Page 44 of Airborne
“Maybe I am when I look at it from your point of view. Peculiar, don’t you think?” he said. “The one thing I’m committed to smacks me in the face—my career, life purpose, research. Were you told the FBI closed my lab until they receive results from their sweep? I can’t work. My projects are at a standstill. I’m sure you have the ability to speed things along.”
“You’re asking me to help you?” Surely she’d heard wrong. “Under no circumstances will I attempt to influence an FBI investigation. If you’re innocent, why stop an opportunity for positive proof?”
“Spoken as a true Fed.”
“I’m dedicated to truth, whatever the cost.”
“Now who’s eaten up with self-importance? I want someone to confront and find out why. Who has accused me other than you and the FBI?”
“No clue, and I didn’t initiate the interview. If I had a name, it would be confidential.” Crackling tension swirled around her. “What else is on your agenda?”
“Why did you keep the pregnancy a secret?”
“Would the news of fatherhood have made any difference since you’d already stated your aversion to fatherhood, accepted the job in Atlanta, and moved out?”
“Don’t forget your nagging about church and how you could never leave your FBI buddies in Houston. A baby alters the terms, which means I’ll have my attorney include it.”
“My apologies for the inconvenience,” she said.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m perfect.”
“The baby’s all right?”
“You contacted me because you’re angry, not about my health or your child’s.”
“I suppose it sounds like a mixed message.”
Heather swiped the tears, despising her emotions. At least he couldn’t see her response. Whoever said love was the most powerful force in the universe had not met Chad Lawrence. But a surge of another kind rose in her... anger for being used. She’d helped to fund his education, supported him when his studies consumed his time, catered to his every whim—her own fault—and now he was finished with her. “I bet you need another doctorate.”
“I had that coming, but you’re not being fair.”
“This has nothing to do with fairness. I’ve been a fool to put up with your sorry attitude. Follow through with your original ambitions, but I won’t be on the other end of the phone to ease your frazzled nerves.”
“I respect your wishes. I made a choice, and I’ll stick by it.”
Had he climbed the pole of selfishness? “Any regrets?”
“I wish I’d acted sooner.”
His words stabbed at her heart. “The divorce or the virus?”
“You’re way out of line.”
“I’m finished with us, Chad.”
“And I’ll financially support our child. We can be friends, just not married.”
“No thanks. Sign off on parental rights, and you’ll be free of both of us.” How she longed for the man who’d said, “I do,” the man who’d bubbled with excitement whenever they discussed their future.
“I have a right to be apprised of the baby.”
“Apprised? A child isn’t something you check off a list or fit into your life when you have nothing better to do. You want your freedom? Leave me and my son alone.”
“That’s your stipulation?”
“Instruct your attorney to prepare a new set of papers with my conditions, and I’ll sign them. I’m finished being used. Don’t contact me again.”
