“But he’s really okay?”
“He’s here a bit early, but otherwise, he’s perfect.”
She searched his face, trying to see what he wasn’t telling her. She was certain there were things he was keeping to himself. “I heard you earlier speaking in English. I could have sworn you were talking to Mr. Laurent. Is he here?”
He hesitated for just a moment before nodding. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to make some changes to our agreement, and time was of the essence, so I flew him over. He arrived early this morning.”
“What changes are you making to the contract?”
“We can discuss after the doctor has been in. He’s been waiting to see you but I wouldn’t let him wake you up. I can’t believe how many times the nurses come in to check on you. It’s impossible for you to get any rest here.”
He sounded so indignant she almost smiled. “So tell me what’s happening. Don’t make me wait.”
“I changed the documents. I gave you primary custody of our son.”
She struggled to sit up. “What?”
“Shh, lie down, don’t get excited.” He gently pushed her back. “You are his mother, and a mother should have a voice and power and control.”
“But why primary custody? Why not joint custody?”
“Mr. Laurent said the same thing.” He hesitated. “But if I changed the agreement to joint custody, then I am forcing you to co-parent with me. I am forcing you to interact with me constantly, discussing everything from his holidays to his education to medical care. If we were on good terms, it would not be a problem, but if it is not good between us, it will be difficult and will create even more anger and resentment.”
But she still didn’t understand. “This isn’t what you wanted, Nikos. This isn’t what we were doing.”
“He needs a mother. He needs you.”
“And he needs a father, too. And you are his father.”
“I intend to be his father. I intend to be in his life, but you will get to decide how we do this. It is my hope that you will feel empowered and secure—”
“Nikos, I never wanted to be a single mother!” she interrupted fiercely, tears filling her eyes. “This wasn’t the plan!”
“I know you have school. Two more years of school. And then your residency—”
“And how am I going to do that now?”
“I will help.”
“You will help?”
He nodded. “I am not walking away from you. I am not walking away from my son. I will provide financially, but I will also be there.”
“How?”
He shrugged. “I have planes. I can fly to America, too.”
“You are going to come to Atlanta?”
He shrugged. “If that is where my son is.”
She opened her mouth, closed it, not at all certain what to say.
Nikos stood up. “I’m going to see if I can have them bring the baby to you. I think it’s time you met your son.”
* * *
Georgia was able to have a visit with her son—he was small, but, as Nikos said, he was perfect in every other way—before the nurses whisked him back to the neonatal unit, where they were keeping him warm and under close supervision.
Georgia had dozed off but was awake again, trying to sort out how she felt about everything.
So much had happened in such a short period of time that it was difficult to separate her feelings from the facts, as well as the drama.
She’d missed Nikos when she’d been on Amorgós. And when she was in pain, and trouble, all she’d wanted was Nikos at her side.
She didn’t want to raise a child on her own. She hadn’t agreed to be a donor and surrogate to become a single mother. Nikos would be a good father, too. A very devoted father.
How could she take the baby to Atlanta and raise him there?
Even if Nikos agreed to go to Atlanta and share parenting responsibilities with her in America...how would that really work? And was that the right thing for any of them?
Georgia couldn’t picture Nikos in Atlanta. It wasn’t just because he was Greek—he was a man that needed his sea and his sky and his space. She couldn’t imagine him in a city or even a suburb of Atlanta. But why was she worrying about what he needed? Why did she care?
Because she did care.
Because she loved him.
No matter how the baby had been conceived, it was their baby, and it was their responsibility to figure this out, sort it out.
She didn’t know why Nikos had fallen in love with Elsa. She didn’t know why Elsa wasn’t happy with Nikos. She didn’t know about Ambrose or any of it, and, to be honest, she didn’t want to know.
She didn’t want all the details. It wasn’t her relationship, and she wasn’t part of that bit of history. She had her own history and her own struggles and her own dreams.
She’d been happy with Nikos...blissfully happy during that month after they’d been to Amorgós, and before she’d found the photo on her laundry.
She’d wondered about the photo appearing on her folded laundry, and she’d wondered if someone had put it there to hurt her, and then she’d dismissed the thought as irrational.
The door to her room opened, and a head appeared. “Is this Georgia Nielsen’s room?”
Georgia’s eyes widened, and she struggled to sit up again. “Savannah!”
Savannah grinned and closed the door behind her. “Up to having a visitor?”
“Oh, my God, yes. What are you doing here?”
Savannah rushed to her sister’s side and hugged her fiercely. “I missed you!”
“I missed you, too.” Georgia hugged her sister back, shocked and yet delighted. “When did you get here? How did you get here?”
Savannah sat down on the edge of the bed. “Nikos flew me over with Mr. Laurent. That Mr. Laurent is a cold fish, but Nikos is lovely.” She took Georgia’s hand, gave it a squeeze. “How are you feeling? Better?”
“I feel fine. A bit sore. But that will pass.” She squeezed Savannah’s fingers. “So you’ve met Nikos?”
“And the baby. He’s delicious.” She grinned. “Well, they’re both delicious. I hope you’re keeping him.”
“The baby?”
“No. Nikos. I know you’ll keep the baby. I didn’t know how you were ever going to give him up. But Nikos. He strikes me as a little complicated, but you’ve always liked a good challenge.”
“He’s more than complicated. He’s a disaster. He picked me to be the donor because I look like his dead wife.”
“Yes, I’ve heard all that, and seen the photos. Mr. Laurent had some copies of the newspaper articles reporting her death—so tragic—but she didn’t help herself any, getting pregnant with another man’s baby and then trying to blackmail Nikos.”
“Wait. What?” Georgia dragged herself into a more comfortable sitting position. “Slow down. Say that again.”
“From what I gather, she never loved Nikos. She only married him for his