AIDENContent from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    I didn''t know the prospect of being a father- or rather, the process of being a father again was this exciting.


    As Ana and I watched the ultrasound, my gaze fixed on the tiny life we''ve created, my heart beamed with so much joy.


    How could something I couldn''t touch make me do happy? Perhaps, it was because of the woman I''d made it with.


    I stole a nce in Ana''s direction. Her lips was covered with her right palm. Her eyes looked misty but I could see the happiness in them.


    I briefly wondered if she was happy about the baby or she was just d that Amie finally had a bigger chance of living.


    Speaking of Amie... Ana and I had arrived early at the hospital so we had extra time on our hands. I decided to say hi to Amie. She still looked at me like I was a stranger. I didn''t like the way her wide carelessugh and grins waned and became polite whenever she turned my way or remembered that it wasn''t just her and her mom in the room.


    I itched to tell her that I was her father but as infuriating as it was, I respected Ana''s choice. Besides, I hadn''t been able to stop wondering if there would even be any difference when eventually she knows the truth. She talks so much about her stepdad that I doubt she would wee another dad.


    "Aiden?"


    I blinked my focus back on Anastasia. There was a slight smile on her lips but her brows were furrowed in concern.


    "Yes?"


    Her gaze roamed my face. "Are you okay? You''ve nked out since the doctor stepped out."


    "Oh," I muttered as I nced around the room. It was now just us.


    "Why did he leave?"


    She shrugged, "he wants to give us alone time with the baby."


    The baby.... Shouldn''t it be ''our baby''?


    I looked away from her probing eyes and fixed my gaze on the monitor. "It still feels surreal..." that I''m having another child with you.


    "I know, right?" She sighed. "The process is beautiful. The best feeling is when it moves in my stomach." There was a distant smile on her face as she pressed her palm to her t stomach.


    My gaze fell on the hand and I wondered if it would be okay if I ced mine on hers or directly on her stomach.


    "What were you saying when you said I nked out?" I dragged my gaze away from her stomach.


    "Oh yes." She smiled my way. "I was just thanking you for bringing me here."


    "It''s nothing."


    Silence descended. Her eyes roamed the room before she settled them on me. "I understand that you mean well but I don''t think you should do that again."


    I raised my brows. This again? I didn''t see anything wrong in it if I give her a ride here and now. It wasn''t like I was asking to be her personal chauffer.


    "It''s hard enough for our patners that I have to carry your baby for the second time. Let''s try to respect their eptance and maintain a respectful boundary."


    I wouldn''t call Sharon''s attitude to this whole arrangement ''eptance'' but I nodded anyway.


    "So we should maintain some space for their sakes."


    What does she mean by space? That I was not allowed toe to visit Amie? Perhaps, she doesn''t want me to attend heartwarming sessions like this one. That would be a little bit difficult, I thought as my gaze traveled to the monitor once more.


    But what she was saying was right. Even if I didn''t care about Dennis''s feelings about all this, I should do this for Ana. It was clear that she cared about Dennis and their marriage.


    For Sharon''s sake too. Her silent treatment was a sign that she had given up on fighting the development... perhaps she had even epted but I knew she was still trying to take it all in.


    If I insisted on being around Ana all the time, attending seessions like these one that made me feel what I shouldn''t feel, would further hurt her.


    I released a heavy breath. "It''s okay then. I won''t pick you up anymore."


    She added, hee gaze apologetic. "You also don''t have to attend my prenatals with me."


    I swallowed. "I understand."


    I wanted to ask if she could send pictures of the future ultrasounds to me but that might even be worse than physicallying with her.


    "You have nothing to worry about. I wouldn''t do anything that would put our partners in ufortable situations anymore."


    "Thank you," she smiled, seeming relieved.


    "So how''re you going to get home now?"


    "I''ll just get a tax-"


    "No," interrupted her. "I don''t want


    you getting a taxi," I said as I reached for my phone in my pocket. "I''ll call my driver and he''ll pick you up when you''re ready to leave."


    "There''s no need for that. I''m fine taking a taxi."


    "Toote, ma''am," I feigned a pout just as my driver picked up.


    My lips lifted in a smile when she let out a shortugh as I turned away from her.


    "Thank you. I''d forward the address to you now," I said to the driver then I ended the call. "You really didn''t have to do that, Aiden."


    My heart skipped a beat. I hadn''t heard her call my name in that


    careless manner since we met


    again. It brought back memories I didn''t know I still had.


    Just then, my phone vibrated in my hand. I frowned down at the caller''s ID.


    I picked up and slightly turned away. "Sharon?"


    "Hey, can youe home now? Like right now," her voice rang out pressingly. "Wha-"


    "It''s very urgent, Aiden," she persisted.


    "Okay okay," I repeated as I discarded the list of questions I had. "I''ll be there in a jiffy."


    "Is everything okay?" Ans asked after I ended the call.


    "I don''t know." I rose to my feet. "I have to go. Sharon needs me."


    "Okay."


    *


    With just a few long strides, I reached my car. I got in and roared the engine to life. I sped through the road as I hurried home.


    Sharon was as independent as every


    sense of the word. She never calls with such urgency. Unless, she wanted to be babied. And if she


    wanted that, she makes sure to


    sound like one. So whatever


    prompted her to call me must be


    really important.


    I parked roughly in our driveway and hurried into the house.


    "Sharon?" I called as I climbed the stairs, two at a time.


    I came to an abrupt halt when I reached the room and saw her seated on the bed, a paper in her hand.