“No. I mean, if there were no other option, I knew you would, for the baby. But I knew it wouldn’t come to that,” he admitted, looking to me again. “I knew Max would never let it come to that.”
“So why come back now?”
Todd blew out a breath. “I wasn’t planning on it,” he admitted. “I thought it would be better—easier if I were just gone, especially after I learned from my mom’s ranting voicemail that you’d gotten married. I guess she thought that would provoke me to return or to at least reply. When I didn’t…”
“She approached me at the fundraiser.”
“I tried to make it in time, but my flight was delayed twice. By the time I landed early this morning, she’d left me another voicemail that they were going to ruin Max’s business and then fight for custody of the baby. I came straight here to tell you everything and figure out a plan, but it sounds like I’m too late for that as well.”
I tightened my teeth and nodded. “They won’t be coming after us anymore.”
Todd’s throat bobbed.
“I told him if they tried to make a claim for the baby, they’d have to submit to a DNA test, and I was pretty sure he wouldn’t want the results of that made public.”
He nodded again.
“I’m sorry,” I said roughly.
“Don’t be.” His expression was pained. “They…did this. I’m just glad you’re both okay—happy.” The hurt started to wash away.
“What are you going to do now?” Daisy asked, her voice soft.
“Go back to Providence with Scott. Finish my program. Heal.” A half-smile appeared on his face. “Figure out how to…be.”
Lucy let out a small whimper then, and all of us looked to the tiny human who tied us all together.
“One day I’d like to know her,” he said, giving a brief but slightly sad smile. “One day, when I know myself a little better.”
There was another knock at the door then, and Jennie popped her head inside. “I’m sorry to bug you again, but I have the birth certificate ready to fill out. It’ll just take two minutes.”
Daisy’s hand tightened, but I couldn’t look away from Todd.
“It’s no problem. I was just leaving anyway,” Todd said, and then, with a look to Daisy and me that spoke volumes, added with a poignant tenor, “Congratulations again. Lucy couldn’t have asked for better parents.”
There were a lot of things that were clear in what he said. His happiness for us. His relief that it had all worked out. And the subtle expectation that it was my name going on that birth certificate underfather, not his.
Daisy and I shared a look, and then as soon as Jennie moved by me, I was out the door and calling for Todd.
He stopped just a few steps from the room, surprised to see me. It took me a beat once I caught up to him to figure out what I wanted to say.
“Are you okay?”
His head tipped, and then he smiled, and it was probably the easiest smile I’d seen from him in a long time that wasn’t alcohol induced. “I’m figuring out how to be okay, but in the meantime, I’m happy.”
I smiled back. “Good.”
“Sorry I never told you,” he repeated and let out a deep breath. “I should have. It wasn’t you. I just…I knew you’d never let me continue being something I wasn’t, especially with Daisy, and I didn’t know what I was. Who I was. I guess I just thought keeping it to myself would help me figure it out.”
“To be fair, I never figured out how to tell you how I felt about Daisy.”
“True.” His chuckle sifted into silence. “I’m happy for you, Max. For both of you.” He extended his hand, but instead of shaking it, I took it and pulled him in for a hug. It was the only thing that felt right.
“I’m happy for you too,” I said. “If there’s anything I can do…anything with your parents.”
“Thanks, but I can handle them. Finally.” He smiled tightly and drew back. “Take care of Daisy and that beautiful little girl of yours.”
My chest strained. “Always.”
