Anna stepped through the front door of her father’s house. She felt exhausted, like she hadn’t slept in a week, even though it had only been a few days. It was why she had asked Eric to drop her off here instead of going to Mt. Sinai with them. She just wanted to curl up in bed and sleep, or at least rest. Anna wasn’t sure she’d be able to sleep anytime soon. Every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Michael’s face.

  “Anna?” her dad’s voice bellowed from his office.

  Anna shut the door and walked the five steps to the front room. She peered in. Dad was sitting behind his desk with two different phones to his ear. Obviously, he was busy.

  “Hey, I’m back. Just going up to get some rest,” she told him.

  “Okay, Hun. You want to get dinner in a bit?” he asked.

  “Sure, just come get me when you are ready.”

  He gave a thumbs-up and went back to his work. Anna turned and made her way up to her room. She plopped down on her bed, allowing herself to sink into the plush mattress and lavender bedding. If only she could get herself to relax, get her brain to stop long enough to actually fall asleep.

  It had been more difficult than expected to go out to the farm. She had wanted to go out there with Eric and Emmaline because she thought it might bring her some sort of closure, or at the very least some relief seeing the last place Michael had been before he’d left. But all it had done was make her more upset to walk in his last frantic footsteps.

  To land where he had in the helicopter, to hear the story from the neighbor of how Michael had confronted Arnold, to stand in the very spot where the ship had beamed him up. It was all too raw, too real.

  Anna rolled onto her side and pulled her knees to her chest. The farm had been unnaturally quiet—like the land itself was in mourning for what had happened. Tears pricked at her eyes. Anna didn’t fight them as they slid silently down her cheeks and onto her pillow. The magnitude of the loss felt physical, like a weight pressing against her chest. Each breath required significant effort.

  She reached for her phone, scrolling through her messages with Michael. There were so many. He was always texting her throughout the day, asking how her shift was, if she had anything good for lunch, or just to say a quick I love you and can’t wait until our next meetup. The more she scrolled, the sadder Anna got until she put the phone face down on her nightstand.

  How could this have happened? Everything had been so normal. And now, everything was upside down. It was bad enough that Michael was gone, but now there was the baby.

  Anna had been so happy when she’d seen the positive result, the first time and the second time. Sure, this was going to mess up their carefully laid out plans, but she knew Michael would be overjoyed. He always talked of wanting kids, but they agreed to wait until she was done with her residency and maybe a little while after that for her to get her career off the ground. But they’d work it out like they’d always worked everything out. Together.

  Only now that he was gone. There would be no together. There was just her. It would all be just here. How was she going to do this on her own? Yes, it was nice of Eric and Emmaline to say what they did, but realistically she didn’t expect much. How could she? Eric had a commitment to the Navy and Emmaline still in grade school. How much help could they really be?

  And Dad. She still had to tell Dad. Anna wasn’t sure how he would react. Normally, she imagined he’d be happy, but with how things were now? She just didn’t know. That was part of why she hadn’t told him when she first arrived that and she’d been too much in shock from the news. Anna knew she’d have to say something soon. Maybe she’d get a chance over dinner.

  She lay there for a long time before she drifted off into a restless sleep. Anna dreamed of Michael and the impromptu weekend getaway to Ocean City, which she was pretty sure that’s when she’d gotten pregnant. She had accidentally missed one of her birth control pills. It was the mini pill, so she used a backup contraceptive, but obviously it hadn’t worked. Her dreams were full of sand, ocean waves, and Michael’s warm kisses.

  A steady knocking and someone calling her name woke Anna from her dreams. She blinked away the sleep from her eyes as he tried to remember where she was.

  “Anna? You still want to get dinner?”

  Home. She was back home. Michael was gone, and that was her dad knocking on her door. Anna slowly sat up.

  “Yeah, just give me a minute.”

  After a trip to the bathroom and splashing some water on her face, Anna felt much better. She also decided to dress up a little, which lifted her mood even more. She made her way downstairs to find her dad standing in the foyer, holding out her coat.

  “Did you get some rest?”

  “I think I did actually,” she said, letting her dad help her slip on her navy peacoat.

  “Glad to hear it. I wasn’t sure where you wanted to go, but I know Ci Siamo is always a safe bet. We have reservations in half an hour in one of their private dining rooms.”

  Anna smiled. “I love it there.”

  Her father smiled back. “I know.”

  “How did you get a reservation this late?” She asked as her dad opened the front door and ushered her out. There was a car waiting for them at the curb.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “I have my ways,” he said smugly as she followed behind.

  They arrived just before eight o’clock, but as soon as the host saw Dad, they were quickly ushered into a private room. Anna took off her coat and took a seat at the table set for two right by a window that reached from floor to ceiling. She devoured the sight of the cityscape before her, which included a lit-up Empire State Building. It was a sight that never got old, even for a jaded New Yorker like her.

  “This was exactly right. Thank you, Dad,” Anna said as she picked up the menu.

  She already knew what she was going to have with the cappelletti. It was her go-to whenever she came here, but it never hurt to look. There might be something else she might like to try, but after a quick glance, she decided on the usual.

  “Did you want white or red tonight, Hun?” Dad asked as the waiter came up to their table.

  “What?” Anna asked.

  “Wine? Which do you want?” Dad asked.

  Of course, she knew immediately what he’d been asking for, but she was struggling to think what to say. Anna always had a glass of wine with dinner when she went out, and Dad knew that. And she certainly wasn’t ready to make her confession with the waiter standing over them. Just because she ordered some wine, didn’t mean she had to drink it.

  “White. Dry, and some water please,” Anna said quickly.

