Paternity Unknown. Jean Barrett

cared about us. I still care.”

      “You had a strange way of showing that. Eleven months of silence.”

      She was angry now. Unable to forgive him. He couldn’t blame her. No, he hadn’t tried to call her or write her. How could he, with a prison sentence looming over him every day of those eleven months?

      Almost a year. A whole year locked away in a Seattle jail. Held without bail because not only was the charge murder, he’d been a suspect who had fled the state of Washington with the intention of badgering a witness. Hilary Johnson, who, after her deposition, had come home to Montana until her testimony was needed.

      She had testified, but only after lengthy delays that had preceded the first trial, which had ended in a hung jury. Then more delays followed until the second trial, when the jury this time had brought in a reluctant verdict of innocence. The prosecution had failed to prove Ethan’s guilt beyond any reasonable doubt.

      And throughout those eleven months, he had made no effort to contact Lauren. He’d been convinced it wouldn’t be fair to her, that with the threat of prison he’d only be hurting her more than he already had. She hadn’t needed him messing up her life again.

      This was what Ethan had thought, and he realized now how wrong he had been.

      “You’re right,” he said. “I owe you an explanation.”

      “I don’t want to hear it. I don’t need it. I just want you to go.”

      Hoping an appeal would work, Ethan started toward her. She backed away from him. That’s when he realized she was more than just hurt or scared. She was worried about something. Her gaze nervously, briefly slewed in the direction of the door to the master bedroom. Ethan could see that door now. It was closed.

      “What is it, Lauren? What are you hiding?”

      “Nothing. Please, just go.”

      She was protecting something inside that bedroom. Or someone. He was certain of it. She was no longer living here alone.

      Who? Another man? Was the guy from Helena back in her life?

      He was gripped by a sudden spasm of jealousy. Stupid. He wasn’t entitled to such an emotion. Lauren was a young, vibrant woman. Why shouldn’t she have someone in her life?

      But as unreasonable as he knew his jealousy to be, it persisted, resulting in an equally irrational action.

      When he changed direction and strode purposefully toward the bedroom door, Lauren tried to cut him off. He was too quick for her, arriving at the door before she could prevent his intention.

      “You have no right!” she cried in a panic.

      No, he didn’t. No right at all to confront some concealed lover like an outraged husband. He could end up making a thorough fool of himself. Probably would. He didn’t care. He opened the door, walked into the room.

      There was no other man. Nothing out of the ordinary. Except for a crib located near the window.

      Ethan was only dimly aware of Lauren behind him, plucking at the sleeve of his sweater in a futile effort to stop him. Shrugging her off, he moved numbly across the room.

      He reached the crib, the breath sticking in his throat as he looked down into its shallow depth. A pair of blue-green eyes, his eyes, gazed back at him innocently.