Chapter 3 - AARON BENNETT
The venue gave them a private conference suite normally used by bridal parties.
No cameras.
No guests.
No baby in the argument.
Julia's husband had arrived during the confusion and took Owen upstairs to a quiet family room.
Mia stayed with Julia.
Daniel asked twice whether she wanted Mia present.
Julia asked Mia.
Mia said:
“I want to know why everybody keeps saying Uncle Aaron.”
That settled it.
Nobody would discuss legal details in front of her.
But nobody was going to pretend the name did not exist anymore either.
Vanessa sat at the opposite end of the table.
Her veil was gone.
No one knew where it had landed.
Daniel's cheek was still red from her slap.
He had not forgotten.
He had simply moved it down the list.
“Start.”
Julia looked at Mia first.
Then at Daniel.
“Mia's biological father was Aaron Bennett.”
Daniel stared.
“No.”
Mia watched him.
Julia immediately said:
“Daniel, don't react to her.”
That stopped him.
Right.
Whatever he felt, Mia was nine.
He turned his attention back to Julia.
“My brother died seven years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Mia is nine.”
“Yes.”
“Did Aaron know?”
Julia nodded.
“Yes.”
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She stared at the table.
He looked back at Julia.
“Did my parents know?”
Julia hesitated.
“Your mother knew there was a claim.”
That wording.
Claim.
Daniel hated it already.
“My father?”
“I don't know what he knew when.”
“Vanessa?”
Julia's eyes moved toward the bride.
“She knew Mia existed.”
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“Four years.”
Vanessa whispered:
“Daniel.”
“You've known for four years.”
“It was not that simple.”
“Was she five when you met her?”
“Yes.”
“Did Julia tell you Aaron was her father?”
“Yes.”
There.
Daniel stood.
Then immediately sat again because Mia flinched.
He hated himself for making her do that.
“Sorry.”
Mia nodded.
Daniel turned back to Vanessa.
“Did you believe her?”
Vanessa took a breath.
“There was a paternity report.”
“What does that mean?”
“A private DNA test.”
“When?”
“Before Aaron died.”
Daniel felt the room narrow.
“He took a DNA test.”
Julia answered.
“Yes.”
“And?”
“He was Mia's father.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Do you have it?”
Caleb put a folder on the table.
Julia shot him a look.
He slid it toward Daniel anyway.
Lab.
Date.
Names partially redacted in the current copy.
Probability of paternity:
Above 99.9 percent.
Daniel stopped on Aaron's signature.
He knew it.
Slanted A.
Ridiculous long tail on the B.
No question.
“Why didn't Aaron tell me?”
Julia looked down.
“He said he was going to.”
“When?”
“The weekend after his last business trip.”
Aaron died in a highway collision coming home from that trip.
Daniel knew the date without checking.
He pushed the report away.
Then looked at Vanessa.
“Why didn't you?”
She said nothing.
Julia answered instead.
“Because the Bennett family said the report wasn't enough.”
Daniel turned.
“What?”
Caleb leaned forward.
“Your mother said Aaron had never legally acknowledged Mia.”
Julia corrected him.
“She said family counsel needed more.”
Different.
Caleb nodded.
Fair.
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“And what did you say?”
Vanessa rubbed one thumb against her wedding ring.
“I said the lawyers were reviewing it.”
“For four years?”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
Vanessa looked toward Mia.
“Not in front of her.”
Julia nodded.
For once, they agreed.
Mia went upstairs with her stepfather.
Before leaving, she stopped beside Daniel.
“Uncle Aaron is dead?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Was he nice?”
That nearly broke him.
He thought of Aaron dropping ice cubes down the back of his shirt at sixteen.
Aaron missing Daniel's college graduation because he got the date wrong.
Aaron lending money he did not have.
Aaron furious too easily.
Aaron apologizing badly.
Daniel said:
“Sometimes.”
Mia smiled a little.
Then left.
When the door closed, Daniel turned to Vanessa.
“Now.”
Vanessa looked at Julia.
Then at Caleb.
Then Daniel.
“The lawyers offered Julia a private support agreement.”
Daniel stared.
“What agreement?”
Julia answered.
“Money for Mia.”
“How much?”
“One hundred twenty thousand over three years.”
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“From who?”
“The Bennett family support trust.”
“And you knew.”
“Yes.”
“Did I?”
Vanessa looked away.
May you like
“No.”
Daniel's wedding ring suddenly felt like something he had put on too early.
