Page 92 of Surprise Baby for Mr. Fischer

She grew thoughtful and took her time answering. “For a short time. Being away put a strain on our marriage, and I hated being away from them. Instead of either of us giving up our dreams, we combined what we loved to do. This solution worked for us.”

“Thanks.” Hearing that she’d figured it out gave me hope.

“You’re welcome, Lincoln. I hope you find a way to make it work with Harper. She must be one special lady.”

“She is.”

Now how was I going to convince her of that?

***

ILAID ON THE COUCHin my trailer, staring at the ceiling, fighting the urge to take out the ultrasound picture one more time. With every glance at the only connection to my daughter I had, pain wiggled its way further into my heart. Maybe I should have accepted Amber's offer instead of wallowing in self-pity.

After a few minutes of indecision, I called Max.

He picked up right away, and I could hear his three kids yelling and laughing in the background. “Hey, Linc! I’m happy to hear your voice, man.”

“Hi, Max. Thanks for keeping tabs on me.” He made sure to text me every other day.

“Do you mind if I change it to FaceTime? The rugrats want to say hi.”

“Daddy, I’m not a rugrat,” Max’s six-year-old daughter, Katie, reprimanded her father.

The phone beeped, and I switched over. In a moment, Max and Katie’s faces filled the screen. “Uncle Lincoln,” Katie squealed. “It’s been a hundred years since I last saw you.”

“I miss you too, Princess.”

“When are you coming by to see us?” she asked.

“Soon.”

“Promise?” Katie popped her hands on her hips and regarded me with squinted eyes and a scrunched-up nose. If I didn’t know how sweet she could be, I’d have been intimidated.

“Promise,” I said, as solemnly as I could.

“Okay, here’s Daddy.”

Max chuckled. “You know she’ll harass you until you fulfill that promise. Hey, have you heard from Harper?”

“Not since her last appointment, and even then, it was just ‘everything’s fine’ and ultrasound pictures.”

“I can’t wait to meet my cousin!” Katie screamed from the background. “I’m going to show her how to doeverything.” Katie started listing off all the things she felt the baby needed to know.

“It might take her a little time to catch up with you, sweetheart. But I’m sure when she’s ready, you two will have lots of fun.” Max said, ruffling Katie’s dark brown hair. “Now go play with your brothers for a bit so I can talk to Uncle Lincoln.”

With a heavy sigh and a glare, she complied.

“God, the drama already with that one.” Max chuckled. “This will be your life one day soon.”

I smiled. My daughter wasn’t born, and I was already picturing her to be as precocious as Katie when she turned six years old.

“Did she accept the house?” Max asked.

He’d agreed with me when I first mentioned the idea of giving Harper the house in Rhode Island. This way, she never had to worry about where to live, and with a few modifications, it would be perfect for her and the baby. I already set up an account to automatically pay any taxes or home costs she might accrue while living there. That was the only part I hadn’t informed her of yet.

“The attorney said she signed the papers putting everything in her name. She did mention that she would likely sell it too. So who knows?” It baffled me that she wouldn’t accept it outright. Harper was a practical person. She had to know this was the best alternative for her. She could still travel with the baby and have a place to come home to. I hated to think she’d give it up when I only wanted to provide for her and my child.

“What have you decided to do about your situation?” Max asked, going back to our original conversation.