My 18-year-old daughter d*ed giving birth, and I raised her son alone because no one knew who the father was — 10 years later, a strange woman at her grave said, "I made your daughter a promise.

"The one she left me."

He was quiet for a moment.

When he spoke again, the pleasantness was completely gone.

"I have legal rights here, Mrs.

Calloway.

A DNA test will establish paternity.

Once that's done, the court will decide what access looks like, not you."

"You're welcome to file," I said.

"My attorney is looking forward to it."

"You're making this harder than it needs to be."

"You showed up at my home after being told not to contact me directly.

You had someone watching my house for months.

And you're here because your father d*ed and left conditions on his estate." I looked at him steadily.

"I know exactly what this is."

Something moved across his face.