With their arguments on their lips, both men turned to face her. Joan rushed off Jeb's knee and clutched Laura's hand firmly, her innocent eyes shifting between the two men vying for her mother's attention.
Laura is upset with what's happening, exclaiming, "I refuse to let this go on. Joan will not be subjected to DNA testing—at least not now." She puts both her palms on Joan's ear so she cannot hear what she has just said.
Jake started to object, but Laura gave him an icy look. "Jake, give me some time. Right now, I can't bear the load for both of you. I'm still fighting to make sense of all that has transpired. We were abducted and just now freed, and you are bringing this up for what?"
"You don't need time, Laura," Jake said, softening his tone as he edged closer to her. Finding the truth is all that is required. Everybody does, especially him.
