Later, when Alicia questioned him about it hetold her he didn’t know whose number it had been. At the time Vickydidn’t have a cell phone and he hadn’t taken on another lover. Hehad his suspicions but he didn’t recognize the number so he wasn’tsure who the woman was on the other end of the phone. However, whenRyan was alone he called the number back and Vicky answered.
His conscience rarely appeared but it chosethat particular moment to show up. Ryan confessed everything toVicky. She deserved at least that much. She remained quiet theentire time. No matter how much he thought about starting overfresh and creating a life with Vicky and his child, he justcouldn’t destroy all he worked so hard to gain. Ryan still neededAlicia’s parent’s money and connections. He had made up in his mindthat he would give Vicky some cash and be done with it.
Ryan remembered asking, “Do you and the babyneed anything?” Regardless of her answer he knew he would depositsome money into an account for them. That was all he could do.
Vicky calmly said no before she hung up thephone.
Ryan had been so nervous his world was aboutto crash down around him that he hadn’t even realized until afterthey hung up that he didn’t even know if his child was a boy or agirl. That was the last time they’d spoken.
Ryan had had affairs in the past but Vickyhad been dangerous. She was a keeper. Hurting her was his one bigregret. Maybe if things had been different.
Anyway that was all water under the bridgenow. After his affair with Vicky, Ryan learned his lesson. Now, hemade sure he took every precaution not to get his mistressespregnant.
“Ryan, will you take the test?”
Vicky’s voice brought him back to thepresent. If anyone found out that he had a baby outside of hismarriage that would be a disaster. He was now one of Minnesota’sstate senators and possibly the next governor. There was no wayAlicia would accept Vicky’s child. . Alicia would definitely nothandle the fact he’d had an affair with a black woman and fathereda child with her as well. Her ego wouldn’t be able to process thatone. Knowing Alicia and her family, he knew they might overlook anaffair. Both he and Alicia had overlooked each other’s manyindiscretions in the past. But, appearances were everything tothem. This might prevent him from ever becoming governor. If Aliciathought there was no hope of moving into the governor’s mansionthere is no doubt she would divorce him and the pre-nup he’d signedwas pretty iron-clad.
Ryan had to make a choice. He couldn’tdestroy everything he’d worked so hard for because of thismistake.
Jason quietly walked back into Vicky’s room.She was on the phone. He felt the tension in the air and could seethe controlled rage on her face. Then, he understood.
“Ryan, are you still there? Will you take thetest?”
“I don’t need to take the test Vicky. I knowmy blood type. I just don’t know how I can help you. Look, I’ve gotanother call coming through and I’ve got to take it. Good luck.”Ryan hung up the phone hearing Vicky call out his name as he putthe phone back onto the receiver.
After his call with Vicky, Ryan found himselfthinking that he was a selfish bastard. Could he really let his ownchild die?
Vicky hung up the phone and put her head inher hands. She hadn’t heard Jason come back into the room.
Jason touched her shoulders “You ok?”
Vicky snatched her head up before letting thetears erupt, “I don’t know if I’ll ever be ok again Jason.”
He sat on the bed and leaned in to hold her“We’ll get through this. I promise.”
“I spoke with Dr. Franks and if you’re up toit we can head down to recovery.”
“Yes, yes. I’m ready. Please let’s go.”
Jason helped Vicky out of her bed as theymade their way to see Angel. “I called Franklin, he’s taking thenext flight out and I asked if he could bring Sandra as well. Iknow you two have grown quite close to each other and I’m sure youcan use her support right now. Did you get in touch with yourAunt?”
Vicky “I called her but wasn’t able to getthrough. I left her an urgent message. If she doesn’t call back bythe time we get back to the room I will call her again.”
“Maybe I can send someone to her home? Wasthat who was on the phone?”
Vicky peered into Jason’s eyes beforeanswering. He loved her. She could see it plain as day. She heldthe power to hurt him. And that she never wanted to do. But, shewould not lie to him. “No it wasn’t. It was Angel’s father, RyanCarter.”
Jason knew before she uttered the words. Hehated knowing that Vicky would need his help. Especially someoneshe once thought she was in love. Jason felt somewhat ashamed forfeeling jealous at a time like this….especially when he knew Vickyloved him. They were about to get married and bring another babyinto this world.
At some point Jason knew he might have todeal with Angel’s biological father. These weren’t idealcircumstances but they all had to deal with the reality of theirsituation “When will he be here?”
Vicky sighed “I’m not sure. He never said hewas coming. I’m just hoping he does the right thing.”
Jason thought to himself that Vickydidn’t need to worry if ‘Ryan’ would show up to get tested. Oncethey finished with seeing Angel in recovery he would make sure‘Ryan’ DID show up.
“And Jason, he’s a match.”
Chapter 11
Franklin Roth, who was the CFO of CkRInternational and Jason’s best friend, had received the call fromhim while he was in the middle of a meeting. Franklin cancelled therest of his meeting and made arrangements to get to Atlanta as soonas possible. However, he needed to go find Sandra Catchings to makesure she’d spoken with Jason and to confirm she was
