His True Purpose Read online

  Bucky had never been involved with Janie’s kid. It wasn’t reasonable to expect him to keep forking over cash for a kid he didn’t want. Child support, yes, but extortion, no. Which was why whatever agreement he got Janie to sign would include a final, but reasonable, payment.

  Alexander and William didn’t need money. They had a family who loved them. They didn’t need a relationship with some long-lost grandfather. But it provided an excellent cover for Alexander’s presence.

  After parking his car where Janie indicated, Alexander couldn’t help noticing she drove an older model that looked worse for the wear. With the kind of money the senator had been giving Janie, Alexander would think she’d drive a better car.

  None of his business. It didn’t matter to him one way or the other how Janie spent her ill-gotten gains. His only concern was getting her to sign the nondisclosure agreement and agree to a final payoff.

  As he walked to the small garden area where he’d first seen Janie sitting when he arrived, he saw her exit the church, carrying two cups of coffee, balancing a plate on top of them.

  He turned back toward her, striding in her direction. “Let me help you with that,” he said.

  Her soft smile erased some of the lines in her forehead, and despite the fragility in her expression, she looked...almost...pretty.

  Okay, fine. Janie was gorgeous. Which seemed wrong to think at her mother’s funeral, but Bucky had always dated knockouts. Janie looked a little like Bucky’s fiancée, Corinne. The same wheat-blond hair and hazel eyes, though Corinne was a lot more put together.

  Even though he’d seen dozens of pictures of her, there was an innocence to the woman standing before him he hadn’t expected. Her hair was styled, not pulled back in a messy ponytail, and she looked much more neatly put together than the pictures he’d seen of her. True, he wasn’t expecting her to resemble the drunk girl from college photos, but even the investigator’s recent pictures made her out to look like a mess.

  But, he supposed, she’d look her best for her mother’s funeral.

  “Thank you,” she said as he took the plate off the top of the cups she carried. It was piled high with an assortment of cookies, pastries and a couple of bite-sized quiches.

  “You didn’t need to do all this for me,” he said.

  “I told you there was plenty of food. I would have grabbed some sandwiches too, but—” A dark expression crossed her face, then she shook her head. “This was the easiest for me to bring outside. Like I said, you’re more than welcome to join us if you’d like to select some other things.”

  The investigator hadn’t said she was so nice. His report hadn’t given him much insight into the kind of person Janie was. The senator and Bucky had painted her as a flighty, greedy girl who only cared about material things.

  But he couldn’t see those qualities in the woman who took the time to think of a stranger’s comfort at her mother’s funeral.

  “This is more than enough,” he said as they entered the garden area. It had a small table in the corner, and Janie walked in that direction.

  In the summer, it was probably a beautiful space. But now, it felt bleak and cold.

  “What brought you out here earlier?” he asked. “Were you close to the woman who died?”

  He already knew the answer, but she didn’t know that. He needed her to open up to him, to trust him, so she would be willing to talk to him about her son’s father.

  Janie looked down at the ground and didn’t answer at first, but then said quietly, “She was my mother. I know it sounds terrible that I’m not in there, but I feel closer to her here. And I can’t hear about everyone else’s sadness when my own is so overwhelming.”

  The palpable grief in her words twisted Alexander’s heart. He shouldn’t be doing this now. But if not now, when? It wasn’t like Janie had considered the convenience to the senator when she made her demands.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss,” Alexander said. “I’m sure a lot of people have said that to you already, but I don’t know what else to say. I don’t want to intrude.”

  She set her cup of coffee on the table and looked at him. “You’re not. Please stop apologizing. I invited you. Right now, the one thing that would make me feel better about losing my mother is honoring her memory by helping someone else. Now tell me, what has you driving to a church and seeking the help of a pastor in the middle of the week?”

  If that wasn’t the best get-out-of-jail-free card he’d gotten in a long time, he didn’t know what was.

  Alexander took a deep breath. He’d been rehearsing his speech the entire way here, but now, he could barely remember the words.

  “I just found out that the man I grew up thinking was my father isn’t, and my biological father is the son of a man named Ricky Ruiz. My biological father is dead, but Ricky is still around. Ricky has been reaching out to me, and while part of me is curious, the other part is struggling with the idea of the whole thing. I thought the pastor at the local church where Ricky lived might have some insight.”

  He might be here for what Janie would perceive as less than honorable intentions, but at least in this, he told her the truth. He did want to know what it would be like to be at a family gathering of people who had brown hair and brown eyes and brown skin as opposed to blond hair, blue eyes and light skin. To look around the room and see people who resembled him.

  But then he felt sick to his stomach at the thought of how admitting that felt like a betrayal to the family he knew and loved.

  Then again, what was one more betrayal? Even though it felt wrong, gaining her trust when she seemed like such a nice lady, he had to remind himself that she was blackmailing the senator. It might feel like an ethical betrayal to hide his real intent in coming here, but he had to remind himself that he was doing this for the greater good.

