I put in endless calls to Tyler over the weekend. It had been three days since we had spoken, and I hadn’t heard a peep. I had tried getting him out to lunch, to dinner, to drinks, but my calls were going unreturned. He had a right to be upset. He had a right to be angry. But he knew he had a son now, and he was still dodging my calls?

This was exactly what I had been afraid of.

“So, what do you think I should do?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. Part of me thinks you should give him some time to come around. But part of me feels that you didn’t have time to come around to any of it. You were pregnant, and that was that. You didn’t have a choice in whether or not to be a mother,” Kristi said.

“Brody knows something’s wrong. I’m trying to keep it under wraps as best as I can, but every time I look at him, I know I’m blatantly lying to him by not telling him who Tyler is.”

“Do you want Brody to know?”

“I made a promise that I would never lie to him. Our relationship is built on trust, and I want to keep it that way. But if he stays under the impression that Tyler was simply a friend, that’s a lie. It simply is.”

“You could argue technicalities.”

“If I have to argue technicalities as a mother, it’s still wrong,” I said.

“I can only tell you what I would do, Ana. And even then, it’s coming from a place of pure emotion. I don’t have children, though I practically consider Brody my son.”

“I’ll take any advice I can get at this point.”

“Have you talked with your parents?”

“Do you think I should?”

“Honestly? No. I think your father might hunt him down and kill him. For me, there’s no reason for him to be screening your calls. Nor was there any reason for him to raise his voice at you like he did. It was enough for him to get kicked out of that restaurant, and that doesn’t sit well with me.”

“It was like that night all over again, and I knew it would happen. In the back of my mind, I knew he would get that upset.”

“I mean, he has a right to be upset, and you acknowledge that. But he’s also an adult. He didn’t have to yell at you. He could’ve kept his cool if he had wanted to.”

“You think I should try calling him again?” I asked.

“I think you should. And I think that if tonight rolls around and he hasn’t contacted you at all, then you need to do what you feel is best as a mother.”

“Why isn’t there a manual on this sort of thing?” I asked.

“Because life isn’t that kind to us,” she said.

“I really thought this would turn out differently. I really thought Tyler would step up and at least be here for Brody. It was the only reason I told him.”

“The only reason?”

“Well, one of the only reasons.”

“Look, you haven't heard from him in three days, and not for a lack of trying. Shy of going to his office—which isn’t smart because you didn’t like him coming into the store—you’ve tried everything. If you feel it’s time to tell Brody who Tyler is, then it’s time. You’re his mother, and you ultimately know best.”

“I can’t believe Brody’s going to find out without Tyler. I really wanted Tyler to be there for this.”

“It’s his loss. It’s what he gets for pulling away. Even if it’s only temporary, it’s still not right. You didn’t get to pull away from this. You didn’t get to set your pregnant belly off to the side and take a three-day breather. Tyler’s smarter than this. He’s making a choice that he’ll have to contend with.”

“Why do I still feel like this is wrong?”

“Because you’re a good person, Ana. You’re a good person who has been put in an impossible situation. Really, all you need to do is look at it this way: You told Tyler who Brody is, but it’s still you and Brody against the world—and me, of course. If you don’t want to do it alone, I’ll come over and help.”

“No, no. I just—” I put my head in my hands and raked my fingers through my hair. “Thanks for talking with me.”

“Anytime. And if you want me to come over and help you talk to Brody, please don’t hesitate to call, okay?” Kristi asked.

“I appreciate it. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

I hung up the phone with Kristi and tried Tyler one last time. His phone rang and rang before shooting me to voice mail, and I left him yet another one. I followed it up with a text message that we really needed to talk about how to proceed. Then I set my phone off to the side.

I’d give him until the end of the day to call me back.

The hours ticked on, and I watched my phone incessantly. Brody and I did our chores, then settled in for a movie that made us both belly laugh until we cried. I ran around with him outside and watched as he climbed the massive tree in our front yard. He couldn’t get too far on his own, so we ran to the store and I bought a rope climb for him, then tied it off on one of the branches and watched him work his way up and down the tree.

And still, Tyler hadn’t called.

After feeding my son dinner and standing by while he took a shower, I got him ready for bed. It had officially been three days since I’d spoken with Tyler, and there wasn’t anything in regard to communication from his end. No missed calls. No emails. No texts. Nothing. It was as if he had disappeared off the face of the planet.

I helped Brody into his pajamas and then he went diving into his bed, and my heart stopped in my chest as he looked up at me. It was the eyes of his father that gazed into mine.

“Sweetheart, you know Mommy loves you, right?” I asked.

“Uh huh.”

“So you know that I would never want to hurt you.”

“I know.”

“And you know that I always want to keep you away from anything that might cause you pain.”

“I love you too, Mommy.”

“There’s something I need to tell you,” I said.

He sat up in bed as I held out my arm for him. He nestled into my side, and I closed my eyes. Shit. This was really happening. I was about to deliver this news without his father by our side. I kissed the top of his head and willed my tears to stay at bay, hoping and praying my phone would ring.

I listened for it, for any sound that might indicate Tyler was contacting me.

But the only sound I could hear was that of our breathing filling the room.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” Brody asked.

“Do you remember when we were eating lunch the other day and my friend Tyler showed up?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“Sweetheart, Tyler isn’t simply a friend of mine.”

