Page 107 of Roaring Fork Rockstar

And there it was. The catch.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘acknowledged’?” Keltie asked.

“I want my name on her birth certificate, and I want visitation rights.” His voice hardened. “I’m the reason she’ll survive this, Keltie. I think that entitles me to be part of her life.”

Keltie’s face flushed with anger. “You denied she was yours when I told you I was pregnant.”

“People change,” Remi replied smoothly. “Seeing her the other day… affected me. She looks like my mother, you know. Same eyes.”

I bit back a retort. The manipulation was so transparent it made my skin crawl.

“We can discuss arrangements after the transplant,” Keltie said, her tone making it clear the conversation was over. “Luna’s health comes first.”

“Of course,” Remi agreed too quickly. “I’ll be waiting for the doctor’s call.”

When Keltie hung up, she sagged against me. “He’s using her illness as leverage. Except, if he cared so much about her, why didn’t he get in touch with me like he said he would?”

“Let Remi do or say whatever he wants,” I said, keeping my voice low. “It doesn’t mean it’ll happen. Luna needs this transplant. That’s the first step.”

Keltie squared her shoulders. “I need to call Dr. Robbins.”

“I’ll check on Luna.”

She studied the screen of her phone.

“You’ll be okay?” I asked.

“With this part, yes.”

I drew her into my arms, and she rested her head against my chest. “We’re gonna make it through this, darlin’. You, me, and Luna,” I said, watching as she dialed the number before stepping out and returning to the room.

When I sat beside her bed, the sweet little girl who’d captured my heart looked up with a smile, pushing a crayon toward me.

“Want to color with me, Mr. Holt?”

“Absolutely,” I replied, picking up the blue crayon. “What are we drawing?”

“Space adventures,” she said matter-of-factly. “We’re exploring the moon.”

I smiled, adding stars to her galaxy. “That sounds like fun.”

Luna’s expression was so serious I had to cover my mouth to keep her from seeing my smile. “They can jump super high there because there’s nograbity.”

“Gravity,” I gently corrected.

“That’s what I said,” she replied with the confidence only a four-year-old could muster.

Keltie returned, her expression a mixture of relief and anxiety. “We’re all set.”

Luna looked up from her drawing. “Why do you look sad?”

Keltie forced a smile. “We’re not sad, sweetheart. We were talking about the medicine you need to take soon.”

Luna wrinkled her nose. “The yucky kind?”

“I’m afraid so,” Keltie replied honestly. “But it’s going to help you feel better.”

“Do we have to go to Denver again?”

---