Daniel parked his bike, grabbed the brown bag and took off his helmet. Someone was exiting the building, so he didn’t have to buzz up and risk rejection. His brain whirred with images of Sara and Sheila, and his ears echoed with Sheila’s guttural “Get out!” Maybe he was out of line, but he couldn’t accept her replacing their daughter. And he certainly wouldn’t be anyone’s godfather. He just couldn’t.

He found his way back up to the apartment. If he could get in this easily, he was going to have a word with Annika about her personal security. He found the door he wanted and knocked before he lost his nerve. “Annika. It’s Daniel.”

She cracked open the door and peeked out, and just the sight of those brown eyes calmed his breathing some. She closed the door and unlatched the chain, and it seemed a year before Daniel could see her eyes again.

“Hey... Daniel.” She eyed him with trepidation as he walked past her as if he lived there.

“Can I have two glasses, please?” He was brusque and he knew it, but his breath was short and his mind would not settle.

She opened a cabinet, pulled out two short tumblers and set them in front of him. He set down his helmet as the weight of her gaze bore through him. Undaunted, he opened the bourbon and poured them each two fingers.

“What’s going on, Daniel?” There was no anger in her voice, but her tone demanded an answer.

He raised his glass to her and waited until she did the same. He took a gulp of his bourbon and enjoyed the burn as it flowed through his body and warmed him. Annika’s mouth gaped open.

“Sheila’s having another baby.” He said it as if that explained everything, then turned to examine his surroundings. They were standing between her small kitchen and the dining area, the bourbon bottle resting on the high granite countertop that was large enough to serve as a breakfast bar. The small dining room was open to the adjoining family room. In the back of the family room, an open door led to a bedroom. A small statue of Ganesha stood on the counter. Remover of obstacles, ha. Obstacles were never removed—only added.

Annika sipped her drink. “Your ex-wife is having a baby, so you’re drinking?” She narrowed her eyes, her gaze penetrating. “Are you still in love with her?”

“No.” He had the presence of mind to catch the worry in her voice. “That’s not the problem.”

“Okay, Daniel. What’s the problem?”