My One and Only(89)
Cooper couldn’t believe his ears. The answer had been obvious after all. “And he’s sure there’s no one else?”
“He’s sure. And here’s the clincher. Back in the day, youth ministers from Ardent Springs Baptist Church used to go on extended retreats.” Pausing for effect, he added, “To Bowling Green, Kentucky. Guess who used to be a youth minister?”
“Holy shit. He is her father.”
“He’ll demand a DNA test to prove it, but I’d bet money he’s your sperm donor.”
Processing what he’d just heard, Cooper walked around his desk and took a seat. “You think our self-righteous mayor could bear the scandal of a paternity suit and proof of infidelity?”
Caleb dropped into the chair he’d been leaning on. “Hell no, but are you willing to bring him down like that?”
Was he? Political scandals happened on prime-time dramas or in big cities back east. Nothing like this ever happened in Ardent Springs.
“I agreed to help her find the answer, but it’s up to Jessi what to do with it.” Cooper leaned back in his chair. “If she wants to go public, I’ll support her, but I won’t tell her what to do one way or the other.”
“That’s a lot of power,” Caleb pointed out.
“Whatever happens, he brought it on himself. He took advantage of a young girl, got her pregnant, and then left her with nothing. If he burns for it, I won’t shed a tear.”
“You won’t hear me defending him.” Caleb got to his feet. “I have one request. If she does go public, give the paper first dibs on an interview.”
Cooper stood to show his friend out. “Like I said, it’s up to her how she wants to handle things, but I’ll make the case for the paper if it comes to that.”
“Needless to say, I didn’t tell Gerald exactly why I was asking. That means you and I are the only ones who know right now.”
Which reminded Cooper that he had a phone call to make. Checking the clock on his office wall, he realized Haleigh was in the scumbag’s office at that very moment, trying to negotiate a better price on the band camp property. After seeing Caleb off, he sent a text saying to call him as soon as she was free and that he had big news.
When this mystery had landed in his lap more than a month ago, Cooper never pictured it ending this way. Though he supposed this was just the beginning. He didn’t know Jessi well enough to guess what she’d do with the information, but if she did make it known that she was the illegitimate daughter of Mayor Jebediah Winkle, Ardent Springs was about to get a lot more interesting.
Thirty minutes into the meeting Haleigh realized she had no idea why she was there. Her mother hadn’t let her speak a single word, nor had she mentioned the file in Haleigh’s lap. They’d started the meeting with the typical niceties, asking about family and exchanging observations on the local happenings. Within minutes Haleigh had sussed out that Meredith hadn’t given the mayor a reason for their visit when setting the meeting. At least not a truthful one.
Unless Jebediah possessed award-winning acting skills, the subject of the available property took him by complete surprise.
He’d attempted a bob and weave, explaining that he couldn’t discuss personal business matters in the civil office. Meredith ignored the excuse and barreled on. The discussion moved to a debate on area property values and the square footage of the camp, which Winkle exaggerated and Meredith corrected. The woman had a memory like a steel trap. Haleigh had only given her the information the day before, so she must have studied the paperwork thoroughly.
When it appeared that Meredith would pull out the victory, Haleigh zoned out as she stared at the degrees hung in neat frames behind Jebediah’s head. Degrees that revealed his full name—Jebediah Thomas Winkle.
Lorelei had said that Becky Winkle and Jessi could be long-lost cousins. Or maybe . . . sisters.
“Mayor Winkle?” Haleigh cut in, earning a reproachful look from her mother. “Have you ever been to Bowling Green, Kentucky?”
The other two participants in the meeting looked confused, but the mayor answered, “I have, but it’s been a long time. Why?”
Haleigh scrambled for a plausible response. “There’s a shelter up there I’m considering going to see. For research purposes. I wasn’t sure how similar that area is to ours to make it worth going.” She quickly added, “How long is a long time?”
With a strained smile, he replied, “Nearly twenty years, I guess. I’m afraid I don’t know how much the area has grown in the last couple decades.”
Haleigh fidgeted in her seat, anxious to end the meeting so she could call Cooper. Thankfully, Winkle agreed to set up another meeting that would include his business partners and be conducted away from city facilities. He’d also agreed that they should be able to find a common ground on the asking price. Too excited about the paternity revelation, Haleigh put off celebrating her mother’s triumph until after her call to Cooper.