“Alice?”
“Yes, Doctor?”
“How is it you knew my name?”
A Southern practiced smile met her lips. “It’s my business to know who you are, Dr. Eddy.”
His next stop was the reception desk. “Good evening, Dr. Eddy.”
He paused, shook off the strange Twilight Zone moment, and went on with business. “I’m going to be here for a while. If a reservation for my room is in place, please let me know so I can move. I know the Morrisons have cleared me to stay, but I really wouldn’t feel right about bumping anyone.”
“That’s so kind of you, Doctor. I’ll be sure and make a note. We do have more than one penthouse suite so there shouldn’t be a problem.”
“But if there is . . .”
“I’ll be sure and let you know.”
“Thank you,” he said. “And another thing. Can I make sure that Dakota Laurens or any of her family are let up to my room without delay . . . day or night.”
“Absolutely.”
Operation Prove It was now under way.
Walt rode the elevator to the top floor more confident than when he’d left.
He stepped out and swiped his key in his door. He stopped cold. “I’m going to be a dad.”
Laughter . . . he heard someone laughing and he wondered for a nanosecond if he was listening to his own thoughts.
“Not the greeting I expected.”
“Trent!” Walt walked into the suite and closed the door. He shook his friend’s hand, took the man-hug that followed. “I’m going to be a dad.”
Trent kept laughing. “So I hear.”
A tiny person was going to look up to him, depend on him to be there day, night, school, first dates . . .
The room spun.
His ass hit the side of a chair before he slid into it.
“I’m going to be a dad.”
Laughter filled his ears. “You have no idea how much I wish my cell phone was on and recording this. Yes, Walt, you’re going to be a dad.”
Walt saw his friend but didn’t really see him. “That’s huge.”
“As life’s moments go. Yeah . . . huge.”
Walt shook off his moment of insanity and smiled. “Not that I’m not happy you’re here, but . . . why are you here?”
“My wife thought you might need a friend.”
He might not ever stop smiling. “Monica’s an amazing person. You’re one lucky bastard, Trent.”
“Damn right.” Trent walked to the en suite kitchen, opened the fridge. “What’s your poison, Dad?”
“Whiskey,” he said with a laugh.
“I take it your conversation with Dakota went well.”
Walt rubbed his hands over his face. “How much did Monica tell you?”
Trent laughed. “We’re married. I doubt she skipped any details. Had she talked with Dakota, I couldn’t say that . . . but that isn’t the case.”
“Dakota didn’t kick me out. We came to some agreement.”
“That’s a start.”
“I don’t think her parents liked me.”
Trent paused while he opened tiny bottles of liquor. “You impregnated their daughter. Probably puts you on their shit list.”
“They don’t know she’s pregnant.”
Trent poured drinks and brought them to the sofa. “Then all they have to go on is, she left LA because of you. Still won’t make you top on their list.”
Walt accepted the drink and let the liquid hit the back of his throat. “I’m going to have to change that.”
“Change what?”
“The fact her parents don’t like me. They’re going to like me a hell of a lot less when they find out she’s pregnant. What parent wants their baby pregnant and unwed?” He wasn’t even a dad yet and Walt felt a severe case of hives coming on.
They sat in silence for a small space of time, then Trent asked, “Can I ask you something personal?”
“Seems we passed that.”
Trent sipped his drink. “Do you love her?”
Walt sucked in a breath. “How the hell do you know when you’re in love?”
“Aw, hell. I remember that. You don’t know . . . you think of her all the time, wonder what she’s doing. Something inside you dies a little when you know she’s not going to take your call. I think the biggest deciding factor is just in knowing that moving on without her is so fucking dark you can’t see straight.”
“Damn.” Trent just described the last week of his life. “I’m in.”
Trent placed a finger under Walt’s glass, helped him tip it to his lips. “Drink up, buddy . . . and welcome to the club.”
Walt finished his drink only to have Trent fill it again.
The bell at the door rang and Trent answered it laughing.
“Mr. Laurens.” Walt jumped, felt his heart in his chest.
The man’s glare said everything.
“Come in.”
Trent offered a sympathetic look over Mr. Laurens’s head. Walt introduced the two of them, watched a friendly handshake. “I think I’ll give you some privacy,” Trent said. “You can find me downstairs in the lounge when you’re done.”
Walt offered a thanks and turned to face Dakota’s father once they were alone. “Can I offer you a drink?”
“I’m not staying long.” Mr. Laurens walked deeper into the room, looked around. “It certainly appears as if you have the means to take care of my daughter.”
“I do.”
“Yet you didn’t.”
Walt opened his mouth only to have Dakota’s father stop him with a look.
“I have only been the father of daughters, Walt. When they were teenagers and first started dating, I put the fear of God into the boys picking them up. Elaine and I always worried. As I’ve grown older and my daughters have turned into women, the worry of one of them coming home unwed and pregnant didn’t enter my mind. Until tonight.”
Walt studied his shoes. “I will take care of your daughter.”
“You’re off to a booming start there.”
“I know you’re upset—”
“I passed upset before I got in my car. I’m pissed and I’m here to hear what you plan on doing. Raising children is a full-time job for two parents. Two!”
“I know that. I’m not going anywhere, Mr. Laurens. I am going to be here for your daughter and our child. I’m not sure what else you want me to say.”