Joanna tried to imagine how it must feel to discover you were Cliff Whitman’s daughter. It probably didn’t feel like a moment to celebrate. Not something you were going to boast about with friends. She pushed aside her own hurt and heartache. “He let you down, there’s no denying that. But Cliff wasn’t a monster, Ashley. You only know one side of him—the side that treated you and your mother badly. The side the media writes about. But there was another side...” She paused. It was a side she hadn’t thought about for a long time. A side that had been eclipsed by everything that had happened. “He had...qualities.”

Ashley pulled a face. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No. And I can talk more about him if that would help. Tell you more about the real Cliff.” She was glad Nate wasn’t in the room. Talking about Cliff in front of him would have been too awkward. “This isn’t the right time to go into more detail, but I will. For now, believe me when I say you’re nothing like him. And you’re not going to be a terrible parent, Ashley.”

“I have his eyes.”

“They’re your eyes. Just as your decisions and choices are yours.”

“I didn’t make a great choice when I climbed into his car.” Ashley blew her nose. “Maybe I’ve inherited all his worst traits.”

“You were trying to do the best for your child. That already shows you’re nothing like him. And I think you make great choices. Apart from creeping out in the early hours and leaving me a scary note.” She gave a smile. “That wasn’t a great choice. Promise me you won’t make a habit of that. If you’re concerned about something, talk to me.”

“I will. I should have done that, I know. But I was worried that if I told you, you’d feel obliged to talk me out of it. I was trying to protect you.”

Joanna felt a warm glow. Nessa, Ashley, Mel, Greg—maybe she wasn’t as alone as she’d thought. “I appreciate the sentiment, I really do, but you don’t have to do that. I’m good at protecting myself.”

“I know. You’re so...capable. I wish I was like you. I bounce between feeling panic and helplessness.”

“You’re not helpless. You’ve been through a lot, and you’re having to come to terms with a lot of things. You have decisions to make, and I understand that feels overwhelming and stressful. But you don’t have to make all those decisions at once. Take it a step at a time.”

Ashley sat a little straighter. “I’m not going to do what he did. I’m going to take care of this baby, no matter what.”

“I know you are.”

“I would never abandon it.”

“I know that, too.”