“Congratulations on your marriage,” he said without getting up. A small smile ghosted on his lips. “Realized I wasn’t cheery enough yesterday. Justin Sterling is quite a catch.”
“He is, but the ‘catch’ factor isn’t why I married him.”
“Right, right. I heard you’re pregnant. He had to do the right thing. Barron would’ve disowned him otherwise.”
Ignoring the jab, Vanessa sat on a couch perpendicular to his chair. “Dad, is there something you want to announce to the family?”
He frowned. “Like what?”
She sighed. “Have you been getting calls from a woman named Peggy?”
“Not that I know of, but Kim handles those things.”
Breathing deeply, Vanessa gave herself time to prep what she was about to say. “I saw your daughter today.”
He squinted, some of his usual sharpness coming back. “What?”
“Yep. Came up to me in yoga class, introduced herself as my half-sister. She said her mother’s sick with cancer. She wanted to know if I could help out.”
“She’s lying. If she approaches you again, call the police.”
Vanessa gasped. “How can you say that? Her mother’s your former lover.”
“If I ever slept with her, which I doubt. Where is she from and what’s her mother’s name?”
“Her name’s Peggy Teeter, and I don’t know her mother’s name. But she’s from Provo, Utah.” This was probably futile. According to gossip, Salazar had lovers in every city in the country.
“I don’t recall ever sleeping with anyone named Teeter, and I never took a lover in Provo. Just because I have a reputation doesn’t mean I’m not discriminating.” He gave an offhand flick of his fingers. “Uptight religious girls aren’t really my thing.”
“So it’s just that simple to you?” Outrage suddenly seared through her. “I’ve never seen you act this cold toward women before. Are you worried about being responsible for the cancer treatment or is it something else?” She shook her head before he could answer. “No, wait. You want to deny everything, so you’ll look better in the court of public opinion and Mom won’t have as strong a case. Is that it?”
Suddenly Salazar blinked. “Wait, did you say Provo? And this woman claims she’s your sister?”
“Yes.”
“Not my daughter? Just your sister?”
Now that she thought about it, Peggy actually hadn’t said anything about Salazar. “Yes, but—”
He laughed. The sound was nasty but some animation came back to his face. “Oh, this is good.”
The sudden change in demeanor was startling. “What?” she said warily. “What’s good?”
Salazar shook his head mirthfully, wiping his eyes. “Well, honey, the fact is, you’re not related to this Peggy through me. You’re related through your mother.”
“Through…mom?”
“Oh yes. Peggy’s father was one of your mother’s boy toys.”
Vanessa’s jaw loosened, and her thoughts scattered. “Mom had a baby with another man?” But how could Ceinlys have hidden it? Peggy looked to be about Vanessa’s age.
A look of half regret and half pain passed through Salazar’s face. “Your mother had an affair, found herself pregnant and seduced me so she could pass the child off as mine. Except I knew it wasn’t.”
“How,” she whispered. “How could you be so sure?”
Salazar looked at her levelly. “Because I had a vasectomy right after Shane was born.”
Right after… Vanessa felt like somebody had punched her in the stomach, forgetting all about Peggy. An icy fist gripped her heart. “You’re lying.”