Tears of joy fell to her cheeks as she nodded, but Daniel caught a fleeting sadness, as well. It occurred to him again how hard this must be for Sheila. Wonderful, but not without difficult memories.

“I mean, they’re your eyes.”

She grabbed Jim’s hand and interlocked their fingers. “They’re her eyes.” Her grief for Sara and her joy for her new son were intertwined all in the same moment.

He had been so very wrong. A new baby didn’t take away from Sara—a new baby helped to keep her alive. He returned his attention to the now sleeping baby in his arms. Daniel inhaled that baby smell and allowed himself to be taken back in time to Sara’s birth. He really hadn’t known what he was going to do with a baby. His excitement had been interlaced with apprehension. Overwhelmed didn’t even begin to describe it. Each day his heart had swelled with love he hadn’t even known he was capable of, and he had followed it, hoping he would be a good father. He kissed Sheila’s forehead. “You make beautiful babies.”

She flushed and turned to her husband. Jim’s eyes filled with new-dad tears as he took in his son. Daniel reluctantly put the baby into their arms and stepped back. Jim kissed Sheila, and they both spent the next few minutes gazing at the wonder that was this newborn child.

“You got a name?”

Jim beamed. “Aaron. It means strength.”

Daniel nodded, a calm and peace coming over him that he hadn’t experienced in some time. Without consciously doing so, he imagined a similar scene with a baby whose eyes were so brown and soft they were almost black. He imagined creamy brown skin, and perfect little red lips. He imagined a baby that was his. His and Annika’s.

The pit in his stomach was gone. It was replaced by an intense longing, as if a dam had broken, and what came through was that this was what he wanted. His fear had blocked him from seeing it, but this was what his life should be, risks and all.

CHAPTER THIRTY

ANNIKA

ANNIKA SEARCHED THE busy restaurant until familiar hazel-brown eyes met hers. Sajan raised his hand in greeting and smiled. Annika smiled back and walked toward the booth where he was seated. He was quite handsome, and the restaurant he’d chosen was trendy but tasteful. She willed herself to feel something—anything—for this wonderful man who could be part of her future.

Sajan stood as she approached the booth and waited while she settled herself in. Good manners. She was really reaching.

Popular music played and laughter sprang out spontaneously over the general chatter of the customers. It was early on a Saturday night, and anticipation of what the evening would bring buzzed in the air, creating a tangible excitement. Annika tried to tap into that energy.