“What’s going on?” I turned at the sound of my sister’s panicked voice as she ran to me, looking around. “Who’s hurt? No one will tell me anything.” 

“Stel, hold on a second.” Turning to the receptionist, I asked, “Is there a room that we can go to?”

“Sure, follow me.”

We followed her into a side office where I had Stella take a seat and I knelt in front of her. “Listen, this is a long story, and it happened six years ago. Do you remember that trip I took to Vegas?”

“Yeah, but what does this have to do with you? Why were you called to the damn hospital for an emergency?” 

“Stella just shut up, will you? Let me explain. When I was in Vegas, well, I sort of got married.” 

“What do you mean sort of? Either you’re married or you aren’t.”

“When I was there, I met a woman named Ivey, and she and I spent two weeks in a drunken stupor. One night, we got the idea to repeat the Hangover movie, including walking into and interrupting someone’s wedding. That led us to the next part as you can imagine, making the wrong decision, and getting married. We were so drunk. I was leaving the next morning, how we found our way back to the hotel is beyond me. I didn’t even remember anything until I got the actual license in the mail. I knew that I needed to contact her, but the truth is, I never pursued it. It was on my list of things to do, but . . .” I locked eyes with my sister, who had finally relaxed her look of horror and anger. “I just never thought that it mattered until Sophie came back. It doesn’t matter, though. Ivey was killed in a car accident this morning. That’s why I was called here.”

“So, let me get this straight. You married some chick in Vegas, never got divorced, and she died?” Her mouth opened and closed, and I waited. It didn’t take long until her eyes narrowed, and she cut daggers my way. “Does Sophie know?” 

“She was with me when we got here.” I left off that she also heard everything the nurse told me and probably wasn’t ever going to talk to me again. Still, Stella saw it clear on my face.

“You freaking idiot!” She exploded. “I can’t believe you, Carter. You didn’t tell Sophie, the woman you are madly in love with, that you are . . . were married, and this is how she finds out?”

“When Sophie came back, I contacted a lawyer and started the paperwork to get the divorce. I never planned to keep it from her.” 

“And you think that’s enough? I can’t believe you, Carter. How could you not tell her? Did you think saying that, oh gee, I forgot I am married would work if she ever found out? Were you just dicking around with her emotions? Because if you truly cared about her, then you would have trusted her and not kept secrets.”

“Stella, stop, please not now. I love Sophie, and I will fix this, but right now, I need to find out what happened.”

The door opened and Ms. Cameron, the hospital administrator entered. “Mr. Lang, I’m sorry for your loss. Stella.” Ms. Cameron nodded her acknowledgement, clearly already knowing my sister. “Mr. Lang, we need you to come downstairs and identify her body please. When you’re done, come back here, and I will have all the paperwork together for you.”

As pissed as my sister was at me, having her hand in mine was comforting as we were escorted downstairs to the morgue. When they slid the white-sheet-clad body out, I took a deep breath. My heart ached, not because I loved her but because this was someone that I knew. We had spent almost two weeks together; laughing and enjoying nights of wild sex. It had been nothing more, but she was still a human being with hopes and dreams and aspirations. Oh, my God, she was a Mom. “Yes, that’s Ivey.” I confirmed after they lowered the sheet.

He slid her body away, and Stella and I headed back upstairs and into the tiny room. I needed to unravel what was going on, why the hospital listed me as Ivey’s next of kin.

“Mr. Lang, again I am sorry for your loss.” Ms. Cameron slid two notarized documents over to me. “The girls have been checked out and except for a few scrapes, they are fine. You will need to hand both of those forms to the security attendant at the play center before they will release the girls to you.”

My sister looked at the papers, “Gir—” 

“Stella, let Ms. Cameron finish, and then we can ask any questions.” I pressed my foot on top of hers as a signal for her to shut the hell up. 

“They are in our observation area at the children’s hospital. Do you have questions for me?”

“What about the baby?” I tried to act as if I knew what I was talking about since she had mentioned a baby earlier.

“We were able to save the baby, she’s in NICU. I will let one of the doctors fill you in on her prognosis.”

“When can I see her?”

