A Heart That Will Never Warm
As soon as Danielle Bradford has recovered from her postpartum period, she brings her baby to the county clerk's office to register for the baby's birth certificate.
"My baby's full name is Taylor Gardner. Her father is Matthew Gardner."
The employee types on the keyboard, but his brows draw tighter afterward.
"The system has flagged another child with the same name under the same father."
His words leave Danielle momentarily stunned. Thinking that her ears have deceived her, she blurts out, "That's impossible! Our baby has just turned one month old!"
But Danielle feels her phone buzzing in her pocket before she can finish speaking. She taps on the screen, only to see a photo sent by Matthew's assistant, Meghan Landry.
In the photo, Matthew has his left arm wrapped around Meghan's waist while carrying a five-year-old boy with his right arm. The three of them stand in front of a kindergarten's entrance with smiles so bright that they practically sting Danielle's eyes.
On the boy's chest is a nametag that clearly says "Taylor Gardner".