Chapter Nine

When she had finally finished telling Eli everything that had transpired, she felt relieved. It was no longer a burden that she had to carry all alone. Eli was going to help her. He was a popular author; he had to know some lawyers that would be more than happy to help defend her in court.

If only Eli looked as relieved as she.

Rather, he seemed tense, pensive. As if waiting for more bad news to spill from her lips. She pressed them into a thin line to let him know that she had nothing more to add. That was everything. Every last brutal detail.

At length he leaned forward, covering his face with his hands. She was worried that he was about to sob, but he didn't. She sat there, hands clasped in her lap, waiting for Eli to speak. She was doing her best to be patient with him. She needn't press him, but the silence was killing her. Was he trying to contain his anger at her? Was he angry with her? What was he feeling right now? She needed to know what he was thinking. How he was feeling. It was killing her.

"Eli?" She asked cautiously. "Are you okay?"

To her surprise, he nodded. "I'm just trying to process it all." He said, his voice soft and gentle. "I never thought they'd bring you to court. That's.. That's harsh."

Clare nodded, new tears threatening to spill. "I see now where Jake got his aggression from." She said and her voice almost broke. She stayed quiet for a moment, and she dared to ask. "Eli, I know I've brought all this into your life. All this chaos. My mom told me that I needed to get a lawyer. I don't know a single one. D-Do you?" When he didn't respond right away she figured this would persuade him. "If you do know one that would be willing to defend me, I'll leave your life once it's over. I'll raise this child on my own. You won't have to worry about anymore trouble."

There was more silence, but Eli finally began to laugh. "That's not what I want at all, Clare." He said and her heart lifted, hearing her name from his lips again. Her hopes were instantly raised. "I want to be the father." He continued slowly. "I want this to work." She was confused as what he meant about that, but before she could ask about it, his head snapped up. "A friend of mine, another author, had this major court case a few months back. He called a law office and got a lawyer by the name of Declan. My friend won his case pretty easily, and he spoke very highly of Declan. Top-notch lawyer, graduate of Yale. Or Harvard, I can't exactly remember."

As Eli continued talking about this lawyer, Clare's mind drifted into the past. Declan? She repeated to herself. The name sounded so familiar.

And then it hit her.

"Did you just kiss me neck?"

"Declan? Declan Coyne?" Clare blurted out. "Fiona's brother?"

Eli blinked slowly, dumbfounded. Clare instantly felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Eli had never known Declan. He arrived at Degrassi a year later well after Declan had gone off to another school. Clare was surprised that Fiona never told Eli about Declan. They were twins, after all.

A lot of time has passed since then, too. Clare reminded herself. She blinked a few times, taking a deep breath. "Is that who it is?" She asked after a moment.

"I think so." Eli said, still in shock. "I knew the name sounded familiar. I was just too preoccupied." He shook his head. "So you knew both Declan and Fiona?" Eli asked, eyebrow raised curiously.

Clare nodded, recalling memories that seemed like a lifetime ago. "Declan directed the play prior to Fiona. I guess since they were siblings, the passion for drama ran in the family." Clare bit her bottom lip, wondering if she should tell the man about her crush on him. Knowing that keeping it from him wouldn't help, she sighed. "I had a crush on him. As a girl, it was hard not to. He was extremely good looking." She looked over at Eli. "Just as you are."

Eli smiled, albeit faintly. "But that doesn't explain how you knew him."

"I was in charge of the props for the play." She said, looking away and smiling. "He even asked me to read a few lines with him."

Noticing that Clare was losing herself in memory lane, Eli placed a hand on her shoulder to bring her back from her reverie. "Well, that's nice and all, but do you think he would help you if you asked?"

She shrugged helplessly. "I haven't see him since he left Degrassi. I doubt he even remembers who I am."

That caused Eli to frown. She can't be down on herself now. There was some hope that Declan would be able to represent her in court. "There's only one way to find out." Eli said, standing up and pulling out his phone. "I'm going to call my friend, see if he has the number to the law firm. If he does, would you like me to see if I can arrange a consultation with Declan?"

Clare looked up, nodding mutely.

Eli leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in an all too brief kiss, before turning on his heel and entering the other room. She vaguely heard Eli speaking, but her mind was wandering freely. Declan Coyne? A lawyer? Her only glimmer of hope in an impending legal battle? She closed her eyes and prayed silently that Declan would come to her aid. She loved Eli and appreciated his support through this, but what she needed was a lawyer. Just as her mother said.

A couple of minutes later, Eli returned from the other room. His face was completely blank of emotion and her heart sunk. Declan didn't remember her. Worse, he'd turn them down because he was too busy.

"Declan has agreed to see us." Eli said, breaking out into a smile. "We have a consultation tomorrow at ten."

Clare closed her eyes and wept happily.

Thank God. Thank you, God.