Let’s see, Allegra made a mental recap while she was slowly driving, looking at each house with great attention. Robert, or Bob, as he was known in the community he lived in, and Jenna Dixon, married for almost sixteen years, had two children—a boy and a girl, fourteen and six, respectively—and a third on the way. She’s a housewife, and he owns a small meat-packing factory.
The business was once highly profitable, but the last two owners relied on outdated methods in production, management, and advertising, which made it difficult to keep it running. Despite that, the Dixons were well respected in the community. Members of the Evangelical Church, the couple and their children attended religious services every Sunday and did not miss any picnics, charity events, or other activities organized in their parish.
Jenna’s sister Deanna’s death was a fortunate event for the couple; they moved into her much larger house and sold their own for a surprisingly good price. According to the social worker’s report, they took over all the rooms, pushing Jenna’s late sister’s only son, the legal owner of the house, into the attic.
According to the same report, when Galen was handed over to Social Services, he had nothing but the clothes on his back. The couple cited their tight financial situation and foundunderstanding with the caseworker, who was later removed from the case for mishandling it.
Cold-hearted, bigots, and greedy—just how I like them, Allegra said to herself with a huff as she parked the car at the far end of the Dixons’ driveway. She left the vehicle, crossed the short distance to the house, and rang the doorbell. The door was ajar, and a woman in her late thirties peered at the stranger through the crack.
“Hello, my name’s Alina Samuels,” Allegra began, a charming smile on her face. “I’m from Stars in the Spotlight in New York City, and I’d like to have a talk with you and Mister Dixon, if you don’t mind.”
“I’m a Christian woman. I have nothing to discuss with someone like you,” Jenna replied, her hostility evident. “Journalists are tools of Satan; they distort good people’s minds and make them believe all kinds of lies.”
“I see,” Allegra nodded. “Your family was selected for our paid interview program, but if you’re not interested…” She shrugged. “I’m heading to the neighboring town then; I’m sure I’ll find someone who could use the thousand dollars that come with the interview.”
“Who’s there?” The rough, sandpaper-like voice of a man made the woman on the other side of the door flinch. “If there’s one of those bloody salespeople, we don’t buy their shit.”
“No,” Jenna answered hesitantly. “It’s a lady from a magazine; they want to pay us a thousand dollars for an interview.”
“One grand for chatting with her?” the man exclaimed, disbelief and excitement in his voice. “What are you waiting for? Let her in.”
Although the man couldn’t see her, Jenna nodded and opened the door for the unexpected guest. “This way,” she gestured, then led the other woman into a spacious, well-lit living room, though somewhat tastelessly furnished. “My husband, Robert Dixon,” she said, pointing to the man on the couch. “Darling, this is Miss…”
Allegra offered him a professional smile and said, “Alina Samuels, nice to meet you, Mr. Dixon.” Then she pulled a wad of cash from her purse and set it on the coffee table in front of the couch. “Let’s get straight to business.”
“I like your style,” Bob grinned, pointing to the other end of the couch. “Please, sit down and ask my wife and me anything you want.”
“Actually, I’m here about your nephew, Galen,” Allegra suddenly said. “I urge you to reconsider sending him to live with his father and to take him back. Additionally, I want you to apply for full, permanent custody.”
“Sorry, lady, but this can’t be," Bob said vehemently, shaking his head. “That boy is bad news; he's starting to influence my son, Leonard, negatively.”
“Yes, my husband is right,” Jenna nodded. “You see, being close to... my deceased sister’s son planted sinful thoughts in my poor child’s mind, and we decided that’s best for everyone.” She looked down at her swollen belly. “We have a baby on the way, and we can’t raise it properly with that one around.”
“As a mother of two boys myself, I empathize with you,” Allegra offered the other woman a small smile. “On the other hand...” She took a deliberate pause. “I don’t know if you were informed, but Social Services located Galen’s father and placed him with that man, who... well... is one of those people.”
“What people?” Bob sensed the so-called reporter was there on a personal mission and saw a chance to get more from her than the roll of banknotes on the coffee table. “If the kid is in danger, we’ll see what we can do. No promises, though.”
“Your poor nephew is in greater danger than you can imagine,” Allegra said with feigned concern. “Can you believehe’s married to a man and has three other infant children, conceived through unnatural means?”
The other woman’s words shocked Jenna, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Dear God, no, what have we done?” She looked at her husband. “Darling, we can’t leave things like that. There has to be something we can do.”
“Of course we can’t,” Bob nodded. “But these legal matters are costly, and with the baby coming in just a few months, I don’t see how we can…”
“I’m fully aware of the costs of properly raising and educating a child you have no obligation to, which is why the magazine I work for decided to offer you a fifty-thousand-dollar donation.” Allegra pulled the checkbook from her purse, wrote the check, and signed it with her real name. “Here you go.”
“We’ll file for custody first thing in the morning and bring the boy home where he belongs.” Bob reached out his hand toward Allegra. “Nice doing business with you.”
CHAPTER 10
With a soft sigh, Galen closed the book he was reading, set it on the nightstand, and turned off the bedside lamp. It was half past ten, thirty minutes past his bedtime. Although the boy knew Ottavio wouldn’t scold him for staying past the curfew they had agreed on, he didn’t want to take advantage of the man’s leniency.
A few weeks had passed since that social worker shoved him into that imposing, beautiful house, as if he were a stray cat, and Galen started to get used to living there and even liked it. Sometimes he compared the life he had with his aunt’s family, when he felt unwanted in his own house, with what he had in his father’s house.
Everyone, from Ottavio to the inseparable trio—called Ives, Ivy, and Poisoned Ivy, with a special mention for Basile—showered him with affection and always paid attention to his needs and wishes. The three adorable babies, his siblings, began to recognize him, and the family of half-breed Main Coons greeted him every morning with loud purrs, rubbing their heads against his legs.
Back when he was living with his aunt and her family, Galen ate only leftovers. Now, at Ottavio’s house, his plate was always filled with freshly cooked food that smelled and tasted delicious. If he asked for seconds, there was no problem; in fact, his request was met with a smile and the remark that he needed to eat more because he was growing.
When his aunt moved Galen into the attic and gave his room to Lonny, she took all his brightly illustrated children’s books from the shelves and threw them away, replacing them with a Bible. She said in a cold voice that this was the only book a child should read and study in a Christian home, and tears filled his eyes as he begged her to let him keep them.
