Chapter 10
“Did she just threaten you?”
“Both of us and definitely Sari,” Weston said, turning his head to study the little girl, who happily chewed away on her toast. “And she hasn’t contacted you at all in this last year and a half?”
“Not once,” Daniela said, bewildered. “What did you mean about her being out of money or finding a buyer? You’re not implying she would steal Sari and sell her to somebody. Are you?”
“Do you consider that she sold her to you?” he asked, turning her words around.
She glared at him for a long moment. “Sell, no. Gave, yes. And, yes, I paid for all the legal work, but, like I told you, I didn’t give her any money for Sari.”
“Did you give her any money so she could leave?”
“Not cash,” she said in surprise. “But, as I told you already, when she wanted a flight out of here, I paid for a ticket.”
“I would have too,” he said. “Anything to get her away from here.”
“Exactly,” she said. “Sari was skinny and crying all the time, when we first got her, so I’m not even sure how much Angel was feeding her. I’m pretty sure she didn’t nurse her at all.”
“How old was she?”
“According to her birth certificate, she was about one month old.”
“So you took her and then started the paperwork?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what happened.”
He nodded but said nothing.
“Is she serious?”
“We’ll assume so,” he said calmly. “And hope she isn’t. I’ll call in some favors and do some research to see if we can figure out what Angel’s been up to for the last year and a half.”
“What will that tell us?”
“It should tell us if she’s gotten into a bad crowd or has financial difficulties—like owing loan sharks—what kind of drugs she may be into, or if she’s just looking for enough money for another ticket somewhere.”
“Which I would gladly pay,” Daniela said immediately.
He smiled gently. “I know you would because you want the problem to go away. Angel knows that too. But what happens when a plane ticket isn’t enough to make her go away?”
She blanched. “You’re talking blackmail?”
“I’m not sure what I’m saying here, but I’m sure you can see how that could happen. Angel knows you’re petrified she’ll try to get Sari back, and you’ll do anything to stop that from happening.”
“But I don’t have any money,” she said faintly.
“Anybody you can borrow from?”
She nodded. “Sure. But I don’t know when I’d ever be able to pay them back.”
“Angel won’t care about that,” he said. “If that’s what she’s after, and, as long as she gets it, she won’t care where it comes from.”
“I didn’t think this would happen,” she said, springing to her feet. Soon she was pacing the kitchen. Sari picked up on her distress and started to cry. Daniela rushed to her, lifted the little girl out of the high chair, took her to the sink, where she wiped down her hair, face and hands. “It’s all right, sweetie. Mommy’s fine. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
The little girl wanted to be convinced, so it didn’t take too long for the sunshine to return to her face.
Daniela put her down on the floor.
Sari headed right for Shambhala, who was lying in front of the glass doors. She sat down with a hard thump, giving the dog a hug. Shambhala lay back down again, only now with a little girl curled up beside her.
Daniela looked back at Weston. “What do we have to do?”
“I need to see the paperwork you have for the adoption, so we can see if it’s locked down or if there is anything Angel can use to get contact or to attempt to reverse the adoption.”
“And if she does? Then what?” she cried out. “I can’t live without Sari, Weston. I’ve spent my whole life getting to this point, and I’ve looked after her all this time. She’s my little girl.”
“Easy,” he said. “I get where you’re coming from, but let’s find out just how much damage Angel could legally do.”
“And you’re her father,” she said, hating to hear the weakness in her voice. “Is that what you’re trying to do? To see if you can try to take Sari too?”
He looked at her with surprise. “Why would I do that? It’s obvious you’re taking perfect care of her. Look at her.”
“But she’s your daughter,” she said in confusion. “She’s all I ever wanted.”
“I get that,” he said. “But I never thought I would have that. So now that I do, I’m still working my way around to what’s right. It’s a complicated issue.”
She shook her head sadly. “It’s not complicated,” she said. “You are her father. You want to have her in your life, or you don’t.” And, on that note, she spun on her heels and left the kitchen.
Is it that simple, he wondered. He pulled out his phone and contacted Badger. “I have an odd wrinkle,” he said when Badger answered.
“What kind of a wrinkle?”
“The biological mother of my child has turned up, making threats. Can you help me figure out some things?” Then he explained the scenario and what had just happened.
“When you get a copy of the paperwork, send it to me,” Badger said. “We’ll take a look at where things stand legally. It’s quite possible it wasn’t a legal deal. You know that, right?”
“I know,” he said. “The thing is, Sari has a great mom and a stable life with Daniela. The biological mother is a train wreck just waiting to happen.”
“Families have been torn apart over less,” Badger said. “Plus I don’t think courts look kindly upon drunk mothers with many different sex partners. Regardless, she’s your daughter, so you have rights too.” He stopped for a moment. “Do you know for sure she’s your daughter?”
“No,” Weston said. “I don’t know that for sure. I certainly wondered, but I could see the family
