She tucked her head against his shoulder, sliding her cool arm across his stomach. “You have the biggest heart,” she said. “You’ll be such a good dad. We’ll have the most beautiful kids in the world. Smartest, too. And they will adore you.”

It was just what he needed to hear, with his secret fear that there was part of him that was locked away, uncaring and dead. She pressed a kiss to his chest, and another to his neck.

“Should we practice making babies?” he asked, feeling a smile start across his face. “So we get it right when the time comes?”

“Yes, please, husband.” She laughed, a sound as beautiful to him as the morning birds.

What a perfect day that had been. What a beautiful, perfect day. He would always have that day, proof that he could be utterly, completely happy.

And now, remembering that conversation, pressing the memory into his heart, he could see he had given her some reason to think that he would like to meet his father.

He knew his father’s name . . . it was listed on his birth certificate. Christopher M. Zane. But first, he’d have to talk to his mom.

THE NEXT DAY, he sat in his childhood home. His mom had made pot roast for him, Sumi and Ben. Sometimes she insisted on being the one to cook, since Sumi took care of that most of the time.

They ate dutifully, Sumi sneaking some seasoning out of her purse and dashing it onto her plate, then Ben’s as Stephanie’s back was turned. Josh smiled, and she passed him some. Ah. Bulgogi spice mix, the magic of paprika, garlic, ginger and brown sugar. A pity that thirty years of living next door to the Kims hadn’t made his own mother a better cook. She viewed meals as a necessary evil, good Lutheran that she was.

“It’s delicious, Mom,” he said, winking at Sumi.

“We have happy news,” Sumi said. “Hana’s expecting again. Five months along! We thought she was too old, but guess what? She’s still got some good eggs.”

Ben chuckled. “Their oldest is a senior in high school. So much for retirement, but a baby is always a blessing.”

There was a pause.

“How wonderful!” said Stephanie, too emphatically. She carefully avoided looking at Josh.

So here it was. The awkward moment as the Kims realized Stephanie wouldn’t be a grandmother, or Josh a father, and that Lauren was still dead.

Sumi looked at her hands. Ben cleared his throat.

“Congratulations,” Josh said, getting up to kiss Sumi’s cheek, clapping Ben on the shoulder the way Darius would have. Like a normal person.

“Thank you, Joshie,” Sumi said, though her voice was subdued. “We’re thrilled.”