  This was about more than just getting the senator elected. For as long as Alexander could remember, he’d dreamed of becoming president of the United States and using that power to make the world a better place. Alexander knew he could make a difference in this world. And if he had to overcome some inconvenient circumstances in his family to make it happen, then he’d do so.

  But the tender expression on Janie’s face made Alexander wonder if this was going to be as easy a task as he’d originally thought.

  Chapter Two

  Ricky’s grandson?

  Janie stared at the man, and as she examined his features, she realized how much he resembled the large portrait of Cinco Ricky kept in the main house. Lighter skin, a little more serious and a sense of deep sadness in his eyes.

  When she’d first spotted him, she’d been strangely drawn to him, and not just because she didn’t recognize him as someone who belonged there. Funny how, when she was a teenager, she and her friends used to giggle about how cute they’d thought Cinco was.

  Who would have ever thought she’d meet Cinco’s son?

  Her mom always told her that the best way to forget your own problems was to help someone else with theirs. Not that you should avoid your problems, but when the problem was something you couldn’t do anything about, you might as well help someone else.

  Maybe helping Ricky’s grandson would take her mind off her grief, off the other problems in her life she needed to solve, and maybe things wouldn’t seem so hard for her anymore.

  “Our family is close to Ricky. I know a lot about his search for Cinco’s children.”

  Ricky had been searching for his long-lost grandchild. So far, his investigation hadn’t turned up the child he’d been looking for. Just Rachel, Janie’s friend, and a pair of twins who’d refused contact with Ricky—but none of them were the child of Luanne, Cinco’s wife.

  So who was this man? One of the twins? Or Luanne’s child?

  Regardless, it had to be difficult, facing a family he hadn’t known existed.

  “It�
�s very brave of you to come,” she said. “I understand your hesitation, but let me reassure you that Ricky is truly one of the best people I know.”

  He only looked slightly relieved. “You shouldn’t be troubling yourself with my problems. Your guests should be the focus of your attention. It’s fine. I booked a cabin at the Double R Ranch under a colleague’s name, in case someone recognized mine. But I’m not sure I can go there. It’s all too weird to me.”

  She couldn’t imagine what he must be going through. There weren’t any hotels nearby, just guest cabins for rent at Ricky’s ranch. “Ricky will respect your privacy. If you need time to yourself, just tell him. He’ll understand. He was wonderful when his granddaughter, Rachel, came to town.”

  If only she could read his expression. But whichever twin this was, he wasn’t giving anything away.

  “He didn’t know about Rachel, either?”

  Janie shook her head. “No. He and his son were estranged when his son died, leaving behind a pregnant wife. Ricky tried to locate her, but she didn’t want to be found. He figured he’d committed an unpardonable sin in driving his son away, so he didn’t start searching for her until recently. As he neared the end of his life, he wanted to make amends. He regretted driving his son away, and he wanted to have a relationship with his grandchild if he could. Well, turns out Cinco sowed a lot of wild oats. There are more grandchildren than he thought.”

  He closed his eyes like he was trying to process this information.

  “Which one of Ricky’s grandchildren are you?” Janie asked.

  Opening his eyes, he looked at Janie. “Alexander. Alexander Bennett, and my twin brother is William, after our...” A look close to despair crossed Alexander’s face. “How could she name him after our father, knowing he wasn’t really?” His shoulders shook with a long sigh. “But he is our father, in every meaning of the word, except for what the DNA test says.”

  Even though she barely knew him, Janie found herself touching his arm gently. “That must be very difficult for you.”

  Alexander shrugged her off. “Difficult? You don’t know the meaning of the word.” He stared down at her, then shook his head slowly. “I’m sorry. Of course you know what it means. You’re mourning the loss of your mother, and I’m being insensitive. You would probably say that at least I have a mother, right?”

  The raw honesty and deep grief in his voice put an ache in Janie’s heart. They were both going through hard things, and maybe that was why God had brought them together.

  “It doesn’t make what you’re going through any less painful or any less important to talk about. You have just as much right to share your feelings as I do, so please don’t feel guilty. Maybe it sounds silly, but talking to you is the first time I’ve felt some of my grief fall off me. How is this affecting the rest of your family?”

  The desolate look he gave her made her almost wish she hadn’t asked. Then he said, “It’s tearing my whole family apart. You can’t imagine what we’re going through. I thought I could do this, but now I’m not so sure.”

  Janie scooted her chair closer to his. “You’re right that I don’t know anything about what you’re going through. I probably appear to be on the enemy’s side, but I’m willing to be your friend if you let me.”

  What she really wanted to do was take this man into her arms and hold him and tell him it was going to be all right. The expression on his face was just like Sam’s when he was hurting. It was odd because she’d talked to hundreds of people in her lifetime, comforting them during a bad time, but something about Alexander uniquely twisted her heart. She didn’t know why, but something deep inside her said that he needed her. That there was something different about him. Something special.

  “There’s a lot you don’t understand,” he said. “I know you’re trying to be nice, and I appreciate that. But there’s so much you don’t know, and I don’t think you’re the right person for me to discuss this with.”

  Some men had a hard time talking to women, and her father said that sometimes, it was better for people of the same gender to counsel one another.