“He’s not?”

“No, he’s not. He’s actually a very special person. He helped me make a very special person who I enjoy every day of my life with.”

“What do you mean?”

I shuffled in front of my son and took his hands in mine.

“You know how you have all these questions about your father? And how I try to answer them as best as I can?”

“Yeah. You told me that Daddy is really smart.”

“He is. Do you remember what else I told you about him?”

“That you loved him and he loved you, and that’s how I came along, because your love was really strong. So strong that it made me.”

“Exactly. Well, Tyler is the man I loved, the man who helped me make you.”

Brody’s eyes bulged, and I drew in a deep breath.

“Tyler’s your father, sweetheart.”

His wide eyes showed a hurt that was unexplainable. He sank back into his pillows as tears crested his eyes. He pulled his hands away from me, and the move broke my heart in two. In an instant, I was at his side, brushing away his tears and smoothing his shaggy hair from his eyes and trying to comfort my son during this confusing time.

“You said Tyler was a friend.”

“I’m sorry. I know I did. Tyler is a friend, a very good one. One I loved and cherished, just like I do you.”

“So, he’s here.”

“He is.”

“He’s here, like in town,” he said.

“He is.”

“Then why isn’t he with us?”

That one question shattered my already broken heart into a million pieces, and tears crested my eyes. Brody buried himself into me, wrapping his arms around my neck. His shoulders moved with his sobs, and it shattered my world, filled me with an unexplainable anger toward Tyler.

And yet I was just as responsible. I had never wanted to hurt my son. I had never wanted to see him like this.

“Why isn’t Daddy here?” he asked.

“Because Daddy didn’t know he was a daddy until a few days ago.”

Brody pulled back and wiped at his tears before his dark green eyes found mine.

“What?” he asked.

“When I was growing you, Daddy didn’t know. Daddy was off getting really smart and making sure he could take care of himself. And when he came home, I told him about us.”

“When?”

“Three days ago.”

“So he knows. He should be here, Mom. Why doesn’t he want to be with me?”

“It’s got nothing to do with that,” I said as I wiped his tears away.

“Does he not like me?”

“Oh no, sweetheart. Oh, it’s nothing like that. He likes you. In fact, he loves you, very much.”

“Then he should be here.”

“Brody, do you remember when we threw Papa that surprise birthday party?” I asked.

“The one last year?”

“Mmhm. Remember how we jumped out and yelled surprise, and it took him a few minutes before he was happy about it?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s because he wasn’t expecting it. The surprise was good and made him happy beyond his wildest dreams, but he needed time to understand the surprise.”

“Daddy needs time?” he asked.

“Yes, Daddy needs time. And I’m sure once he takes his time like Papa did, he’ll come to find that the surprise of you will make him happy beyond his wildest dreams, because you are an amazing boy. You are amazing, and funny, and so intelligent. You like so many things he does. The two of you will have lots to talk about.”

“Like what?”

“Well, your Daddy used to play football and soccer in high school.”

“He did?”

“He did. You have a lot of his mannerisms, too.”

“His what?”

I laughed at his scrunched-up face. “Small actions, how you behave. You also both have a curiosity for the world.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means you really like finding out what’s true and what’s not,” I said.

“So, I might have a Daddy that’s like me?” he asked.

I smoothed his hair away from his forehead before I heaved a heavy sigh.

“Yes, sweetheart. You might have a daddy that’s like you,” I said.

Relief flooded my veins when Brody hunkered down in bed with a smile on his face, but I didn’t know what to think. Had I just lied to my son again? I had made him believe that Tyler might want to have something to do with his life, but all the evidence pointed to the contrary.

I bent forward and kissed Brody on his cheeks, then his nose, and then his forehead, just like I had every night since he was a little boy.

“We gotta teach that to Daddy,” he said.

My heart dropped to my toes as I reached over and turned out the light.

Just as I shut Brody’s bedroom door behind me, I heard my phone ring. I ran faster than I ever had in my life to get to that damn thing. I skidded across the floor and ran into the edge of the couch, then fell over onto the cushions with my hand outstretched.

Tyler was calling.

Holy shit, he was finally calling.

“Hello?” I asked. I tried to catch my breath as I turned over onto my back.

“Ana, it’s me.”

“Hey, Tyler. I, um—I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’ve had tests and client emergencies the past few days.”

I wanted to ask him if work was always going to get in the way of his son, but I held my tongue.

“Well, I hope everything’s okay,” I said.

“Listen, I know things didn’t go well at Gianno’s, but could we get together and talk tomorrow?”

“Uh, sure. Yeah. If you want. Do you want me to bring Brody? I’m sure he’d love to see you.”

“No. Don’t bring Brody. We need to talk.”

I closed my eyes and let out a silent sigh. Another no for his one and only son. This wasn’t turning out well at all.

“Yeah. Okay. I’ll get my parents to watch him then.”

“Could you meet me at our place behind the Hollywood sign tomorrow? Around six?”

“You want to meet there?”

“I do. Please, Ana?”

I sat up on the couch as the trembling of my hand rattled the phone against my ear.

“Okay. Sure. I’ll see you then.”

“Great. See you at six tomorrow.”

“Talk to you then, Tyler.”

“See you soon, Ana.”