problem.â
Father leaned forward, his brows coming together in a serious expression. Lydiaâs ear perked up, as well, ready to hear Micahâs idea.
Micah turned a pensive look in Lydiaâs direction. âYou said Nickyâs fatherâthis Nicolai Pankinâwants Nicky because he wants the money he can gain. The man isnât interested in parenting Nicky, so his custody will be short-lived, no matter what. Heâll be handing Nicky off to someone. So why not arrange to have him handed off to you?â
Father frowned. âIâm not sure I follow.â
Micah worked his thumbs back and forth, his forehead wrinkling. âWhat if you two, with the midwife, visited an attorney. The midwife can verify Nicky has been in your care since his birth at his motherâs request. The attorney could draw up adoption papers for Nicky.â Micah grimaced, flicking an apologetic glance at Lydia before facing her father. âItâs likely they would prefer for you and your wife to be recorded as the adoptive parentsââ
Lydiaâs heart jumped. âBut Iâm Nickyâs mother!â
Micah touched her arm in understanding. âI know, but youâre also unmarried. If you want the court to work in your favor, you will probably need to bend on this issue. It would only beon paperâit wouldnât change your relationship with Nicky. He could continue calling you the familiar names.â
Lydia opened her mouth to argue, but Fatherâs stern expression silenced her protests. When she dropped her chin, Father nodded at Micah.
âContinue with what you were saying, Dr. Hatcher.â
âYour next step would be to locate Pankin and find out what his other connection has offered in the way of purchasingââhe made a sour face as he spoke the reprehensible wordââNicky. Let him convince you to pay him instead, but insist he sign papers relinquishing Nicky to your custody before you actually give him the payment.â
Lydia stared at Micah in shock. âYou want us to buy him?â
âTruthfully, Lydia, in the eyes of the law, what youâve done up to this point is kidnap him.â The words were harsh, but Micahâs gentle tone softened the reprimand.
âBut to give that man money . . .â
Micah held up his hand. âLet me finish, please? Your attorney will be notified of your intentions and the reason youâre doing it. Once Pankin has taken the money from you, you can go to the authorities and alert them to what has transpired. They can pursue the legalities of the whole situation. If you have forewarned a legal authority of your intentions, as well as Nicâs reason for wanting his son, Iâm certain they will work in your favor. Plus you will have a legally binding document saying that Nicky is yours. You wonât have to fear Pankin anymore.â
Lydia silently digested Micahâs words. Father stood, poured himself another cup of Postum, then returned to his seat and bracketed the cup between his palms without drinking. Releasing a heavy sigh, he said, âDonât think I havenât considered offering that lunatic money. Whatâs kept me from doing it is the fear that heâll just come back for more, like a leech, until heâs drained me dry.â
Micah nodded. âIf you do it on your own, itâs very likely Pankin will see you as an unlimited source of income to feed his habit. Thatâs why you canât do it on your own. Youâve got to involve the proper authorities.â
âDo you really think Nic would be arrested and Nicky would be free of him?â Lydia hardly dared to hope that Micah could be right.
Micah shrugged. âObviously, I canât guarantee anything. I donât know the laws of the state of Massachusetts. But it only seems logical that if you go to an attorney, armed first of all with the midwifeâs verification that Eleanor
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