Page 63 of Love and Other Lost Things

Jane studied his profile, taking in the slope of his nose, the sharpness of his cheekbones. Something familiar flickered in the back of her mind.

Nik leaned closer to Scarlett, smoothing the blanket.

Jane’s gaze darted to her daughter’s profile. To Scarlett’s nose. Scarlett’s cheekbones.

Jane blinked, over and over, as recognition slowly dawned. Is it possible?

She’d wondered… sometimes she’d even wished for it. But had she shoved this possibility so far out of her head that she’d completely fooled everyone, and especially herself?

Could Nik be Scarlett’s father?

TWENTY-FOUR

Jane combed through her memories from a decade ago, trying to recall those weeks and months leading up to her pregnancy. It came back to her in a blur of emotions: the hopelessness, the shock, the fear, the sense of being utterly alone. But the specific details of that time floated just beyond her reach.

How long after she’d slept with Nik had she been with Matteo for the first time? A week or two? And then it was a couple of months later she’d discovered she was pregnant. Had she gotten her period in the time between? She’d been so young, so dumb about the mechanics of it all. Jane remembered that she’d wished Nik was the father more than she’d actually believed it. They’d definitely used a condom. She knew that much for sure: Nik had cared about her too much not to protect her. She remembered every detail of their first time together. Their only time.

But they’d been young and inexperienced. And condoms failed, sometimes. Had she convinced herself it was Matteo because she was three thousand miles from home, and being with Nik was impossible? Or was Matteo Scarlett’s father all along, and now she was talking herself into believing it was Nik?

Jane watched Nik as he reached over Scarlett’s head to push the button on a monitor. And there it was again. Their high, defined cheekbones. The straight line of their noses. And now she could see similarities in the arch of their eyebrows, too.

But then Nik bent over to untangle a cable, and the resemblance was gone.

This doesn’t change anything.

Jane blinked and looked away. The notion that Nik had fathered Scarlett was nothing but half-baked speculation stemming from an overwhelming amount of stress. She and Scarlett were still leaving for Canada. It didn’t matter who had contributed to Scarlett’s genetic material. Matteo would never, ever let them go. Her only hope was running, just like she’d planned. Kait would come through with a car and, in less than a week, she and Scarlett would be safely across the border, as far away from Matteo as possible. They’d start a new life and Nik would never have to know she was having these unhinged suspicions that he was Scarlett’s father.

Nobody ever has to know.

But as Nik looked up to flash Jane a smile, doubt curled in her abdomen. He’d been amazing with Scarlett earlier. Kind and caring and natural.

How could I leave, and take Scarlett away forever, without even considering finding out the truth?

If Nik turned out to be Scarlett’s father, maybe Matteo wouldn’t want to have anything to do with her. Maybe, legally, he wouldn’t be allowed to have anything to do with her. Jane could take Mom’s advice and hire a lawyer to help them. They wouldn’t have to run, and Scarlett could know her father—her real father—the compassionate, thoughtful man that she deserved.

And then… maybe… someday…

Jane’s attention drifted back to Nik just as he stepped into a narrow slant of light from the streetlamp outside. It was a far-fetched idea. A fairy tale. And Jane had never lived a fairy tale life. Wishes didn’t come true, and there was no such thing as happily-ever-afters.

But, for the first time in a decade, Jane found herself starting to believe.

Scarlett woke early the next morning, just as the doctor came in to make her rounds before breakfast. Nik was no longer Scarlett’s physician; he’d handed her case off to the attending on the inpatient unit, and Jane wasn’t sure if they’d see him before they left. He said he’d be working in the ER that morning, but he was probably busy with patients. She wasn’t sure if she was sorry or relieved.

The doctor checked Scarlett over, shining a light in her eyes and testing her reflexes before she declared the girl ready to be discharged. Jane helped Scarlett change from her hospital gown back into her street clothes, and they were about to head out when a message alert popped up from Matteo on Jane’s phone.

Jane dreaded what he had to say. Matteo didn’t like being home alone—he got bored, antsy, annoyed when he didn’t have Jane to do things for him. Add that to the fact that he was having staffing issues at the club, and his messages were increasing in both frequency and urgency. It was only a matter of time before he started demanding that she come home. Which meant that the clock was ticking for her to finish putting her plan into place. She sent Matteo another soothing message, hoping he would hold off at least until after Christmas.

The nurse insisted that Jane take Scarlett out to the car in a wheelchair, and just as they were heading out into the hall, Nik stepped out of the elevator, a tote bag over one arm.

“Hi,” he said, giving Jane a quick smile before he knelt down to Scarlett’s level.

“Hi, Dr. Nik.” Scarlett gave him a grin.

“How are you feeling?”

“Okay.”

“How’s the head? Still hurt?”

---