  Dad rattled off the name of a bottle that Anna was pretty sure was the most expensive at the restaurant. The waiter then exited the room as quickly and quietly as he had come. A soft Italian song played in the background.

  “So how was your day?” Dad said as he looked over the menu, but Anna knew what he would have. Like her, he had his favorite dish. His was the tagliatelle.

  “Unexpected.”

  “Oh?” He looked over his menu at her.

  “As you know, we went to get Arnold’s car and, when we were there, ran into the next-door neighbor.”

  “Which one? Not that Radcliffe fellow?”

  Dad wasn’t much of a fan of the Radcliffes, and neither, as far as Anna could tell, was anyone else. “No, Angus Grober.”

  Dad snorted. “What did that blowhard have to say?”

  “Quite a lot, actually. He saw Arnold on the big hill right behind the farm. You know the one with the overgrown drive.”

  Dad frowned. “Yeah, I know the one.”

  “Well, he saw Arnold drive up onto the hill and get out of his car to wait. I’m assuming the ship to show up. Then Grober saw Michael try to sneak up on his dad. Arnold incapacitated him. Then a major argument happened between them. Grober said it even got physical. Then Arnold just stopped still. It must have been when that Mind Bender thing happened to him. Grober then saw Michael get Arnold in the car and drive back down to the farm.”

  “Oh, Hun,” her dad shook his head. “I’m sorry. If I had known that was going to happen, I would have suggested you not go.”

  “Oh, but it gets better,” Anna continued, like she hadn’t even heard him. “Grober also saw when Michael got beamed up to the ship. That he was just lifted right into the sky and then gone.”

  The last part of her words was full of emotion, and she could feel the tears coming on again. God, how much more crying would she do? She could already feel dry eye setting in. She’d have to remember to get some Visine on the way home.

  Neither of them spoke as the Italian song ended and another one started. Anna realized that if she didn’t say something now, she might lose her nerve altogether. “I’m pregnant. I found out on Monday, and I didn’t have a chance to tell Michael before he left. It’s early. Just around five weeks.”

  It was as if Anna had dropped a glacier in the room. The cozy warm room was suddenly ice cold. Dad sat ramrod straight in his chair without a muscle twitching on his face, which was a clear giveaway to Anna of what he thought of the news.

  “I thought you two were waiting until after you moved back to New York and got your careers going,” Dad finally said in a cold tone.

  “Accidents happen, Dad,” Anna said in frustration.

  “This is a pretty big accident, Anna, especially since he’s no longer around,” he said tersely.

  “I’m well aware.”

  He blew out a long breath as if that might release the tension in himself and the room. “What are you going to do?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s early. You could, well, you know…” he didn’t finish.

  Anna was surprised at how much anger flashed through her in that moment at her dad’s unspoken suggestion. “If you mean abortion, then no. That wasn’t even a consideration.”

  “Look, all I’m saying is that maybe you should at least think about it. He’s gone. He’s not coming back. Do you really want to be a single mother? And let’s not forget that it’s not even fully human. Will that cause complications in the pregnancy or the birth? What about after the child is born? Will there be issues later on with its health?”

  Anna had actually thought about that. She had concerns too. She wasn’t even sure the pregnancy could go to full term, but the idea of purposefully killing her child, Michael’s child, was inconceivable.

  “I have,” she said softly. “I’ve thought about all of that. But this is the last piece of him I have left, and I’m not going to get rid of it.”

  Dad’s eyes softened slightly, but the tension remained in his shoulders. “I understand that sentiment, Anna, but you need to be reasonable here. This isn’t just about your feelings. This is about your future, your career. You’ve worked so hard to get where you are.”

  “I know that,” Anna said, as the tears finally spilled down her cheeks. She knew he wouldn’t be happy to hear about the baby, but she hadn’t expected it to be quite like this.

  The waiter arrived in the room carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses, but as soon as Dad saw it, he waved it away. “No, never mind about the wine, and we need a minute.”

  The waiter stopped, gave a quick glance at Anna, and then turned to hurry from the room.

  Anna wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable.

  “I didn’t expect you to be thrilled,” she said finally, “but I thought you might at least try to understand.”

  “I’m sorry,” Dad said, leaning forward and placing his hand on hers. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just want what’s best for you.”

  “I have had time to think about it, and what’s best for me is having this baby,” Anna said firmly, pulling her hand away. “I know you think I’m being irrational or emotional, but this is important to me. It was important to me before Michael left, and it’s even more important now. Yes, I wish he were here to help me. Yes, I’m not thrilled about the possible problems of having a half Ethian half human child, but this is happening, Dad. The only question is whether I will have your support.”

  Dad’s face softened slightly, the familiar crease between his eyebrows deepening. “You always have my support, Anna.”

  “Well, I don’t feel very supported right now.”

  “I’m sorry. Just give me some time to adjust. It’s been a lousy couple of days.”

  Anna snorted. “No kidding.”

  He gave her a weak smile. “Can I call the waiter back in?”

  “Please do; I’m starving, and you can drink the wine. I don’t mind.”

  Dad frowned. “If you aren’t having any, then I won’t either.”

  He signaled to the waiter, who’d been hovering anxiously just outside the door. The young man approached with obvious relief.

  “We’re ready to order now,” Dad said, his voice steady again. “And just water for both of us, please.”

  Anna ordered the cappelletti, and Dad ordered the tagliatelle, and the topic of the conversation changed to something other than Michael’s absence, the Layton family, and the new life growing inside her. By the time they were leaving the restaurant and Dad was giving the waiter an extra-large tip, Anna was feeling much more relaxed. The evening hadn’t gone as she’d hoped, but at least everything was out in the open now. And there was great relief in that, and right now she would take all the relief she could get.

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