  “Why don’t I get my dad to come talk to you? After all, you did intend to speak to a pastor when you came here. Maybe he can give you the clarity you need.”

  Alexander shook his head. “He’s burying his wife today. I can’t intrude on him like this. I can’t intrude on you like this.”

  Ugh. Why did he have to keep harping on being an intrusion?

  Like Janie, her father had been keeping busy since her mother’s death.

  How was she supposed to get Alexander, and everyone else for that matter, to understand that helping others was the only way they were going to get through her mother’s death?

  The back church doors opened, and people began filtering out. She recognized Ricky in the crowd.

  “Ricky’s right over there,” she said. “I know you said you weren’t sure if you’re ready, but maybe it would be better if you just pulled the Band-Aid off? My son, Sam, cries and cries when I tell him I’m going to take his Band-Aids off. But I’ve found it causes way less trauma if I just rip it off when he’s not expecting it. I think that’s true for a lot of things in life.”

  Alexander nodded thoughtfully. “I suppose that’s one way to handle it. If it doesn’t work out, I could always get in my car and drive home.”

  There were more positive answers, but at least it wasn’t a no. “Wait right here,” she said. She jumped up and made her way to Ricky as fast as she could without it looking like there was a fire. When she got to Ricky, he was talking good-naturedly with some of their rancher friends.

  “Excuse me, Ricky. I was hoping we could have a quick private word with you.”

  It definitely wasn’t the smoothest thing she’d ever done, but since he’d given her mother’s eulogy and everyone thought she was in the depths of grief, they all smiled cordially, stepping away so Janie could take him by the arm and lead him in the direction of the garden.

  “I have some interesting news for you,” she said when they were out of earshot of the others. “Remember those twins of Cinco’s who wanted nothing to do with you?”

  As Ricky nodded, she continued. “One of them, Alexander, is in the garden. He came here first to gather his courage to meet you, only he came at a bad time. And now he’s not sure what to do.”

  Ricky nodded somberly. “I wasn’t ever expecting to meet either of them. They made it very clear they wanted nothing to do with me. But clearly the Lord is working in his heart, so I’ll do my best to be gentle with him.”

  Janie smiled at him. “I can’t imagine you being hard on him.”

  As they reentered the garden, Alexander’s back was to them, like he was still considering running.

  “Alexander. Ricky is here,” Janie said.

  Alexander turned around, and he still wore the same lost little boy expression he’d had when she’d first begun speaking with him.

  Ricky introduced himself. “I’m your biological grandfather. I know that must sound very strange to you. You don’t have to call me Grandpa or Gramps or anything like that. You can just call me Ricky. If you’d like, no one but Janie and me have to know who you are. Though I’m sure Rachel would love to meet you.”

  Alexander took a step forward. “Thanks. I appreciate that. I’m still trying to wrap my head around all this. You have to understand, my dad’s great.” He shook his head. “The best father any man could ever ask for. Bill Bennett, that’s him, is the most standup guy you’d ever want to meet. He raised us right. He took us to Little League, went to our school activities, was there to lend an ear whenever we needed him. I was just out fishing with him last weekend. So to find out that he is—”

  “He’s still your father,” Ricky said. “I respect that. It’s good that you honor him. It sounds like you had a great life growing up, and I don’t want to take any of that from
you. I’m trying to do the right thing, and I don’t rightly know what that is. But we’re family, and I’m here for you if you want me to be. Anything that happens is your choice.”

  * * *

  What was supposed to be an easy job was now turning into a nightmare. One of epic proportions. The kind where you felt like you were falling with no bottom in sight.

  All he needed to do was to get Janie to sign some papers. They were sitting in his briefcase in the back seat of his car. He simply had to walk over, grab the papers and tell Janie to sign them.

  Of course, the private investigator had already tried that. And she’d promptly thrown him out. It would’ve been nice if his investigator had told him that today was her mother’s funeral, but he supposed he should have done that legwork on his own.

  And now, having spoken with Janie, having seen the selfless way she’d tried to comfort him when he should be trying to comfort her over her mother’s death, he couldn’t imagine her as the Jezebel she’d been painted as. But he’d seen the checks, the notes, demanding more money.

  He’d heard that con artists were able to con people because of how kind and sweet they appeared at first.

  And then there was the other problem.

  The man standing before him. Ricky. His grandfather. Except Ricky was also being completely understanding and kind.

  This whole thing just got a lot more complicated.

  Even though he knew he’d be dealing with difficult emotions, he hadn’t been prepared for just how difficult it would be. Part of him still wanted to run. But he had to figure out how to put his emotions aside so he could get his job done.

  Alexander took a step forward. “I appreciate that. I’ll be honest, William is upset with me for coming. But at least it takes off some of the heat of him being mad at our mom for cheating on our dad. I’m kind of mad at her, too, but if she didn’t do what she did, we wouldn’t be here. And I don’t know what to make of that.”

  Janie gave him that gentle smile he’d come to expect. Why did she have to be the opposite of what he’d been expecting?