“Any time. These are your wife’s personal items that were retrieved from the accident.” Ms. Cameron picked up a large black bag and passed it across the table. “Take all the time you need. When you’re ready, Stella can show you up to the neonatal unit as well as over to the play center.”

“Thank you.” I held on to the bag in front of me and waited for Ms. Cameron to leave before opening it. 

“What was that all about? Children? Plural. And a baby?”

“I have no clue. I’m hoping the answers are in here.” I upended the bag, spilling a few random pieces of little girl clothes, some papers, and a blue purse onto the table. I reached for the purse and pulled out the wallet that was inside. Scanning her license and the information inside, I was stunned.

Picking up my phone, I called Kayson.

“Hey, how are you? Are you still at ORMC?”

“You know?”

“A little, Leo has texted Ariel, Stella has texted Ariel, and in return my phone has been buzzing like crazy. What can I do to help?”

“I need you to run a license and tell me who is listed as her contact in case of an emergency.” After rattling off Ivey’s license number, I waited for DAVID, our computer system, to return the information.

“You are, and you’re also listed as her spouse. Carter, you care to tell me why this Ivey woman has you listed as her husband?”

“Kays—”

“Are you married? Does Sophie know? Oh God, Sophie? Carter is she with you?”

“Kayson, stop. This has been a giant misunderstanding.”

“So, you’re not married?” Kayson’s anger seeped through the phone.

“Yes. I mean no. I mean it was a drunken mistake six years ago that was never righted.”

“Mistake? You’re married and it was never righted? Where the fuck is Sophie?”

“She left.” God, that hurt so fucking bad to say. “I’m guessing she went home.” I waited a second for the moment of tense silence to ease. “Kayson, I love her, and you have to trust me when I say that I will explain everything. It isn’t what it seems. Please just call Sophie. She left before I could explain and I need to know that she’s okay. I need her to listen to me.”

“I’ll call Sophie. What can I do for you as your sergeant?”

“Can you schedule me off for this week?”

“Will do, take some time. Let me know if you need anything else.”

I disconnected, Kayson’s words hitting me, what can I do as your sergeant? He didn’t ask what can I do as your friend? I’d hurt his cousin and to him family came first. I went back to Ivey’s purse trying to erase those thoughts and concentrate on what was in front of me. I froze when I pulled out her insurance card. There were three names listed: Ivey Lang, Harlow Grace Lang, Gianna Marie Lang. According to the card, Harlow was five, and I added nine months to the date listed and she absolutely could be my daughter almost to the day. Gianna, however, absolutely could not be. She was two, and I knew this new baby wasn’t mine, either.

Stella jingled a set of keys. “I’m assuming one of these goes to whatever address is listed on her license.” Stella continued rummaging through the items on the table while I looked at the information and receipts stuffed in her wallet. I was struck with pangs of guilt for puzzling together a woman’s life, a woman who was technically my wife, possibly the mother of my child, and she was a stranger, a drunken mistake that I never corrected because I had given my heart away years before and was never taking that chance again.

“I don’t think there is anything else here. Let’s go up to the NICU and check on the baby before we go get the girls. We can then go by her house and try to figure everything out. You’re going to need car seats.” Stella pushed her chair out and stood.

I was always the strong one, but right then, it was my sister, and I was glad that she was there. In our careers, we both saw a lot of death and unfair shit, but it was different when it was happening to us. 

Riding the elevator up to the NICU, I rested my head against the cold steel, exhaustion hitting me as if I’d been running a marathon. When the doors opened, I followed my sister and listened while she stopped to speak to a nurse that she knew. We were led to an area with giant glass windows. I peered at babies who were in their own little glass boxes covered in tubes. Some were so tiny I didn’t see how they’d survive.

“She went to get the doctor. But Ivey’s daughter is right there.” Stella pointed to the fourth box that held a small precious girl covered in tubes. “You were listed as the father. Carter...”

My sister's fingers wove in between mine as she gripped my hand tight. “You might be a dad to one; you might not be a dad at all. What are you thinking?” Her words were gentle while still prodding.

I took several deep breaths and tried to clear my head. I met my sister’s eyes. “I think there are three little girls that have just lost their mom and are in need of a protector.”

“What about their dad or dads?”

“You and I both know, if they were anywhere around then Ivey wouldn't have named me. She did this for a reason.”

“What reason?”

