Then I thought about Paul, and how proud he would be that I was going into town and that brought me some comfort. If I was blessing Zeke, I was blessing Paul as well because Paul was his son.
"Yes, Mother," I said.
14.
WYATT DROVE the truck down the gravel road as the morning sun crested the tall, moss-draped trees to Kathryn"s right. It was a thirty-minute drive into town if they followed the main streets, forty-five if they took the back roads, which they would. Kathryn had chosen the route herself to make sure of that.
Zeke had arranged everything, he always did. Still, the uneasiness that haunted her whispered its worry, like a ghost trying to get in where it wasn"t welcome. But it was always there, wasn"t it? No matter how pure Eden was. No matter how many baptisms.
Always, always there.
Kathryn stared out the pa.s.senger window, chewing her fingernail, trying to quiet her mind. She should be happier, more at peace. It was a day of great blessing, wasn"t it? But she was also all too aware that danger crowded in on all sides.
What if something went wrong? What if this was a test from G.o.d and she failed? She could live without money; she had for a long time. What if someone recognized her? What then? She couldn"t live without Eden.
The moment they drove off the property, Eden would be in harm"s way. That was the truth and no one, not her nor Zeke, could guarantee Eden"s safety off the property.
"Right here. Stop the truck," she said.
Wyatt brought the truck to a stop. She could see Zeke"s house just ahead to the left, surrounded by trees. His Dobermans were barking, probably because they"d stopped the truck.
Kathryn turned and looked at Eden, who sat behind Wyatt in the crew cab"s back seat, face pressed close to the window. She pa.s.sed a black hood over the seat.
"You need to wear this, sweetheart," she said. "Just for a little while."
Eden took it without a word.
"It"s for your own protection."
Eden stared at her with round blue eyes, then shifted her gaze back out the window.
"Are you all right?" Kathryn said.
She hesitated. "It"s just . . . the dogs."
"Don"t you worry about them. We"re safe. Isn"t that right, Wyatt?"
"They"re chained up during the day. Nothing to worry about."
Eden held the hood in her hands. Ran her fingers over the fabric.
"You"re quiet this morning," Kathryn said. "This is a wonderful day for all of us, and especially you. You"re not excited?"
"I didn"t sleep well. That"s all."
"I"m a little nervous too, but soon enough we"ll be back home where it"s safe. I promise." She smiled. "Now, go on. Put it on. It"s a short drive to town so I want you to lie down in the back seat and rest your eyes until we get there."
"Yes, Mother." She carefully pulled the hood on, lay down, and rested her head on the seat.
They resumed their drive down the gravel road and past the other houses, which were scattered between Zeke"s and the county road.
There were now eleven families in the community, all who lived on plots of land not unlike their own, and all who were as much a part of Zeke"s family as his own children. They did what he said, and nothing less. He owned the land, didn"t he? He guided them in the ways of truth. He was the one who kept the law off their backs and food on their tables.
No one really expected moonshine to flow from the swamps, which was why Zeke had bought the land and set up his operation in Louisiana, he said. It made sense if you were smart.
Everything Zeke did was smart.
It took them thirty minutes along the back roads to reach the highway and follow its short jaunt into Lafayette and to the address Zeke had given her. She hated the city, always had. Too many people without a head on their shoulders, walking the wide path straight to h.e.l.l. More than that, civilization and all of its laws represented the world that had taken Eden from her in the first place. And would again if given half a chance.
Wyatt pulled into a large parking lot next to a shiny, ten-story office complex. He angled the truck into a free spot and killed the engine.
This was it, then. Just in to see the judge, sign the papers, and get out without any hitch.
Kathryn wiped her brow with a handkerchief, and turned around. "You can take it off now, sweetheart. We"re here."
Eden sat upright and worked the hood off her head.
"Careful not to mess your hair. You want to look your best."
Kathryn got out of the truck while Wyatt opened Eden"s door, which was locked from the inside with a child safety latch. Eden climbed out of the truck and blinked in the sunlight. She turned slowly, taking in a world that had long been hidden from her. And for good reason.
The less time Eden spent outside, the better.
"We should get inside. We don"t want to keep the judge waiting."
She put her arm around Eden and led her toward the building, glancing around nervously as they walked. They entered the building, walked across the gla.s.s atrium to a bank of elevators, and took the slow ride to the tenth floor.
"You okay, sweetheart?"
Eden nodded as the elevator rose.
"I know this must be hard for you being away from home, but I"ll keep you safe." She smoothed her daughter"s hair. "Just don"t leave my side. Okay?"
"Okay."
Kathryn glanced at the business card Zeke had given her-Suite 1003, the office of the Honorable Harlan Cobb, a long-time friend of Zeke"s who would take care of everything. They found the office at the end of a vacant hall.
"Here we go. Wyatt, you stay behind me and keep your mouth shut."
When they entered they were met by a receptionist who took her name and showed them into the judge"s office where he was already meeting with the attorney Zeke was blackmailing: John McDermott, James"s old snake-skinned lawyer from Nevada. This was the very soulless b.a.s.t.a.r.d who"d probably made the arrangements for Eden to be stolen from her eighteen years ago. Served him right-she hoped the dirt Zeke had on him would end up putting the man in a grave.
