“What happens now?” she mutters.
“Well.” I pause. “I went to Beth’s office today to sign some paperwork and register his birth. We pick him up tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” she shrieks, standing up so fast her chair falls backward, crashing onto the kitchen floor. She bangs her hands on the table, tears immediately well in her eyes. “Tomorrow?” she growls again.
Looking her straight in the eye, I try to control my temper at her outburst. This isn’t her fault. I need to be patient.
“Yes, tomorrow. He needs to come home so we can get into a routine. Get to know one another and be a family.”
“A family?” Her voice rings through the house as it bounces off the walls. It sounds like someone running their nails down a blackboard. “Fucking hell, Dad! You were never there when I was little. I’ve only just got you all to myself, and you go adopt a random baby.”
Her cheeks flair beetroot as her body trembles. My little girl falls apart in front of me. I stand and go to her.
“Hannah, I need you. This little boy needs you. I know this is all a shock, and after everything that has happened, it’s the last thing you wanted. But we’re here, and so is David.”
“David?” She looks at me, confused.
I smile at her warmly. “Yes, David. I named him after his dad. I thought it was appropriate.” She thaws instantly. “But he’s nothaving any animal-related nicknames,” I add quickly, and she giggles.
“Sorry, Dad,” she mumbles, focus trained on her feet. I give her a reassuring hug.
“Don’t you apologize for anything, sweetheart. We’re in this together. I promise you we’ll get through this.” She relaxes in my arms, as if her confidence in her position in our home is returning.
Pushing her back from me but keeping my hands on her shoulders, I let my eyes hold hers, so young but so grown up.
“I will tell you one thing I’m terrified of.” I give her a cheeky smile. “It’s not the sleepless nights or stinking nappies. It’s telling your mother about David.”
Her face falls in understanding. Ainsley is going to go mental when she finds out. I will need to speak to her tonight. I can’t put it off.
If I know one thing about my ex-wife, it’s that anything that happens she doesn’t control is seen as negative. Adding a child to our already complex family will not go down well. Even though David isn’t her responsibility, she prided herself on Hannah being an only child.
Our daughter.
And now, I will have a son. My heart knows she will find issue.
Chapter thirty
Katie
Strolling down the sidewalk in New York at night on the arm of a gorgeous man must be one of the most surreal experiences of my life. Brad slows his step in time with my tottering ones.
“The restaurant isn’t far.” He smiles. “I just thought it was a beautiful evening. A short walkisa nice way to start the night. Don’t you think?”
My forehead bobs forward as if instructed. His smile widens.
Brad is a self-made man. Born in the city slums, he studied hard and took risks to get to where he is today. He’s fifty-six, with two failed marriages behind him but no children. Now he lives his life to the fullest, enjoying his success with his friends. From the sound of it, he has an extremely busy social life. I’m surprised he found me interesting enough to spare a night for. I don’t need to say much, just listen and murmur as he talks about himself, mainly his career in the TV industry.
We arrive at a red door with no signage, no windows. Nothing to hint at what’s behind it. It looks like a standard door to apartments that you see located above shops. Nothing special, just normal.
“Here we are,” he says as he rattles his fist on the door. I look at him in confusion; he responds with a cheeky wink. “I told you I wanted to dazzle you.”
Nothing dazzling about this.
The door swings open, and a huge bald man in a dinner suit stands in front of us. He fills the door frame in height and width. There is an earpiece attached to his ear with a curly cable running down to a radio at his belt.
“Good evening, Mr. Thomson,” he says formally. “Your table is ready, sir. I’ll announce your arrival.”
My eyes dart to Brad, perplexed, but he’s focused on the giant.