It was amazing how alike they were. Angel slept with the same sweet innocence her daughter did. I ached to stay, to wake up with them, like a real family…

“But first things first,” I said out loud, climbing into the truck on Bainbridge. I could take the ferry into the city and make the appointment in plenty of time. I revved the engine and hit the gas. And the first thing was talking to Harry Chapin. We’d gone to college together, graduated together. Then I’d gone off to start my company and he’d gone on to medical school. We’d kept up over the years, and he and his family had only recently moved into the Seattle area to start a new practice. Never once in the last ten years had I imagined needing his services. But I needed them now.

When I reached the dock, I pulled the truck into the belly of the ferry and left it there. The day was incredibly clear after the night’s storm. I climbed up to the deck and leaned against the rail, the feeling of crisp air on my face. A light mist sprayed up from the inky water as it slid beneath the bow and the view of the city was sharp and clear.

Any other day, these would have been the only things on my mind. Ferry rides had always been that stolen time in the day to relax and enjoy living in the moment. But for the last few weeks, as my feelings for Angelina had only deepened, I’d been finding myself more and more distracted.

Now it was the future that occupied my thoughts. A future with the woman I loved… and the question of just what that future would look like…

The Jag was waiting at the dock, and started instantly with a gentle purr. Even with traffic, it didn’t take long to find Harry’s office. Rather than making me sit in the waiting room with husbands and their wives, the nurse took me straight into the back. There was no need for an exam… I’d had my most recent test results, those done almost a year ago, sent directly to him. Mostly, what I had were questions…

and fears.

“God damn, Will,” he said, sweeping into the room and holding out one big hand. “It’s been a long time.” He shot an arm around me, clapping me on the back, and pumped my hand hard. “You look great. Success seems to be working for you.”

“No complaints,” I shot back with a smile. “How’re Louise and the kids?”

“Jill’s already started third grade and is growing like a sunflower,” he said with a proud smile, gesturing for me to sit down. He took the chair beside me instead of the one behind the desk and took his stethoscope off. “Dylan’s only in preschool and now we’re expecting again,” he said, raising his shaggy brows, his smile growing lopsided, “...Pills got lost in the move…”

“It’s got a tendency to happen,” I said, smiling back. “And you already know why I’m here…”

“Well…,” he said, turning the computer screen so we both could see. “I took a look last night… and I’m not seeing that anything has changed.

I’m sorry, Will. I know you were hoping for better news, but the chance for any improvement was a long shot at best. You’ve always known that.”

I nodded and let my breath go, leaning back into my chair. “I knew,” I said. “And it wasn’t really much of an issue until now. But I needed to know for sure.”

“Because you’ve met someone?” he asked gently.

“Re-met, actually,” I said wryly. “We were together years ago. And that’s the real reason I’m here.” I leaned forward. “I hoped you’d tell me things had improved, that there was a chance I could father a child now… but I didn’t really expect it. But I have to know if there’s any reason to believe I couldn’t have fathered a child before the accident…”

He exhaled audibly and furrowed his brow. “Before…?

It was a long time ago, Will. Tests like that aren’t typically run on a young, healthy man. There’s no way to know for sure, especially all these years later.” He tapped a finger against his temple idly. “But in the absence of any other issues, I don’t suppose there’d be any reason to assume that you hadn’t been fertile.” He spread his hands in question. “There’s just no way to know, now.”

“But a test can be run on a child…,” I said, locking eyes with him.

“You believe this child was conceived before the car accident? And you didn’t have a test run at the time?”

“It never even occurred to me at the time,” I said with a hard exhale. “It should have, but it didn’t. Not until I saw Violet… not until I opened my eyes and wanted to see…”

“And will the mother consent to a paternity test?” he asked. “It can be done without, of course. People do, every day. But legally, the child’s guardian has to give her consent.”

I nodded, jaw muscles working, knowing he told me the truth. “I haven’t asked Angelina yet,” I admitted. “I wanted to talk with you first. To see if there was even a chance first…”

“That you could be Violet’s father? And that maybe you might be able to give Angelina another child someday?”

I sighed. There was something about hearing the words spoken out loud. They’d been screaming in my head for so long, but they hadn’t seemed real until he said them. “Angelina’s had to raise Violet all on her own since the day she was born. She’s strong and protective… and feels the responsibility so deeply. It might have been different, if I’d been there from the beginning. Then Angel would know what it’s like to share parenthood.

Part of me is afraid, that if I ask her about a paternity test, she’ll feel like I’m trying to take away her heart. I don’t know if there’s room for me in their lives now, but what if Violet is my only chance at fatherhood? I’m afraid, all these years later, it might be too late… And hell, I don’t even know if Angelina might want another child… but what if she does?”

Harry sat back, tenting his fingers and pursing his lips. He looked at me and I looked at him. And then he smiled at me.

“Only one way to know,” he said, sagely.

I smiled back, full of uncertainty. “Wiseass.”

“Holy shit…,” I breathed through my teeth. Every time I saw her again, she was even more beautiful. And tonight, she looked like she came ready to play…

“So…?” she asked, spinning slowly to let me take in the whole view. She smiled at me, looking more relaxed and comfortable than I’d seen her in weeks. It was a good way to begin...

“So I’m not sure dinner is the first thing on the menu,” I replied, darkly. I reached out and pulled her in for a kiss that left no doubt. “Unless you’d like to be my appetizer…”

She reached her arms up behind my back and pulled me closer. Her luscious breasts flattened against me and spilled over the top of her little black dress. Tall pink heels made her taller, but it was the pink ribbon in her hair that made my fingers itch. She tipped her head back and looked at me, her eyes bright, but her pupils dark and wide with arousal.

“I thought tonight was for talking,” she said, lightly. “That’s what you said in your note…”

“Sustenance first,” I said, taking her hand and leading her into the kitchen. I’d thrown a roast in the oven along with potatoes and some root vegetables. A handful of fresh aromatic herbs in the mix, and the whole kitchen was warm and inviting. I had the wine decanted and waiting. I poured, took a sip and put the glass to her waiting lips. I watched the tiny muscles in her throat convulse as she swallowed and felt a hot rush in my groin.

“Delicious…” She took another long, slow sip and licked her lips. “Are we drinking to anything special…?”

“To you,” I said, tasting her neck. “I hope… to a future together. And to clearing the air between us. There’s a lot we need to talk about…

You and me… and Violet…,” I said, softly. “The three of us… as a family…”

She reached up and tangled her fingers in my hair, the gesture intimate and familiar. “You know I’ve been struggling with some things… I’ve been unsure if our lives could really fit together. I wasn’t sure I could… I was afraid that… well, it really doesn’t matter now,” she said, firmly. “You’re so good with Violet and you’re the only man I ever wanted. I’d be crazy to turn my back… crazy not to throw myself in head first and trust that we were meant to be.” She looked up at me and I slipped the silky ribbon from her hair. It fell like a soft gold curtain around her shoulders. “It all seemed too complicated before… but now it isn’t anymore.” She looked up at me with trust and longing in her eyes.

“Just as long as you’re sure… sure that you could truly raise another man’s child as if she was your own…”