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She grabbed her phone from the counter and stared at it. How could it already be eight o’clock? The intensity of the storm outside almost completely hid the fact that it was day. This time she tried all of Aidan’s phone numbers, but to no avail. Either he was not there, or he was screening his calls. She had no choice but to find him herself.
The seconds slid as Laura changed out of her gown and into a simple black shirt and a pair of blue jeans. Grabbing a granola bar for breakfast and an umbrella for the rain, she was cutting through the empty Sunday streets fifteen minutes later. As she swerved past a wide puddle, words and explanations tangled. What would she say to her daughter’s father? How could she make him believe she loved him? This time she would not dawdle – she would explain everything. Her two most valuable treasures were at stake. She would fight for them both.
Laura turned into the hotel parking lot, yet neither Aidan’s sports car nor the limousine was there. Still, with unwarranted hope, she ran to his room and knocked on his door. As expected, no answer replied, and she trudged back to the car. She didn’t turn on the ignition, instead sat with her head in her hands. Where could she try next, when there were a million and one destinations? He hadn’t been in town long enough to make close friends, and she certainly couldn’t callThe Billionaires of Miamifor assistance. Perhaps Candace would have some insight. Maybe he had talked to the mayor about business and mentioned something that could help. She dialed the number.
“Hello?”
Laura said a silent thank you for the quick answer. “Candace, I need your help. Have you talked to Aidan today?”
“Actually, he texted me this morning to ask a quick question about the collaboration.” Candace hesitated. “Hey, did something happen between the two of you?”
Every muscle clenched. “Why do you ask?”
“He's normally so calm, but even through texting I could tell something was wrong. He was curt and brusque, almost like another person.” The voice on the phone wavered. "Laura, did you tell him?”
“I didn’t, but I think he knows.” There was no other explanation for his behavior. “I promise to tell you about it later, but first I need your help. Did he tell you where he was going?”
The line went silent for a moment. Then, “No.”
Laura clenched the phone tighter. “Did he give any clue? The slightest hint where he might be headed?”
“No, I’m sorry…” her friend started, then stopped. “Wait a second – that’s not true. He didn’t tell me where he was going, but he did ask if the highway had bad rush hour traffic.”
In spite of the desperate situation, Laura's lips curved into a broad smile. Years of reporting had taught her that any lead, even a slight one, could prove invaluable. When she spoke, her voice had regained both strength and confidence. “That’s great. What highway?”
“Route 12.”
Laura’s entire body went numb. A small country highway, Route 12 didn’t lead much of anywhere, except…Peace Fields Fertility Clinic. “Oh no,” she whispered. “Aidan is going to discover the truth without me. I have to find him.”
“Hey, you be careful, all right?”
“I will.” Hanging up the phone, Laura gripped the steering wheel. With a flick of the wrist the engine soared to life, and she was off in a race with time. She needed to get to Aidan before he learned the truth.
Landmarks, trees and nondescript buildings sped by in a blur as she soared over the lonely roads. She studied every car she passed, hoping for a sign of an unlikely sleek luxury car, yet only rusty pick-ups and older, economical models rumbled along the path. As she neared her destination, she raced quicker, desperation and dread urging her toward the inescapable meeting. When the clinic came into sight, and in the very first parking space, Aidan’s personal sports car, she resisted the instinct to turn around. She fortified her strength. She would do this.
She parked in front of the brick one-story building. With wide bay windows, rose-filled flower boxes and a wrap-around porch, the charming little structure could have easily been mistaken for a family home. Instead, life-changing events occurred daily underneath the simple facade. With state-of-the-art technology and a hidden locale, the clinic attracted clients from near and far. There were rumors it was a favorite of the famous and rich, which Aidan’s presence confirmed. It held an especially warm place in Laura’s heart. It had given Jeanie life.
She glanced at her watch. Five after ten – only minutes after the opening of the clinic. Perhaps he hadn’t discovered the truth yet; maybe there was still a chance. With a huge breath and a silent prayer, she opened the door and walked in.
He stood with his back to her. A receptionist sat at the counter, the same bubbly lady who had divulged the secret to Laura. She was handing Aidan a thick manila folder, its contents as certain as its life-changing consequences. In a moment, Aidan would share the knowledge of Jeanie’s paternity.
For seconds, she stood frozen. Aidan clutched the folder, twisting and turning its crisp orange sides, but making no move to open it. She inhaled a deep breath. Perhaps there was still time. “Aidan.”
He stood straight at the sound of his name. Acid burned her stomach, as he pivoted, like a horror film in slow capture. His power was limitless, as he stood in all black, towering, muscles thick under the form-fitting clothing. His eyes were dark as midnight, his gaze challenging, as he pierced her with all the power he wielded. “Laura.”
“Before you open the folder, we should talk.” She took a step forward. “Please let me explain.”
He gazed down at the papers in his hands, then straight at her. “Tell me the truth,” he commanded, his voice deep with power and emotion. “Will this prove Jeanie is my daughter?”
Their gazes locked, her rib cage a vise squeezing the air from her lungs. The oxygen had disappeared, the world dimmed.For her daughter, she had to fight.She heaved in a breath of air scented with spice and power. Then she uttered a single word to change her world. “Yes.”
For a moment, silence reigned. Frozen in time, they just stared at each other, redefined by secrets and truth. His gaze remained strong, yet raw emotion blazed in their fiery depths. “I’m a father,” he whispered, then again, “I’m a father.” He beamed with such bright exuberance, pure joy, that nothing could deny this was the right path. “In my heart I knew it, but I needed confirmation. I really am a father,” he repeated softly, his eyes aglow with liquid emotion.
At once, relief loosened Laura's muscles. Aidan was ecstatic, delighted at the greatest gift life could ever bestow. Yet relief descended to anxiety and anxiety to dismay as his expression turned hostile and his stare sinister. His voice was cold as he asked, “How long have you known?”
“Several months,” she admitted, her voice wavering a sliver. “I found out shortly before I came to visit you. When she was conceived, her father was supposed to be anonymous donor. I was happy to keep it that way until my dad had a heart attack and I discovered cardiovascular disease ran in the family. I found you to get your medical records.”
“That’s why you came to see me.” Realization dawned in his eyes. “You weren’t there to blackmail me. You weren’t there in the capacity of reporter at all. And that's how you knew I frequented the clinic. You didn’t come here looking for my records – just the opposite. You came here, and then found my records. There was never another person involved.”