“I'm a protector. It’s my job.” My heart picked up speed at my words. I knew there was something very right with what I had said.

“The nurses asked that when you come to a definite decision as to what you are going to do, too, please let them know.”

I was confused, not sure exactly what she was asking.

“What I am trying to say is, you have three options. You can wait to see how the baby does health wise. Or if you know that you want to find a loving family, one of the nurses will call a counselor. But, if you are positive that you are her protector they’d like a name to call her.”

Staring at the tiny girl, who had her whole future in front of her, I whispered, “Avril Stella.”

Tristan stepped up behind us. Just the sight of Sophie’s cousin had a ton of bricks settling in my stomach.

“Come with me.” His words were soft but clipped.

We followed him into his office where he shut the door.

“I’m really confused, especially since you’ve been practically living with Sophie, but right now, I’m going to speak to you as a doctor only. The mother was still alive when the paramedics arrived on scene. They asked her if there was anyone she wanted them to contact. She begged them to call you, and she named you as the baby’s father. When she arrived at the hospital, she crashed. We did an emergency cesarean, and we listed your name for the hospital paperwork and forms for the birth certificate.”

“Her name is Avril Stella.” In a day filled with uncertainties that was the only solid that I knew for certain, the only thing I felt as if I had control over.

“We’ll have that added to the birth records,” Tristan said as he continued. “You, of course, can always do a paternity test and have your name removed or elect to forfeit all rights. As far as the baby is concerned. . .”

“Avril Stella.”

“I’m sorry what?”

“Her name is Avril Stella. Stop calling her ‘the baby’ as if she is an it.”

“Fine. I’m sorry Carter. You know that I meant nothing by it. Avril Stella is at thirty-four weeks, which is good considering the circumstances. We’re going to have to keep her while her kidneys finish developing, but a baby born at thirty-four weeks seldom has any lifelong health concerns or developmental issues.”

Shoving my hands through my hair, I tried to grasp everything, but it was a lot. Almost too much. 

“Avril’s going to be fine and grow up to be gorgeous and healthy and happy.”

Tristan’s words finally sank in. She was going to make it.

“For twenty-four hours, we will keep her environment contained. You can see her, but you can’t hold her. We want to ensure that her system has stabilized since she has gone through a traumatic shock.”

I nodded. “But when I can see her?”

“Now. You can see her now, you can even stay here with her if you want. She is listed as Baby Girl Lang, but of course we will have that changed to Avril immediately.” Tristan stood and shook our hands. “How are you holding up?” he asked Stella. I saw her give him a slight smile.

“Let’s go see her and then I can take you to get the girls?” Stella grabbed my hand and pulled me to the viewing area. 

Avril’s tiny fists moved, and she let out a small yawn.

What am I going to do? Leaning my forehead against the cold glass of the giant window, I pleaded for an answer, any answer, just something to tell me what I was supposed to do. I wanted to run away and go find Sophie, but I knew I couldn’t. I was the last person she wanted to see. Hell, according to her, she hated me and never wanted to see me again. 

I would fix this. 

I had to. 

There was no way I’d lose her again. 

My eyes found the tiny baby in the incubator again, and my heart sank. I wasn’t sure that I could raise three girls. Where was their father . . . or fathers? I could very well have a daughter I had no idea existed, and a tiny part of me hated the idea that Ivey kept that from me. I wasn’t even given the opportunity to discover whether or not I’d be a good father. If Harlow was mine, I’d missed her first steps and first words.

“Come on, let’s go meet the other girls. Do you think that you’ll know when you see her if she’s yours? Like, this super possessive parental super power comes over and says, ‘she’s the fruit of my loins’?”

“You’re the fruit, and I have no fucking idea.” Her strange mental thought process managed to pull a half-smile out of me.

Stella led us to a walkway that connected ORMC to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Following her through a maze of hallways, we came to a large reception desk in front of a giant play area where I handed over the paperwork to the woman behind the counter and then turned to stare. One of those girls could be my daughter, and I’d missed five years. Trying to get a glimpse of a face, eyes, something that would tell me that I had been a dad and never knew it, I took a seat and waited. 