He sat to the judge"s right, looking the part of an expensive suit from the city. His sun-bleached hair was practically white, as were his eyebrows.
An imposing figure, Kathryn thought, but underneath all that shine likely no better or smarter than Wyatt. It was in an office like this that Eden had been s.n.a.t.c.hed away. And today that curse would become her blessing.
Fitting.
Judge Cobb sat at the end of the long table, examining a short stack of legal doc.u.ments laid before him. He was a thick man, smartly dressed, with fleshy jowls and thinning hair.
After quick introductions, the judge invited them all to sit. Kathryn took the chair to the judge"s left, with Eden and Wyatt by her side.
The judge cleared his throat, sat back in the leather chair and removed the bifocals perched on the end of his pudgy nose.
"Everything appears to be in order. I"ve got a full docket today so let"s not waste anyone"s time. Mr. McDermott, I presume you have no objections to expediting this matter."
"No, Your Honor," he said.
"Wonderful. It"s nice when counsel is agreeable. I"m not one for . . . unexpected surprises."
"Nor am I."
The judge turned toward Eden. "First off, congratulations, young lady. Must feel good to be an adult now in the eyes of the law."
Eden glanced up at Kathryn. Poor girl was as frightened as a mouse.
"Go on. You can answer him."
"I guess," Eden said.
"You guess?" He chuckled. "When I turned eighteen, I thought I was the king of the world and could do anything or go anywhere. Looks to me like you"ve got a good head on you."
Kathryn reached over and squeezed Eden"s hand. "She"s a very special girl. A gift from G.o.d."
"I can see that. And you obviously have a loving mother who"s raised you right," the judge said. "I"m not sure you need much more than that."
Eden nodded.
"There are several items to address today, but I"ll cut to the quick. I"m sure you"re ready to get on with this."
"She is," Kathryn said. "We all are."
"And you, Eden?" the judge said.
"I"ll be speaking on Eden"s behalf today, Your Honor."
His brow arched. "Is that so, Eden?"
"Yes."
"Very well," he said. "But if you have any questions, just ask."
"Of course."
"As you know, we"re here to execute the final provisions of James Ringwald"s trust. As his sole biological child, Eden is ent.i.tled to a.s.sets he established for her benefit. Before ownership of the trust can be transferred, there are a few legal requirements to fulfill. As representative of the Ringwald estate, Mr. McDermott"s first responsibility is to confirm that Eden is, in fact, the congressman"s daughter."
The judge slid the stack of legal doc.u.ments in front of Kathryn.
So this was it. A few forms-simple bits of paper that would make the world right with a few strokes of a pen.
He tapped the top piece of paper with his finger. "These affidavits are sworn written statements that confirm Eden"s ident.i.ty as Alice Ringwald, also known as Eden Lowenstein."
Kathryn scanned each form and pa.s.sed the affidavits to Eden to be signed. One by one, the judge talked about the significance of each doc.u.ment, but Kathryn hardly heard what he said. She was focused on doing what needed to be done as quickly as possible.
Eden didn"t hesitate either and played her role just as she was expected to, signing where indicated. There were no questions and no problems.
Kathryn gathered the doc.u.ments and gave them to the judge, who scrawled his signature on each one.
He glanced at the young lady in a gray suit at the opposite end of the table. "Miss Chatwick. We"re ready for you."
The woman stood and approached Eden.
"Miss Chatwick will administer a simple paternity test. To satisfy the stipulations of the trust, a sample of Eden"s DNA must be compared to the late Congressman Ringwald"s to verify that he"s her father."
The tall brunette stopped beside Eden, placed a small black kit on the table, then pulled on blue surgical gloves.
"You need her blood?" Kathryn asked.
"No, ma"am. Just some saliva," she said and carefully pulled a capped plastic tube from the kit.
The woman uncapped it, then slid out a long cotton swab. "This won"t hurt at all, Eden. I just need you to open your mouth so I can run it along the inside of your cheek. A few cells are all I need for my a.n.a.lysis. Okay?"
"Okay." Eden opened her mouth.
Watching her daughter, a chill p.r.i.c.kled Kathryn"s forearms. Eden had her father"s lips. They were full like his, an unmistakable detail she remembered because it was the first thing she had noticed about James long ago.
Miss Chatwick leaned close and carefully sc.r.a.ped the inside of Eden"s mouth with the swab, then returned the swab to the tube and sealed the sample with an orange sticker.
"All done," she said, and stood. "I"ll have my findings to you by end of day today, Your Honor. And to you as well, Mr. McDermott."
"Thank you, Miss Chatwick."
"There"s one final order of business," the judge said. "I understand that a bank account in Eden"s name has been established, is that right, Kathryn?"
"That"s right."
"Also that Eden is electing to sign a durable financial power of attorney to you."
"She is," Kathryn said. "I"ll be handling everything."
The judge nodded and turned to Eden. "Since you"re legally ent.i.tled to the a.s.sets, I need to be sure you understand what this means. By designating your mother as financial power of attorney, you"re stating that you"re either incapable or unwilling to manage your affairs. You"re surrendering the legal right to access the funds to your mother and she may use them for your benefit as she deems fit. Do you understand that?"