I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a heavy sigh. My wife didn’t recognize me, and the woman I had cheated with didn’t want anything to do with me. How fucking appropriate! It had to be karma at its best.
No matter though.
I would fly out tomorrow back to Greece, to my son. He was the only one happy to see me these days.
The doorbell rang and I frowned. I wasn’t expecting anyone, especially not at this hour.
I left the terrace and cut across the room toward the front door, checking my weapon to ensure it was loaded.
I opened the door and inhaled sharply.
Violet stood at the threshold, face pale with circles under her eyes. She wore a dark coat, the biggest purse I’d ever seen, and… a bundle of blankets.
For a second, I thought I was imagining her. She stood so still, like she’d been carved out of the night itself.
Then the bundle in her arms shifted and let out a gentle cry.
It’s a baby, I realized.
I stared at it, then slowly dragged my eyes to Violet’s face.
“What’s this?” My voice was rough. My chest twisted—or maybe it was panic. “Why are you here?”
The baby stirred again, and my gaze dropped despite myself, locking on to the small shape tucked against her chest.
“This is your daughter,” Violet croaked. “I need you to take her.”
Instinctively, I took a step forward, while a feeling low in my gut twisted.
“How… is that… possible?”
We used protection, albeit the condoms… The condoms!
“Yeah,” she said, clocking my horrified expression. “I take it that the condoms had expired.”
Violet stepped forward, closing the distance between us.
“Please,” she said, handing her over along with the oversized purse that was a diaper bag. “Her name is Aria Elora.”
I glanced over her shoulder, but there was nobody else. I stepped aside, making space for her to pass. “Come in. This isn’t a conversation for a hallway.”
“No, I don’t?—”
My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ground. “Get. Inside.”
She exhaled and shuffled past me, and it was then that I noticed the fatigue clouding her. I shut the door and followed closely behind her in case I had to catch her.
Once we were in the living room, I urged her toward the couch. “Sit.”
She did, dropping her diaper bag on the floor with a soft thud. I sat down next to Violet, my eyes falling onto the baby again. Tiny face. Eyes closed. A faint crease between her brows. Pouty lips.
Something in my chest shifted and my hand was already reaching out, my fingers gently brushing against her chubby cheek.
“Aria,” I murmured.
“Yeah, she has a set of lungs,” Violet said tiredly. “Now, please take her.”
I let out a humorless breath, although my hands were already taking the newborn.
