The Heart Surgeon's Secret Son

“And lost your scholarship.”

“I’d have figured something out.”

“I didn’t want you to have to figure something out. I wanted you to have your dream.”

He took his time answering, which made her wonder if she was getting through to him.

“What about your dreams, Kimberly?”

A small smile lifted her lips. “You were my dream, Daniel. The only one that ever mattered, until Ryan came along. Any time I got discouraged at the craziness of having a baby, going to school and working, I thought of you. It gave me strength to do what needed to be done.”

“I should have been with you.”

“You were needed here. Saving lives and making a difference in the world.”

“A difference in the world? Do you think that’s important when my own son doesn’t know me?”

“You’d have hated me for stealing your dream.”

“I’d have found new dreams.”

“No, you wouldn’t have.” She remained adamant. “Not on this.”

He leaned back against the sofa, raked a hand through his hair. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You needed to do this because of your father, Daniel. Don’t deny it because we both know it’s true.”

“My father?” He frowned. “He has nothing to do with why you didn’t tell me I had a son.”

“Doesn’t he?” She bit her tongue. Dragging Leona into this would just be wrong.

“What does that mean?”

“I know about your father, Daniel. That you were the one who found him, that you blamed yourself, and that’s why you wanted to go into cardiology. I know that.”

“You know nothing.”

“I know every time you operate on someone you’re battling to save your father.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. You’re trying to distract me from the facts here. The facts being that you deceived me and stole my son.”

“I didn’t steal Ryan. You gave him to me of your own free will.”

“Oh, is that how a judge will see it?”

“A judge?” Now she was the one who sounded horrified. “You’re going to seek custody?”

“What would you do if you were in my shoes?”

She’d want to get to know her son. She couldn’t blame him for wanting the same. But custody?

She struggled for breath. “You could visit us in Atlanta.”

“Visit?” His brow lifted. “I have fourteen years to make up for. Visiting isn’t going to cut it.”

“It’s the best I can offer.”

“Hardly. You could ask for a transfer to Boston. If Cardico’s crazy enough to lose you, you could work on the cardiology floor here.”