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“Don’t worry about it.”

“You aren’t just some random client. We have been friends for many years. Make sure you have all the facts before you act.”

Solid advice.

Of course, he would consider all the facts before he crushed him. How else would Emmanuel know how to inflict the most damage?

“Of course, it is why I have you. To get me the information.”

Chapter Eighteen

FIRST AND LAST

Manny’s energy had been different since Darsh stopped by his office. One moment he was joking around, and the next he was bending her over the nearest surface. It had been an interesting couple of days. Ivy was longing for Manny to return home, but didn’t want to force the issue. After all, it was her doubt which pushed him out of the house.

Ivy wished that Manny would initiate the conversation concerning his parents’ lifelong omission. Clearly, it was wreaking havoc on him. She couldn’t be sure if allowing him to come to her in his own time was the right thing to do. Ultimately, however, Ivy had promised him not to bake. So, they were going to have to talk it out.

Sage and Ivy had spent the morning having mother/daughter time. They had brunch, followed by manis and pedis. Sage then had driving lessons, followed by plans to go see a movie and have dinner with her friends. Which gave the couple a few uninterrupted hours to spend together. Ivy was going to take this opportunity to talk.

Her plan had been to dive right into their discussion as soon as she arrived at the condo. However, Manny had other plans. She was barely through the door when he’d kissed her so thoroughly her toes had curled. Coupled with his admission, “Doc, I need you so badly right now.”

All thoughts left her as they fed each other’s needs.

Once they were satiated, and her mind was clear. Ivy donned his shirt, then made sure she was buttoned up and told him. “We need to talk.”

Manny sighed. “I know Doc.”

“When are we telling everyone?” She couldn’t figure out his logic for waiting any further. Darsh had confirmed what she had figured out.

“Soon, I promise.”

“I don’t like this hanging over our heads. What’s the holdup?” Ivy really wanted their lives back.

“I suppose I wanted more evidence to confront my parents with.”

“What about the children? There is no need for them to carry the uncertainty.”

It broke her heart that Oliver was still in crisis. He doubted his intuition because he thought maybe his hero wasn’t who he thought he was. The fact was, her son didn’t have it wrong. She desperately wanted him to know he was right.

“I know. Can you do something for me, Doc?”

Ivy wondered how he did not know she would do anything for him. “Of course.”

“Now that you know what to look for, can you run the test again?”

Shit. Why would he ask for something she couldn’t deliver?

“I wish I could, but the way it works is I would also need his sample to run a WAG test.”

Manny’s shoulders fell, and he looked slightly defeated. “I see.”

Ivy didn’t want to continue to be the bearer of bad news, but it was better that he knew now.

“Manny, the thing is, even then, we may never prove which of you fathered the child.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, we will have to compare the complete set of both DNAs. This is the real needle in the haystack. We are talking about six billion letters. There may be only one random difference.”

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