Sophomore Year || Parenthood Series, Book One || WATTYS 2018

Chapter Two

SOUNDTRACK: 'Run Like Hell' by Pink Floyd

Jared sat in his lawyer's office with Shayla and Robin. He ran his sweaty hands over his jeans to dry them as he looked around. The door opened and a younger man walking in, holding the file folder that Jared had given him earlier. He dropped it on the desk before sitting down behind it.

"Well?" Jared asked anxiously. "Is it legit?"

"It was delivered by a sheriff. It's most definitely legitimate," the lawyer said.

"Okay, so what do we do? How do we respond?" Jared asked, leaning forward in his chair.

The lawyer gave him a patient smile. "We have no choice but to comply. It's a state-supported case. We can't just ignore it or get around it. The California Courts are pretty strict about paternity and custody cases."

"So I have to give a DNA sample on Friday?" Jared asked. "Even if I have no idea what is going on?"

"Unfortunately, yes," the lawyer replied.

"It's better than making a big scene," Robin cut in. "If it's nothing, you will have cooperated fully and given no reason for anyone to take this to the press."

Jared sighed. "Well did you at least find anything out about this? Help me out here, Sam."

Sam Jeffries was one of the top family law lawyers in Los Angeles, but even then Jared felt unsure of his abilities. In the past two days, all Jared had been able to think about was the fact that he could be a father – though he didn't remember anyone telling him that it could be a possibility.

"I did contact the counsel for the other side," Sam started. "All that she would tell me was that the child is fifteen years old. So I guess the question is what were you doing fifteen years ago?" he asked.

Jared struggled to recall what was going on in his life fifteen or sixteen years prior. The band had just gotten some traction and he was trying to balance his music career with his acting career at the same time. Nothing stood out to him in particular.

"I don't know. Sam can YOU remember what you were doing fifteen years ago?" Jared asked the lawyer in frustration.

In truth, Jared had been with so many women over the years that they all sort of blended together into one being. He probably wouldn't have been able to pick the woman out of a lineup if she was holding a neon sign anyways. Fifteen years ago, he was living a much more raucous lifestyle and he hadn't exactly sworn off all drugs or alcohol yet. It was very possible that he could have fathered a child and never known about it.

"Do I get a name at least?" he asked desperately, hoping that it might job his memory. "I didn't see a name on the paperwork."

Sam sighed. "Officially, no. I wasn't told the mother's name. But unofficially, the other counsel told me her name is Rachel Wexler. Ring any bells?" he asked hopefully.

Jared thought and then growled in frustration after coming up with nothing. "So what? I give my DNA and then we wait? Is she going to come after me for child support or something?"

Sam blinked and leaned over his desk. "Rachel Wexler is dead, Jared. She's not coming after you for anything," he answered simply.

"So what the hell is going on?" Jared fumed.

"It is my understanding that Rachel's husband is looking to legally adopt the child after her mother's death. However he cannot proceed with the adoption process because Ms. Wexler listed you on the birth certificate as the father," Sam explained.

"But that can't be legal," Jared scoffed. "I know I ever signed a birth certificate. I would have remembered that."

"It doesn't matter," Sam said. "You are listed on it."