Chapter 8: What Daniel Said When He Finally Had to Say It Out Loud
I met Daniel at a coffee shop three blocks from my office.
He was already there when I arrived.
He had a cup in front of him that he hadn't touched.
He looked like he hadn't slept in several days, which was probably accurate.
I sat down across from him.
He opened his mouth.
"Don't apologize yet," I said.
"I need you to answer some questions first."
He closed his mouth and nodded.
"The bottles.
Where did you get them?"
He looked at the table.
"I have a contact at a distribution company.
I've used him before for samples.
I told him it was for a family member with sleep difficulties.
He didn't ask more than that."
"You gave a controlled sedative to a one-year-old baby."
"I know."
"Say it back to me."
He looked up.
"I gave a sedative to Noah.
Without a prescription.
Without a doctor.
Without telling you." His voice was flat.
"I know what that is."
"The doctor filed a report.
There will likely be an investigation."
He nodded.
"I know.
My lawyer told me."
"You have a lawyer."
"Yes."
"Good." I wrapped both hands around my coffee cup.
"The paternity results came back."
He went very still.
"He's yours," I said.
Daniel's eyes closed.
He sat like that for a moment.
When he opened them again, they were red at the edges.
"I didn't know for certain," he said.
"I want you to know that.
I suspected.
But I didn't know."
"Did you ask her?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
"She said it was mine.
Then she said it was yours.
Then she said she didn't know." He exhaled slowly.
"I should have pushed harder.
I should have demanded a test.
I told myself I was staying out of it.
That it was her marriage, her decision." He stopped.
"I was a coward."
"Yes," I said.
"You were."
He didn't flinch.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"I know that doesn't fix anything."
"No.
It doesn't."
"What do you need from me?"
I looked at him across the table.
My brother.
The person who had called me from college when he was homesick.
Who had read a toast at my wedding and meant every word of it, or seemed to.
"Noah needs a father," I said.
"A real one.
Not someone who shows up when it's convenient."
"I want to be there for him."
"Then be there.
Every day.
Not because a court tells you to.
Because he deserves it."
"I will."
"And Daniel." I leaned forward slightly.
"If you ever — ever — give that child anything without a doctor's authorization again.
If you ever make a decision about his health or his safety without proper oversight.
I will make sure every consequence available under the law lands on you.
Do you understand me?"
"Yes," he said quietly.
"Good."
I stood up.
He looked up at me.
"Are we—" He stopped.
Started again.
"Is there anything left?
Between us?"
I picked up my jacket from the back of the chair.
"I don't know yet," I said.
"Ask me in a year."
I walked out of the coffee shop.
The morning air was cold and clear.
I stood on the pavement for a moment.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Patricia.
*Vanessa signed.
Full custody of Lily, uncontested.
She has until end of month to arrange alternative housing.
Noah's proceedings will be filed separately under Daniel's name.
Carol Briggs has confirmed her statement in writing.
We're done.*
I read the message twice.
Then I put my phone in my pocket and started walking back toward the office.
One block in, I stopped.
I turned around and walked back to the coffee shop.
Daniel was still at the table.
He hadn't moved.
He was staring at his untouched cup.
I sat back down across from him.
He looked up, surprised.
"Noah likes his left side when he sleeps," I said.
"Lily figured that out.
She'll tell you, if you ask her."
He stared at me.
"He also doesn't like loud noises first thing in the morning.
Give him a few minutes to wake up before you turn anything on."
Daniel's jaw worked.
"Thank you," he said.
His voice came out rough.
"Don't thank me," I said.
"Just remember it."
May you like
I stood up again and left.
This time I didn't look back.
