Page 47 of The Omega's Secret Baby

“You don’t have to thank me. This is what parents do, right? I’m just glad you got the day off work.”

Eli waved dismissively with his free hand. “Let’s not talk about work. I’m starting to think I bit off more than I could chew with the whole fashion show thing.”

“Oh, you’re doing it?”

“Yeah, at the end of next month. You want to come?”

The end of next month. Suddenly I got the feeling that Eli was only asking to see if I’d really still be around by then. I leaned in to give him a quick kiss. “Sure, I’ll come. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Eli smiled at me. He looked so genuinely happy that my heart skipped a beat just seeing him like that and knowing I’d put that smile on his face.

This, more than anything, told me I’d done the right thing by divorcing Danielle.

Jake ran up to us. “Did you see that snake? It’s huuuge!”

“Show me,” Eli said as our son dragged him to the reptiles.

My phone rang as I watched them go. Caller ID told me that it was my sister on the other end of the line. I grimaced as I took the call. “Hello?”

“Where are you?” she demanded. “You need to come home right now.”

“Why? What’s going on?” She sounded almost frantic, and that wasn’t like her. Something had to be wrong. I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Father had another heart attack.”

Another? “What do you mean another heart attack?” I’d never even heard of the first one, but ifthatwas what had happened, no wonder everyone was so concerned.

“Will you just come home?” She hung up before giving me a chance to respond. Typical. But in this instance, I didn’t even blame her. She was stressed. After all, Father had just had a heart attack.

Oh God.

Slowly, that information was really starting to sink in.

“Matt?” Eli shot me a curious look. “Everything alright?”

Oh no. Things weresonot alright. “My father had a heart attack,” I said quietly, so Jake wouldn’t hear.

“Oh God.” Eli held a hand in front of his mouth. “That’s terrible.”

“Yeah.” I took a deep breath.

“How is he?”

“I don’t know. My sister just called. She wants me to come home immediately.”

“Of course. You need to go. I’ll tell Jake that we’re leaving.”

“Oh no. You stay.” No reason the day had to be ruined for all of us. I got my wallet out of my pocket and opened it. “Here, take a cab home when you’re done,” I said, handing Eli one of my credit cards.

“That would cost a fortune!”

I shook my head. “I don’t care.” Money had always been one of the few things not missing from my life. If it could ensure that Eli and Jake got to enjoy their trip to the zoo then there was no better use for it. “I need to go. About Jake, I—”

“Forget about that for now. Just call me after you know more, okay?”

“Yeah, I will.”

I only hoped that I would have good news to share.