Chapter 18: Trenton's Card

Alana was out of the truck before Henrik had cut the engine.

"Stay behind me," she said.

"No."

"Henrik."

"Beside you." He shut his door. "I'll stand beside you and keep my mouth shut. That's what I've got."

She looked at him across the hood.

It was a cold blue noon, with the tide out and the gulls working the pilings.

"Beside me, then," she said.

The harbor was busy.

Three boats were unloading at the fish dock, and a crowd of deckhands stood in rubber boots with their hoses and crates.

Trenton stood at the end of the pier in his navy suit.

Beside him was a thin man in a grey coat who held a leather folder against his chest.

Trenton saw her coming, and his face did a complicated thing.

It was triumph and it was grief, and she wished she could feel sorry about the first.

"Alana."

"Trenton."

"You didn't answer my calls."

"I didn't have anything to say."

"You do now." He gestured to the man beside him. "This is my attorney."

"I can see that."

The lawyer cleared his throat.

"Ms. Koskinen. I have a letter here on behalf of my client."

"Give it to me."

He held it out.

She read the first page standing on the planks, with the wind pulling at the paper and the whole dock watching without seeming to.

It said that her mother had advised Mr. Brindley of her pregnancy.

It said that she had represented the child as his.

It said he intended to assert his rights and would seek a court order for testing.

"Mom told you," Alana said.

"She called me last night. She was crying." Trenton's voice was tight. "She said you'd lied about it, and she wouldn't tell me why."

"I'm not a fool. I did the dates."

"Then you did them wrong."

"The ring was in August. You were with me in July."

"I was with you in June, Trenton, the last time. I told you that. You didn't listen, you never did."

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