“That is entirely up to you.” She offered a sweet, close-lipped smile. “How about just coming with me to the play room. He’s in there watching television. Just take a look from the window.”
“I guess there’s no harm in that.” I shoved up from the chair onto shaking knees.
“Right this way.”
I followed Cindy down the hall and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw him.
“I don’t think we’re going to need that blood test,” I acknowledged as the reality of the situation took hold of me. There was no mistaking it—the kid was my damn doppelgänger.
“We’ll still run one. It’s protocol. If you would follow me back to my office, there are a few more things we need to discuss.”
I did as she asked and my head spun.
“His mother stated that there are no other living relatives, like I previously mentioned. I just want to be clear: taking on a child, especially one of Jacob’s age, comes with a lot of responsibility and hard work. I would understand if this is something you feel is not right for you and your wife.”
“What would happen to him if he didn’t come stay with us?”
She fidgeted with loose papers in front of her. “While his mother is deemed unfit and unable to care for him, he would be placed in a group home.”
My heart twisted in my chest.
“When could he come home with us?” The words spilled out before I knew what I was saying. I hadn’t even talked to Stormi yet.
“I would have to come by for a home visit, check the place out and make sure it is suitable for Jacob. After that, I can push the process along rather swiftly—once the judge grants you temporary custody, that is. We aim to have children placed as quickly as possible.”
“What happened to Natty?” The question had been nagging at me, and finally I’d grown the balls to enquire.
“She was arrested for a hit-and-run the night before I called your apartment. She has been processed and is awaiting her court date at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. To my knowledge, she has not posted bail, and that’s really all the information I am at liberty to discuss.”
* * *
“A child?And he’s how old?” Stormi sat on the couch next to me as I told her about my meeting with Cindy.
“Twelve.”
“We met twelve years ago.” Her face contorted as the timeline hung heavy in the air.
I grabbed her hand. “Stormi, right before I met you, I had a one-night thing with a bartender. Apparently, she got pregnant that night and never told me.”
She took a sharp breath in. “What do we have to do?”
“I have to take a paternity test, and if it comes back that I am this kid’s father, we have to make a decision. He can come stay with us or he will be placed in a group home.”
Stormi violently shook her head as tears welled up rapidly. “Look, I know children were never part of the plan. We were going to live our lives, have our busy jobs, and make time for each other the best we could. Life doesn’t always go to plan, though, and over my dead body will your child go into the damn system to be pushed around and not cared for the way he deserves. I love you, Cason. If this kid is yours, we have to make this work. We’d never forgive ourselves if we didn’t.”
“How’d I get so lucky to have you? I agree, but I know how huge this is. It’s not like a child can come out of the woodwork and claim to be yours. I am so sorry.”
She shifted on top of me, gripping both sides of my face in her hands. “Do not apologize for not knowing you had a son out there. That is on his mother, not on you. Yes, this isn’t ideal, but we will get through it. Besides, it’s only temporary. As long as Natty deals with her charges and everything, she can regain custody.”
“You’re right.” I kissed her soft lips, pulling her into my arms. “You’re the best.”
“You better never forget that.” Stormi rested her head on my shoulder, still cradled in my arms. “What’s his name?”
“Jacob.”
“Jacob. That has a nice ring to it.”
I smiled down at my wife. “It really does. Thank God he isn’t named Thor or Blanket.”