could be?”

Charlie took his time removing his jacket. When he dropped it, Demi could see he was trembling so badly he couldn’t function. She went to him. “Charlie, what’s wrong?”

“Orville’s not my dad, Demi. He’s rotten. Beth used to say the devil lived in him. We’d run away from him every time he caught up with us.”

“Orville. He’s the man who claims to be you father?”

“He’s not. My dad. I asked. Beth said she didn’t know who my dad was cause she hung out with a lot of guys.” The tears began then, a flood of them pouring down his cheeks.

“Hey, you’re not going anywhere for now.” Demi pulled him to her, and his arms wrapped tightly around her waist while his face hid against her chest. “Mrs. Stanch will take a sample of your DNA which will prove he isn’t who he claims to be. Meanwhile, you’ll stay here with me until this gets straightened out. And I’ll be filling in all the papers they need me to so I can be your legal foster parent. Okay?”

She felt Charlie sag with relief. Then he turned to Mrs. Stanch, swiping at the mess on his face. Demi saw the uncertainty in the woman’s eyes and dared her to argue. As if she understood the limitations facing her, Mrs. Stanch nodded and rose to get the gear she needed from her briefcase-like purse. Once Demi had filled in the necessary forms, the older woman was on her way back to Terrace… a bag of snickerdoodles on the seat next to her.

Charlie sat desolate at the table; his expression sadder than she’d ever seen before. “What’s wrong, Charlie?”

“What if he is my dad?”

Stunned, Demi asked, “Is there a possibility?”

“Anything’s possible withmymom.”

Demi approached and sat across from him. “Hey, I think you’re forgetting our secret weapon.”

Charlie’s face shot up, and he met her gleeful look. “Secret weapon?”

“Yep. We have Whit on our side.”

Chapter Sixteen

Later the same day, Charlie and Demi were on their way to get the boy settled in school. But first, they stopped in Stewart at the mercantile store where she bought him new boots and a parka that fit him properly.

“Charlie, I can see by your face that you’re worried about the cost. Stop. Please. I don’t want you to go to school looking like a waif and have the other kids making fun of you anymore. We’ll figure out a way for you to pay me back later.”

“Demi.” He groaned. “I’ll be in retirement like Harold before I can cover this.”

Pleased at his teasing, she chuckled. “Then I’ll have you with me for a long time. You can look after me when I’m a crippled old lady.”

“Yeah? Deal.” He stopped fretting then and helped her choose the one he preferred.

The fact that it turned out to be the cheapest, she ignored. His wishes had to count, and so she agreed. Then she took him to Harold and Lefty where Lefty promised to give him a decent haircut.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Demi inquired when she saw how he held the scissors.

“Hey, little girl, I’ve been cutting my own boy’s hair forever.”

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