He hated that he’d ever been married to someone who would do something like that. Lucy just looked into his eyes and stroked his temple as she listened, practically drawing the story out of him with her acceptance.
“You weren’t here for it but when that guy—who undoubtedly had a few screws loose—showed up at Stigall’s with a loaded gun everyone in town knew about it. The fact that what Elizabeth had been up to with Paggs was revealed at the same time. Damn…” He tightened both hands into fists, remembering the shame and emasculation he’d felt. “I took one look at Paggs, and saw the guilt on Elizabeth’s face and…knew. And little Patrick was there for the whole thing. Elizabeth could never control him in public places—never really tried all that hard. Grace and Rosemary have told me that if it hadn’t been for Summer, Patrick might’ve been caught in the gun sights of that lunatic.”
“It’s even more understandable why you feel so close to all of them.”
“Yeah, thanks to her quick thinking to protect Patrick, and her men’s efforts afterward, my son—and I do consider him my son—is still with me.”
“What happened? How did it all work out?”
“Paggs had already come up as a person of interest in Ace and Kemp’s investigation into the attacks on Discretion and Summer. They were there at Stigall’s, drew all the same conclusions I did, and confronted Elizabeth’s lover with the sheriff present. Paggs started confessing and before long he and Elizabeth were pointing the finger at each other, in public. He eventually pled guilty on charges of breaking and entering, arson, and attempted assault, calling them crimes of passion. He claimed she promised to leave me and marry him if he’d help her. She denied all of it but was convicted on lesser charges.”
“And the gunman?”
Patrick chuckled. “Rosemary knocked him out cold with a piece of a display rack.”
Lucy sat up but kept her arms around his shoulders as she frowned at him. “Will you lose Patrick Junior when Elizabeth gets out? Has she been in touch?”
“No…and no. Ace and Kemp made sure of that. Paggs waived his rights after Ace and Kemp paid him a visit in prison and his parents are already raising two of his children from other relationships.” Lucy’s lip curled, perfectly mirroring his thoughts on the matter. “Elizabeth’s parents pick Patrick Junior up for a weekend occasionally, and send gifts for his birthday and holidays. They made it clear that they don’t have any plans to petition for custody. Ace and Kemp visited with Elizabeth, too.”
“Paid her a visit? Like ‘made her an offer she couldn’t refuse’ kind of visit?” Lucy asked with big eyes, and he could practically hear the gears spinning in her head.
“No. Nothing like that. Ace and Kemp have a talent for searching out secrets people don’t want anyone to know about. Or at least that’s what I heard. After their visit, they brought me a signed waiver relinquishing her rights to Patrick. They told me to let them know if she ever showed up.”
Lucy shuddered. “They’re big guys. I’m not sure I’d ever want them paying me that kind of visit.”
“I’m sure you’d never do anything to warrant it, Luce. And where innocent children are concerned, Ace and Kemp are very protective. I’m lucky that they reached out to me when everything went to hell. I was in shock.” He couldn’t imagine how the situation would’ve worked out if he hadn’t had their help.
“My dad was never really involved in my life when I was growing up. He was too busy working and expected Mom to take care of whatever we needed. I just want to be a good dad for Patrick and give him a healthy childhood. I want him to grow up to be a strong man, and not a pushover like I was with Elizabeth.”
Sitting sideways in his lap, she cupped his cheeks and tilted his head up so she was looking into his eyes. The scent of her warm flesh was intoxicating. “I’m sorry you had to find all of that out while half of Divine looked on. And I’m glad that precious boy is all yours. In my eyes, he’s a miniature version of you, trying to be a big boy for his daddy. I’m not sure where you get the notion that you’re a pushover because I don’t see that in you at all.”
“I didn’t act sooner. I should’ve known something was going on. I had my head stuck in the sand, doing my best to make things work with the family firm in Morehead.”
“You’d need to be a mind reader then. You didn’t enjoy working for your family?”
“No. Too much interference and nepotism.” Owen Architectural had been just a little cog in the Owen Enterprises machine. He’d been much happier when he moved out on his own and worked from home after Elizabeth was gone. It also made caring for Patrick easier. He wondered again what his family would think if they knew he was pursuing a ménage relationship, but didn’t plan to let them dictate how he lived his life.