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I studied each one carefully, but none of them looked like the picture that Carol had left me.
“Aw, poor little guy, sounds like he’s hungry,” one of the men said in a sappy voice as he touched Devon’s face. Another man began to walk past our group, and the secretary called out to him. When she said his name, my gaze snapped toward his face, and I recognized him immediately from one of the photographs that had been on Carol’s phone.
As he approached, he studied me curiously, his gaze dropping to Devon briefly. He was tall, but anyone over five foot six was tall to me since I was only five foot flat.
I was glad that he realized that we should speak in private and thankful when he helped me get the stroller into the room. My hands were shaking so badly; I was afraid I would drop Devon. The intensity of the storm was also not helping matters. I was not a fan of storms. Carol had loved them, but not me.
I hated doing this, hated surprising this man with a child he didn’t know about, and I also despised the fact that I was going to have to leave this sweet baby with a man that I didn’t know. But I had no right to Devon. Yes, he was my best friend’s child, and I did have temporary custody of him, but he wasn’t mine to keep. Not that I could take care of him myself right now anyway.
I was glad that he at least remembered who Carol was, and it was as I mentioned how long ago their relationship was, that it began to dawn on him why I might be there. He nervously stared at Devon and backed away as if he was preparing to run. Well, that wasn’t happening, and I approached him, holding his son out to him. “This is Devon, your son.”
He looked shocked as he shook his head, “I think you have me confused with someone else.”
“Oh, no. I don’t.”
“Look, if that baby is mine, why the hell isn’t Carol here?”
Oh, how I wish Carol were here, then she could be introducing Devon to his father and asking him if he’d like to be part of his life. Instead, I was going to be forcing a child on a man that probably didn’t want to have anything to do with a kid. My heart ached for Devon and the loss of Carol.
“Carol died giving birth to Devon.”
“What?”
I explained about Carol’s condition and what had happened. While I did, I watched him carefully. I could see why Carol had been taken with the man. He oozed confidence, vitality, and sexuality. From the top of his dark head to his boot-clad toes, he was incredible.
Trevor stared at the baby again, and I stepped closer. “I know you’re surprised, Mr. Vaughn, and I get that this is a lot to have to deal with, but you need to take your son.”
His voice was hoarse as he spoke. “I don’t know what to do with a baby.” “Just hold him,” I practically begged.
Very slowly, Trevor took hold of Devon and brought him closer to his chest. He stared down at him for a long moment, his brow furrowed, and I suddenly wanted to brush my hand over his forehead to ease that tension. I stepped back from them instead. Another loud rumble of thunder filled the room, and I shuffled back slightly farther.
“I brought enough food to get you through a couple days, and diapers too.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “This is a list of all the important information you need to know, along with his doctor and his schedule. I also packed some clothes, and when you have time, I can get the rest of his things to you. Carol accumulated quite a collection. I have them packed up, but I didn’t bring them today.”
“Wait, what?” His gaze snapped up to mine. “You can’t leave him here with me.”
“Why not? He’s your son,” I stated firmly.
“How do I know that?” he snapped back.
I put my hands on my hips and glared at him. “You were the only man Carol has been with in two years. It was three weeks after she last saw you that she found out about her pregnancy and then a week later, her heart condition.”
“Why didn’t she reach out to me?”
I sighed. “I think she tried once but changed her mind. Carol knew she probably wouldn’t live through it and wanted that time for herself and her baby.”
“She knew she wouldn’t live, and yet she had the kid anyway? That was fucking stupid.”
I pursed my lips as I glared at him. “How dare you say that. Carol gave you a precious gift, Mr. Vaughn! Not to mention she gave her own life so that she could give that to you. Obviously, she was wrong about it, and you didn’t deserve it!” Lightning cracked overhead, and the thunder instantly filled the room making me jump slightly.
“I didn’t ask for it,” he growled back in tune with the thunder.
“Yeah, well, then you should have been more careful, Mr. Vaughn.” I stepped around him and set the paper inside the stroller. “Everything that you should need is under there.”
He grabbed my arm. “Wait, I’m serious. I can’t take care of a baby.”
He looked close to panic, and I was pretty sure that was a new feeling for him. I doubted this man was afraid of much, but he looked scared shitless that I was going to walk out the door and leave him with Devon. “Yeah, well, neither can I.”
“I don’t even know for sure that he’s mine.”
