Leaning quietly in the doorway of the family room, watching Shay play patty cake with Ariel while LJ worked diligently at building a castle with his blocks, Frank went over some of the happenings earlier that day.
Daphne had begun by demanding they use a particular doctor for the DNA testing, but changed her mind quickly when Frank had insisted that they have the test done by different sources and demanded information pertaining to the doctor she wished to use. Knowing the ramifications would be far greater than winning or losing a paternity suit, she backed off. Investigations into the doctor of her choice might very well lead them back to the one man whom she did not want to make an enemy of.
So, both he and "Frank Jr." submitted to the DNA testing at the hands of Adrian Corbick. During their time in the waiting area and the exam rooms, Frank took time to observe the boy. He definitely carried Daphne's looks; he was a beautiful boy. Frank noticed the boy spent his time reading a book that was far beyond the level of a ten year old. He was quiet and unobtrusive; he was quite the opposite of his mother. He carried none of her mannerisms, none at all.
Shay looked up from their game of patty cake to find Frank watching the children carefully. "Tiger? You okay?"
He smiled softly and moved into the room to join her on the couch. Both children were already dressed in their pajamas and it was nearing their bedtime. "I'm fine, Ash. I was just thinking...how Ariel's features favor me, but I see you in her every movement. The way her brow creases when she's working out a problem, the way she talks with her hands when she's upset, the way her lips curl just the slightest when she knows she's up to something she shouldn't be, and even the way she pushes her hair out of her eyes."
Shay smiled crookedly as she lifted Ariel off her lap and onto the floor where she toddled happily over to her brother and proceeded to knock over his creation. Both Frank and Shay tried to hide their amusement as LJ tried hard to keep his anger under control and explain to his sister that she had her own toys and to leave his alone.
"Yes, Airy is a combination of the both of us, Tiger. Is that a bad thing?"
Frank chuckled and pulled her into his embrace. "Not at all...just an observation. You can easily see LJ's Hispanic heritage and yet, there you are...his eyes, his mouth, and his sweet and loving nature...all a reflection of you."
"What are you getting at, Frank?"
"Yes...Frank...junior."
'Oh." She released a heavy sigh and rested her head on his chest.
"I'm not trying to upset you," he responded and stroked her belly tenderly.
"I know." She lifted up to kiss his lips softly. "I watched you together today...like a jealous wife and mother. I dissected his every movement and look and could see nothing of you in that boy. Why is she doing this, Frank? Why would she put that boy through this kind of torment?" Frank remained silent as she continued, "Can you imagine the thoughts going through his head? Meeting a man who is supposed to be his father under the circumstances he has met you. Will he accept me, will he acknowledge me, and will he ever love me? Pure torture to a young mind."
Frank nodded and then rested his cheek on top of her head. "Baby...there is a possibility, however slight, that he is my son. I..."
Shay sat up and turned to face him. She laid a gentle hand to his chest, her eyes flashed angrily as they locked on to his. "I wasn't there, Frank...I didn't know you then and I sure as hell didn't know her. Tell me what you remember about that night."
Frank was taken slightly aback by the look in her eyes until he realized it wasn't directed at him. "I remember the collar, I remember going out to dinner at an expensive restaurant to celebrate..."
"Did you drink a lot? Were you into drugs?"
Frank frowned. "Define 'a lot'. No, I didn't and no...no drugs."
"None that you were aware of, maybe," she commented and patted his chest lightly. "Agent Donovan...perhaps that she-devil wanted to get you in the sack so badly that she slipped you something and tried to seduce you. Hell...maybe she actually succeeded," she ended disconsolately.
Frank groaned and hugged her to him fiercely. "What if..."
"You should get to know him, Frank. Really...take some time to do that. Either way, you both should have the chance to know each other."
"Shay...what are you saying?"
"I'm saying...go to that woman and make an offer to get to know the boy. She won't refuse that, she may even take that as a sign that she's making some headway in her demented attempt to get you back," she reasoned.
"What about you and the kids?" He just could not see bringing the boy and his mother around Shay and the kids. Shay especially.
"We've been without you for short periods of time before, Frank Donovan. The more time you spend with them, the more chance you have of making her slip up. At least, that's what we can hope for."
He gave it some thought before answering. "If this gets too much for you...if we need to find a quick solution..."
"I've already thought of one," she replied cryptically before kissing his forehead and struggling to her feet. "Bedtime for babies..."
"Aw...Mommy!"
*****