‘We weren’t really shouting, just having a bit of a disagreement.’
‘About the baby,’ Etta said.
Xander cursed under his breath. After assuring Etta that the baby was definitely his the day before, he really didn’t need this to add to her confusion.
‘Sort of,’ Logan said, awkwardly.
‘Max will be waiting for you,’ Xander said. ‘Shall we get that coat and take you back down to him.’
But Etta was clearly not to be deterred.
‘Are you not happy about the baby, Uncle Logan?’
‘I’m…’ he paused, clearly deciding how to answer that question. Part of Xander was enjoying watching him squirm in a mess of his own making, but it was his daughter who would be left upset and confused.
‘A new baby is always very exciting,’ Logan tried.
‘I’m excited,’ Etta said. ‘And a bit worried.’
‘What are you worried about?’ Xander said, crouching down next to her.
‘That you won’t have time to play with me anymore,’ Etta said.
‘I will always have time to play with you,’ Xander said.
‘And that you might love the baby more than me,’ Etta said, quietly.
His heart broke. ‘That’s impossible. I love you so much, to the moon and back again. I couldn’t love anyone any more than that.’
Etta didn’t look convinced. ‘If you and Immy decide you do love each other, then you might love her more than you love me.’
‘That’s a very different kind of love. But my heart is big enough to love you, Immy and the new baby. Loving them doesn’t mean I love you any less.’
Etta scrunched her nose as she thought about that. ‘What’s a paternity test?’
Xander sighed, hoping she’d forgotten about that. ‘It’s a test to find out if I’m the father of Immy’s baby.’
‘But you said that you gave her the seed.’
‘I did.’
‘Then why do you need a test?’
‘We don’t.’ Xander glared at Logan who looked suitably embarrassed.
‘But Logan said he would pay for the paternity test. Why are you paying for a test you don’t need? That sounds like a waste of money to me. You could spend that on ice cream instead.’
‘That’s a good idea,’ Immy said, clearly trying to divert the question. ‘We could all go for ice cream right now.’
‘Why are you doing it?’ Etta asked.
Logan cleared his throat. ‘Because sometimes people can make mistakes.’
Etta frowned. ‘You think Daddy didn’t give Immy the seed?’
‘I think we need to be sure,’ Logan said.
Etta looked confused. ‘Do you think someone else gave Immy the seed?’ She looked at Immy. ‘Did someone else give you the seed?’
