“Baby, are you okay?”
“I don’t know. Chris, how? I mean, I don’t understand. This paper says that you’re her father. I don’t believe it.”
“You can call and check for yourself.”
“But how did you know it? How can that be?”
“It was something Jeremiah said. When I took you to our gift wrapping party, I overheard Mama say Belle looked like me as a baby, and she asked you if there was a possibility. At the time, I thought she was tripping. Then there was the couple at the tree farm, Erica and Jay. He asked if there was a chance and reminded me of why there might have been.”
“But how?”
“During my training program, I signed up to become a donor for compensation. As I’m sure you’re aware, Cherokee Reproductive Center gives you the option to share your details with the recipient and vice versa. At the time, I didn’t want to reveal my information, so I marked confidential with the option to know if someone had received my donation.”
“I did too.”
“But after my conversation with Jay, I decided to go online to my records and complete the paperwork. I got the phone call this afternoon. I left for a break to get the results. Apparently, you changed your option to disclose also.”
“I did. I changed it when you all had to rescue Belle. I got to thinking what if she had a medical condition and her father or his family did too. How could I ever know if I kept those doors closed? I prayed that her father would change his option eventually because when I changed mine, yours was still closed.”
“Well, thanks to science and the great people at CRC, I learned today that I am Belle’s biological father.”
“Oh my God, Chris. This is a dream come true, baby.”
“This is the best Christmas present I’ve ever received,” I replied, lifting Belle into my arms. I kissed my daughter’s chubby cheeks as she gurgled happily and leaned in to claim her mother’s lips.
When I pulled back, I smiled. “Baby, look.” I pointed out the window.
“It’s snowing, Chris.”
“It’s our baby’s first Christmas snow. Wanna head out there in it?”
“Let me get her wrapped up first.”
My heart was overwhelmed with joy and love.
Chapter 19
Angel
DECEMBER 28TH
“. . . l
ift up your voice and sing out His praise. It’s Christmas.”
I looked around the church in its splendor. The white and silver décor was so pristine and ethereal. The choir looked holy in their white and silver robes as Mrs. Holly led them. I glanced up at Christian as he swayed beside me, singing in a powerful bass voice. I could also hear his father and brothers. It was amazing that an entire family could sing the way that they could.
In my family, I was the only one blessed with that gift. My mother told me that I had gotten it from my father, who was a rolling stone. I hadn’t seen him since I was sixteen. I turned my gaze back to Belle, thankful that she wouldn’t have the torment that I had as a kid, wondering when my dad would show up, or if he would stand me up again.
My baby opened her mouth and gurgled out a sound as she bounced her arms happily. She stared up at her father in awe, and I wondered if she would have the gift of song too. I was stillamazed that Christian was my daughter’s biological father. How ironic that I would receive the gift of life from the man who I had admired for years? And it was all because he decided to donate years ago based on his need for money.
Christian encouraged me to visit the clinic to confirm things for myself, although I believed him. I had checked my email and saw a notice from the clinic that my donor had unsealed his records, and it encouraged me to pick up the results of Belle’s paternity if I wanted to know.
The clinic was closed the day after Christmas, which was a Friday, but I was able to go online and access our documents through the patient portal using a code I had previously been given. My online records confirmed everything that I needed to know.
Tears stung my eyes and fell down my face as I stared at my daughter and my fiancé. It was still so surreal. My daughter had a father, not just the unknown sperm donor I’d always been subliminally aware of, and not just my fiancé, who I had given permission to step into the role of her father. But she had her real, biological father in her life, the man I loved and adored and shared a beautiful friendship with.
Christian grabbed my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze as he continued singing in that powerful voice of his. When he finished the stanza, he smiled, leaned down, and kissed my forehead.