The receptionist picked up the phone on her desk and called someone. A woman inside the play area moved to a phone on the wall and answered it, I followed her eyes as she scanned the room, where were her eyes focused? When she hung up, she typed into a computer then walked over to where two little girls were sitting and having a pretend tea party. The older one stood and grabbed the youngest by the hand then they followed the woman to the doors. 

When the doors opened, we stared at each other. The blonde little girl was the spitting image of Stella. The two girls were escorted over to me, the youngest burying her face into her big sister’s side.

“Hello, Harlow. Hi, Gianna,” I said as I sat on the floor at their level.

“You’re a policeman?” Harlow asked.

“Yes. I’m a sheriff. It’s like a policeman.” I had totally forgotten that I was still in my uniform.

“Our daddy is a policeman.”

My breath hitched at those words. Did Ivey tell Harlow about me or was there someone else?

“Where is your daddy?” My sister got down to their level and reached her hand out to pet Gianna’s head.

“I don’t know. Never met him.”

“Can I tell you a secret?” I reached for Harlow’s tiny hands and looked into her face. If my sister didn’t see what I was seeing, she was crazy. I knew without a doubt that she was my daughter. I didn’t need a paternity test to tell me. Harlow’s blue eyes, which mirrored mine and my sister’s eyes, were enough for me. “I’m your daddy.” 

The air around me was charged from Stella’s heavy stare, Gianna lifting her head, and Harlow’s quivering lip. I held my arms out, and both girls threw themselves in and I wrapped them tight.

Could I do this? Looking down at these two little girls that had just lost their mother and had nowhere else to go, I knew I had to try. With Sophie’s help, I knew that I could do anything. But, what if Sophie didn’t want to or wasn’t willing to help? Could I still do this?

Thousands of questions were painted across Stella’s face, and I knew that she was fighting to hold her tongue.

Pulling back, I stood with Gianna in my arms. Holding Harlow’s hand in mine we headed back to the elevators and downstairs to the ground floor where we stopped and purchased a car seat and a booster seat. 

For the first time, I was grateful that Stella had driven her car. It only took me a few minutes to secure them, but getting the girls settled took far longer. 

“Where’s your Jeep?” Stella asked as we all settled into her car.

“I’ve been staying with Sophie, it’s over there.”

“Hold on, will you?” I motioned to her with one finger and jumped out, closing the car door behind me so that the girls couldn’t hear.

Dialing Sophie’s number, I cringed when it went to voice mail, hung up, and sent a text instead. 

Me: Please call me ASAP. It isn’t what you think. Ivey and I got drunk six years ago while I was on vacation and got married. It never went beyond my vacation. Please let me explain. I need you. Please.

But no flashing bubbles appeared to tell that she was writing back.

Dialing Kayson, I figured that he would be able to give me the best advice.

“How are you?” he asked as way of greeting.

“Not good. Ivey had three daughters, and for some reason, I have no fucking clue why, she listed me as the father.”

“Whoa. What?”

“That is all I know right now. We’re going to go over to Ivey’s apartment and see what we can find out. Stella’s probably calling Ariel right now and asking her for help as well.”

“Well, speaking of Ariel, she went over to Sophie’s.”

“And . . .”

“And what? Nothing, she isn’t answering her door and won’t pick up her phone. She’s blocked us out again, and right now, to be honest, I’m holding you responsible.”

“But she won’t listen to me. I just need her to listen so that I can explain.”

“Did you not have a single chance over the past month?” Kayson’s reply cut deep. “I’ve talked to her mom and have tried to fill her in on what little I know. But she seems to believe that Sophie just needs time to process everything and has asked for us to give her space.”

“Space? For how long? Another ten years? I can’t.” A burning in my chest was the only thing that reminded me that I hadn’t just died at the thought of another ten years without her.

“I don’t know what to tell you, man. Sophie’s mom assured me she will reach out when she’s ready.” 

“I’m in love with her.”

“Until Sophie is ready to talk, leave her be. If you push this and she runs again, you will have more than just me to deal with.”

The sound of my phone clattering to the cement followed by the smooth swish of it sliding across the pavement echoed around me. I held on to the side of the car to stay upright as my whole body shook. The last thing Sophie said to me was that she never wanted to see me again, and I didn’t think any amount of time would change her answer. Please, Soph, just give me a chance to explain.