“Blake?” Her voice is barely above a whisper, like she can’t quite believe what she’s seeing.
I’m speechless as my heart pounds against my ribs. How is this possible? What are the chances?
“Julie.” Just saying her name aloud makes my chest ache with longing. “What... What are you doing here?”
She bites her lip and glances behind her into the house. It’s small and cluttered, with peeling wallpaper and worn furniture. Not at all where I would have pictured her living.
“Why don’t you come inside,” she says finally, pulling the door open wider.
As I step over the threshold, my mind reels.
This doesn’t make any sense. What is she doing here? How did I not know she lived in the same town as me?
“I’m assuming you’re here to pick up Willow’s security deposit,” Julie says as she leads me into a cramped living room.
I blink at her, confused. “Yeah, how did you know that?”
She sighs and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “My father passed away a few weeks ago. He owned Willow’s apartment building and a few others in town.”
“Oh.” I frown, unsure how to respond. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Julie waves a hand dismissively. “It’s fine. We weren’t close. Anyway, he left me and my sister this place and his property management business in his will. So I’m in town trying to wrap up his affairs before I head back home to Houston.”
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. She’s leaving? Again?
But then another part of her statement registers. “Wait, your sister? Is she okay? I remember you said something about an accident that night in Vegas...”
Pain flashes across Julie’s face, and my heart clenches.
Shit.
“She’s fine now,” Julie says quietly. “But it was touch and go for a while. She’s the reason I had to leave so suddenly that night. I’m sorry I didn’t explain, I just...”
She trails off and looks away. An awkward silence settles between us, and I want to kick myself.
I take a step closer to her and reach out to touch her cheek. Her skin is just as soft as I remember. “Baby, what happened that night? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. About you.”
Her eyes flutter shut, and she leans into my touch for the briefest of moments. But then a sound cuts through the silence, jarring us both back to reality. There’s a soft coo, followed by a gurgle.
Julie’s eyes snap open wide. She pulls away from me and spins around to face the hallway.
And that’s when I see her.
A beautiful baby girl, crawling toward us on chubby hands and knees. She can’t be more than six months old, with wispy blonde curls and big blue eyes that look strikingly familiar.
My heart races as I take in her delicate features. The curve of her chin, the slope of her nose. It’s like looking in a fucking mirror.
No. It can’t be...
But even as I try to deny it, the truth slams into me with the force of a wrecking ball.
The room starts to spin, and I have to grip the back of the couch to keep from falling over. A million questions race through my mind, but I can’t seem to voice any of them.
All I can do is stare at the tiny miracle in front of me.
Julie scoops the baby up, cradling her against her chest. She won’t meet my gaze, but I can see the tears shimmering in her eyes.
“Is she mine?” I ask, my voice raw with emotion.
