Page 89 of Silver Fox's Secret Baby

I wondered about the last five years. Had Samantha done all of it on her own? Surely, Gwen was a source of support. Samantha had Victoria, except she didn’t. I remembered Victoria being angry at me that Samantha was so far away and stopped communicating with her. Was that my fault? Had Samantha cut herself off from Victoria because of my actions? Who did she have now?

No one. Not unless Marie counted. I counted on Knightly and Mrs. Tillis for quite a bit, but they weren’t emotional support.

“Mr. Banion?”

I looked up at the nurse standing in front of me.

“Yes.”

“Your daughter wants to introduce her son to you.”

What? I glanced at my watch. I’d been ruminating about my life and Samantha for four hours.

I jumped up. “I can’t wait to meet him.” I started to the room, then cursed at myself for not getting a present for them. Oh, well. I’d do it later.

I stepped into the room to find Victoria cooing over a tiny baby and Alex teary as he looked down on them. I couldn’t blame him. Tears came to my eyes.

“Hey, Grandpa,” Victoria said, her smile lighting up the room. “Come meet Henry Banion Sterling.”

I laughed. “You gave him two of my names? I already forgave you, Alex.” I reached my hand to shake it. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Henry. Isn’t he the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?” Alex stepped away so I could stand next to Victoria.

The baby was perfect. “He’s nearly as beautiful as Tori was at birth.” I remembered this moment after she was born. I’d been in awe and terrified I’d fuck it up, and at the same time, sure that I’d made the right choice. Her mother had been ready to leave the hospital. To leave our child. To this day, I never understood that.

“Do you want to hold him?” Victoria held him to me. I looked to Alex, who I felt was the person who should be holding his son.

He nodded. “Enjoy it now because you may never get another chance.”

My hands trembled as I cradled my grandson, his delicate features so perfectly formed. “He’s absolutely perfect..." My breath caught as the joy of this moment mixed with the grief and regret about Pax.

“You okay, Dad?”

I sniffed. “Yeah. Just thinking about when I first saw you... and how I missed this with Pax.”

Her expression shone with sympathy. “I’m sorry that happened. I’m still in shock about it.”

“Maybe that says something,” Alex commented.

Both Victoria and I looked at him.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I mean you’re in shock because you thought she was a different sort of person.”

“Right.”

“After all the time you and Samantha were friends, one situation has you tossing all that out and thinking she’s actually a terrible person.”

I felt my defenses rising. “It’s not like she lied about something little. I lost four years, Alex. I didn’t have this moment.”

Alex nodded. “I know. But just because she did that shouldn’t discount everything else, should it? Not if there’s a good reason.”

“How could there be a good reason?” Victoria asked.

“Maybe now isn’t the time. We’re here to celebrate this wonderful life.”

"Actually, Henry, it's the perfect time. You're both here, celebrating new life, and yet you're still clinging to old grudges.”

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