Surprisingly, I’m not even slightly worried when Lake and Aiden decide to cancel the security service they paid for back in December.
They come to the conclusion that it’s pointless now, with the news about Rocco’s death and Ennio stepping into his place out in the open. The mystery of the missing guards on the day we were kidnapped is also cleared up. Apparently, their company had a big event to cover and needed extra staff. They supposedly sent a note about it to the Nolans, which sounds a bit suspicious to me, but Snow’s convinced the Ferros just paid them off to create an excuse and pull the guards from their posts.
Either way, the Nolans decide to stop using their services altogether, and… I’m fine with that. There’s a peace within me that grows stronger every day, accompanied by a subtle yet powerful shift.
It’s around that time that a certain nagging thought starts appearing more and more often.
Soon, I’m going to be anadoptive dad.
I can’t shake the uneasy feeling that I have no contact with the children growing inside Theo’s belly. But every time the idea of visiting Snow’s ex-lover crosses my mind, a cold shiver of distress runs through me.
Our last meeting didn’t go well at all. I’m sure I didn’t make a good impression, and I doubt he’d be thrilled to see me show up at his home.
Still, the thought that by early February, Theo is already in his fifth month of pregnancy, with a clearly showing belly, keeps haunting me.
Struggling with this fills my days, as I often stop in those small rooms on the second floor of our house and sink into long moments of reflection. I stare at the walls, which we painted in soft pastel colors. I look at the cribs we bought and all the other baby equipment that is already there.
On the other hand, maybe Theo’s also struggling with fears about his children’s future?
If he got to know me, if he realized I’m not the jealous green-eyed monster I must have seemed to him, maybe it would ease something in him too.
One morning I just wake up with a firm decision.
I’m going to visit Theo.
Crazy? Probably. Most likely, I’m setting myself up for the very real possibility of getting thrown out of his house.
That morning I order an Uber and I slip out without anyone noticing.
I get Theo’s address from the most unlikely source: Bay. The Kellan family lives much closer to downtown, so it takes me nearly forty minutes to get there.
On the way I rehearse dozens of possible conversations in my head, but in the end I decide to just let things unfold naturally.
I arrive around ten in the morning, choosing that time deliberately. I assume Theo’s husband is at work and the kids are either in school or preschool.
The neighborhood is upscale. The house itself is beautiful, modern but not ostentatious. I’m still unpleasantly surprised tosee a guard booth at the entrance. In hindsight, I shouldn’t be. Tim is a state senator now, a public figure.
That means I have to explain who I am, which isn’t simple. What am I supposed to say?
That I’m the boyfriend of his ex-lover? Ridiculous. That I’m the man planning to adopt his children? Even worse, especially since Theo is still hiding his pregnancy as far as I know.
So I tell the guard that I’m a friend of his friend and give my name, slightly altered: Summer Nolan. I want to make sure Theo will notice.
The guard makes a call inside. I sigh quietly, because it really does feel like trying to arrange an audience with a king.
He listens for a moment, then turns back to me.
"Mr. Kellan would like to know what this is regarding."
So it’s not going to be easy. He’s guarding access to himself, maybe assuming that in a jealous rage I want to confront him. I decide not to waste time or hide behind vague words.
I raise my voice so Theo can hear me through the guard’s phone.
"I’d rather not say what it’s about out here, but it concerns a man Mr. Kellan knows, Snow. Some things have happened that I think could be very important for him to know."
There’s a pause, then I hear Theo’s voice, muffled by the guard’s hand over the receiver.
"Let him in."
