Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Miguel

Ruby’s lying with her head on my shoulder, her arm across my waist. We’re enjoying a quiet moment in bed, just the two of us. Well, plus Pumpkin. Even he’s quiet at the moment.

“I’ve been thinking,” Ruby says.

“What about?”

“My birth certificate. It states that Allen Foster is my birth father. Since that’s not true, I want to change it. I was thinking I’d ask Edward if he’d agree to a paternity test, to verify that he’s my father. Assuming he is, I’d have his name put on my birth certificate. And maybe I’d change my name to Ruby McCall. I also need a will. If something happens to me, my inheritance should go to Edward, not to Allen Foster.”

I tuck a few loose strands of Ruby’s hair behind her ear. “I’m sure Edward would be happy to have a paternity test. And if you need a lawyer, I’ve got a good one to recommend. Troy Spencer—he’s the attorney for McIntyre Security. He’s also Shane’s personal attorney.”

“So, what comes next?” she asks.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, now that we know who was doing the stalking, I guess the threat is over.”

“Not so fast, I’m afraid. Darren and Allen will undoubtedly get out on bail, and we’re not a hundred percent sure there’s no one else involved. I think it’s too soon to let our guard down. I’d like to stay on your security detail until we’re sure.”

Ruby leans up on her elbows so she can look me in the eye. “I’m okay with that. In fact, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Anything. Just name it.”

She grins. “Hold on. You might want to wait until you hear my idea before you agree to it.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“Well, I was wondering what you might think about staying on with me indefinitely—in a security capacity, of course. Like Jason does for Layla. When I inherit my trust fund, I’ll certainly be able to afford it.”

I chuckle. “You could afford an entire army of protectors.”

She smiles, displaying dimples. “I don’t need a whole army. I think one will be plenty—as long as he’s the right one.”

“Oh? Do you have someone in mind?”

“I do.” She leans forward and presses a light kiss to my lips. “Will you stay?”

I nod, feeling a bit choked up. “I’ll gladly stay as long as you need me.” Or forever, if you just say the word.

* * *

The rest of the week passes pretty quietly. Ruby makes arrangements for a paternity test at a local DNA laboratory. Edward goes in to give a DNA sample, and a visiting nurse comes to the apartment to get Ruby’s DNA. They say they’ll have the results in two to three days. Ruby’s excited, but she’s also a bit nervous.

“What if it comes back negative?” she asks me.

“Let’s just wait and see what the results are. You’ll know for sure very soon.”

Ruby finishes up several customer commissions and packages them up for shipping.

I offer to take them down to the mailroom for her. “Would you like to come downstairs with me to check out the mailroom?”

Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head. “No, that’s okay.”

“All right. I just thought I’d ask.”

Later that afternoon, I pop into the art studio to ask if she’s ready for some lunch. I glance down at the new painting she’s working on and recognize my grandmother’s tiny Chihuahua, Sugar. The little cream puff in the painting looks exactly like the real thing.

“That’s incredible,” I say. I shake my head in disbelief. “How do you do that? I can’t even draw stick people.”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I see the image in my head and my hand recreates it on canvas.”

“Mi abuelita is going to love it. Her birthday is in a couple of weeks. Is it okay if I invite her over once it’s done, so we can give it to her together?”

Ruby hesitates only a moment before she says, “Yes. I’d love to meet her.”

* * *

Two days after both Ruby’s and Edward’s DNA were submitted to the lab, Ruby receives an e-mail with the results.

“Miguel!”

I’m in the kitchen making our lunch when I hear her call my name. I head to the art studio, where I find her sitting at her desk looking at her computer screen. “What is it?”

“I have an e-mail from the DNA lab.”

“Have you opened it?”

She shakes her head. “No, I’m too nervous.” She rolls her desk chair back a couple of feet from her desk. “You read it.”

I stand behind her chair and gaze down at her monitor. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I can’t stand the suspense. Tell me what it says.”

Leaning over her, I open the e-mail and scan the contents. “The results say it’s 99% likely that Edward McCall is your biological father. So, yes.”

She shoots out of her chair and throws herself into my arms. “Oh, thank God. I wanted him to be my father. I have to call him!”

Ruby grabs her phone and calls Edward. “The paternity results are in. They say it’s 99% likely that you’re my biological father.” She listens for a moment, then says, “Yes! So am I.”

I can hear that Edward’s talking, but I can’t make out the words. I just watch the smile on Ruby’s face grow bigger and bigger, and eventually her eyes tear up.

“I’d like that,” she says. “How about six?” Then she looks at me and mouths, “He’s coming tonight for dinner so we can celebrate.”

* * *

When Edward arrives that evening, Ruby greets him at the door. “Hi, Dad,” she says, grinning at him.

He throws his arms around her and hugs her tightly. “Hello, daughter.”

They both tear up.

Dinner is low key. Ruby and I make pasta and marinara sauce, and we serve it with garlic bread and salad. The three of us eat at the little table in the kitchen. Edward regales Ruby with stories about his most fond memories when she was little. These stories, some of which she’d never heard before, and all of them including her mother, put a smile on her face.

As I sit back and watch the two of them connecting in a way they never have before, I see Ruby blossoming before my eyes. She finally has a parent who loves her, who will gladly give her the affection and validation she didn’t get from Allen.

No one mentions Allen or Darren. We’re all looking forward to the future.