Page 86 of Secret Baby Next Door
“Or, maybe I was wrong,” John said. “Maybe it’s not the military that should get the credit for getting him sorted out, maybe it’ll be fatherhood.”
Valentino squeezed my hand one more time, then sat back.
“Speaking of which, I need to get Gage’s paternity figured out ASAP.”
“It’s Sunday,” I said. “We’ll have to wait until tomorrow, right?”
He shook his head. “Not necessarily.” He took out his phone, typing up a message. “Got a few doctor friends who owe me favors. I’m sure one of them can do a last-minute paternity test.”
“Whatever happens,” I said. “We’re in this together.”
He took my hand one more time and kissed it. “You’re damn right about that.”
Chapter 29
VALENTINO
“See? Itoldyou!”
Ashley was so excited by the news that I was, in fact, Gage’s father, that she looked like she might explode.
As she celebrated, part of me got the sense that shehadn’tbeen one-hundred-percent certain that he was mine. If she’d been with other men around the time that she and I had our brief affair, then she had to have suspected that someone else could’ve been the father.
Either way, it didn’t matter. The test results were right in front of us. Gage slept in his stroller near one of the many tall, book-packed shelves in the office.
Ashley had shown back up right around the time that I’d been getting ready to leave for the appointment. Naturally, she’d wanted to come. I wasn’t happy in the slightest with her for ditching her child the way she’d done, but for the sake of keeping the peace, I'd decided to hold off my chewing out until after the appointment.
“Congrats, Dad.” Dr. Hank Thorne, my OB/GYN pal, stood before me with an expression of slight amusement on his face. “I’ll give you two a little time to talk it over while I print out the paperwork.”
With that, he left his office, a small smile on his face that suggested he found the situation a little amusing. Hank was an old med school buddy of mine, which meant that he knew all about my former womanizing ways. Knowing him, he was no doubt amused that my old ways had popped up again to bite me in the ass.
“This is perfect,” she said. “Gageisyours, it's official. I mean, I knew he was, but nowyouknow.” Once more, that same relief returned to her face. “Why don’t we start with visitation? Oh! Actually, we should start withcompensation.” She began rummaging through her purse, pieces of looseleaf paper falling out here and there. Ashley was getting more hopped up and manic by the second, as if she were excited beyond control.
“I put something together when I decided that I was going to come and talk to you. I went full-term so that’s nine months, along with the birth, and then the five months of Gage being around so far. So, I did some number-crunching and came up with what I think ismorethan a fair amount for what I had to go through alone. Plus medical bills, of course.”
She handed the piece of paper over, her hand shaking with energy and a big smile on her face. Apprehensively, I took the paper and glanced down. It was a sizable amount.
“And here’s the proof of the medical bills.” She shoved more papers in my face.
“Easy, now,” I said, slowly taking them out of her hand.
I leafed through them, the medical bills looking legit.
“I’ve been going through this all on my own. So, I think it’s only fair that you transfer the money as soon as possible. Say, right after this appointment. Then, at some point in the future, we can meet with your lawyer or whatever and get visitation sorted out.”
I couldn’t help but notice that the amount Ashley was asking for far exceeded the amount of her bills. It made a certain amount of sense, shehadbeen covering Gage’s parenting costs all on her own. Still, it was a ridiculously huge sum.
“So, let’s be clear here. I cover your bills and throw in a little extra for the rest. That puts us on even footing, right? When we talk to my lawyer, you’re not going to use the fact that I wasn’t there to screw me out of visitation, I mean.”
She shook her head. “You transfer that amount in my account, and we’re square. I won’t hold a grudge or try to use it against you.”
I nodded, taking one more glance at the amount. It was fair.
“Alright. Let’s go to my bank and I’ll transfer it over. And, no offense, but I’m going to have my lawyer there to get all of this in writing.”
She cocked her head to the side. “What? Why?”
“Just so it’s all nice and legal. I don’t know you all that well, Ashley, and I want to make sure that nomisunderstandingsaffect me being able to see Gage.”
