Chapter 171: Her Mother's Love, Part 13, Father

JAMES

I scrape a hand over my face.

It feels unreal.

Reality hasn't settled in.

A father again?

At my age?

A baby girl?

A little boy?

Red-headed and fiery?

Dark like me?

Doesn't matter...

Beautiful whatever...

She gave me this.

And so did he.

*****

MICHAEL

I ease the bedroom door open, look inside.

They're there, lying together on the bed. Normally she would be curled into the crook of his arm, but this time, he's lying across her, head pillowed on her breasts, stroking her belly.

"I still can't believe you did this for me. That you chose to do this."

"You did everything for me, Master, up to and including saving my life. I wanted to give something back."

"Oh, you did. Something precious. Something very precious." He falls silent, still stroking.

Beautiful...

As quietly as I can, I back out and close the door again.

*****

RICHARD

The elevator doors swish open and I stroll in. "Morning, Francis."

"Good morning, Richard."

"Anything for me?"