All Chapters of The Baby He Never Chose: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Lucas came home earlier than expected on Saturday morning. Mara had barely finished making coffee when the doorbell rang. Her mother stood outside with an overnight bag in one hand and a very energetic four-year-old in the other. "I love him dearly," she said with a tired smile, "but he woke up at six asking if it was time to go to the park." Lucas bounced past her. "I learned two new cloud types!" "I'm sure Grandma knows them by heart now." His grandmother laughed. "I do. Against my will." After a quick hug, she headed back to her car. Lucas disappeared into his room to unpack before reappearing almost immediately. "Is Damien-Dad coming today?" Mara smiled. "Yes. He's coming for breakfast." "Good." That single word carried all the certainty in Lucas's world. No surprise. No excitement. Just the quiet confidence of a little boy who already expected Damien to be part of his weekends. At ten-thirty, another knock came. Damien arrived carrying a pap

The call came on a quiet Tuesday morning.Mara frowned when she saw the unfamiliar number. It had the old city area code—the one she'd left behind three years ago. These days, calls from there usually meant paperwork or legal updates.She almost let it ring out.Instead, she answered."Hello?"There was a brief pause."Mara."The voice caught her off guard."It's Elaine."Damien's mother.Mara walked to the window of her office, staring out at the busy street below."Elaine.""I hope I'm not disturbing you.""No," Mara replied calmly. "You're not.""I asked Damien for your number," Elaine continued. "He told me the decision to answer should be yours. He didn't tell you I was calling."A faint smile touched Mara's lips."That sounds like him.""It does."Silence settled between them.Not uncomfortable.Just... careful.Finally, Elaine spoke again."I owe you an apology."Mara didn't interrupt."I wasn't kind to you," Elaine admitted. "Not openly unkind. I was always polite. I invited y

Rain tapped steadily against the windows when Mara woke.Not a storm. Just the kind of quiet November rain that settled over Calloway and seemed determined to stay.She stayed in bed for another minute, listening.Lucas was still at her mother's. He'd be home around ten, full of stories and sugar and whatever new fascination Grandma had encouraged overnight.For once, the apartment was completely still.She smiled.Last night drifted through her mind.Dinner.Walking home hand in hand.Saying I love you without fear or hesitation.She didn't dissect the memories the way she used to. There was no need to examine every feeling anymore. Some moments simply deserved to exist exactly as they were.She slipped out of bed, made coffee, and stood by the kitchen window watching rain blur the buildings across Selwyn Street.Her phone buzzed.She didn't need to check the name.Damien: Are you awake?She smiled.Coffee. You?His reply came almost instantly.Just leaving the terrace. Went to check

Elaine arrived in Callaway on a Saturday morning.She came by train, carrying a small overnight bag and wearing the same quiet elegance Mara remembered from years ago. Damien met her at the station. The drive to the park was mostly silent, both of them understanding that there wasn't much to say before the meeting itself.Mara had chosen the park on purpose.If Lucas was going to meet his grandmother for the first time, she wanted it to happen somewhere that belonged to him. Somewhere familiar. Somewhere safe.When Damien and Elaine reached the gate, Mara was already there.Lucas was kneeling beside the base camp, carefully inspecting one of the stones that formed its outer wall. His entire focus was on the structure. Visitors could wait.Mara heard Damien's voice before she turned.Then she saw Elaine.For a moment, neither woman moved.Three years had changed them both.Elaine looked older than Mara remembered, though not just because of time. There was a softness around her that ha

Lucas brought up Christmas on a Monday morning.He wasn't shy about it. He never was. Halfway through breakfast, between spoonfuls of cereal and a piece of buttered toast, he looked up at Mara and asked the question that had clearly been sitting in his mind."Is Damien-Dad doing Christmas with us?"She smiled without answering straight away.She'd been wondering the same thing ever since December arrived. Ever since the lights appeared along Birch Lane, the bakery filled its window with Christmas displays, and the park started looking like winter had quietly settled over it.She wanted Damien there.The truth was simple now. Months ago she would have overthought it, questioned it, tried to convince herself she didn't need anyone. But somewhere along the way she'd stopped fighting what felt right."I don't know yet," she admitted. "We haven't talked about it."Lucas nodded thoughtfully."You should."She laughed softly."I probably should."---They talked about it the next evening.Sh