Page 85 of The Bachelor's Dilemma

Zack called something from the playground, but Anna couldn’t hear him. She only heard the beating of her heart as she returned Myles’s kisses. From the depths of despair to the heights of joy in an instant. Was this real?

“So you’ll marry me as planned?” Myles asked a moment later.

She hesitated only a second, then nodded, feeling fearful and excited at the same time.

“Let me be the first to wish you both a long and happy life together,” the older man said.

He smiled at them, then rose and beckoned to two children. They ran to him, calling him Grandpa, and the trio walked away from the park.

“I love you,” Myles said, holding her close. “I’ll do anything to make up for the heartache of last night.”

“You don’t need to do anything, not if you truly love me. That’s all I wanted. But what about your quest for your child?”

“Maybe together we can find him and make sure he’s okay. Love, not only biology, formed families. If he’s happy in his adoptive home, why would I want to wrest that from him? Maybe later we can approach them and let them know who we are and that we would always be available if he wants some kind of relationship. His parents may not wish that. Which, hard as it is to think about, would be okay. I wouldn’t rock his security for anything. Look at what happened to Zack when Tom died. I never want another child to go through something like that.”

“Zack adores you. I was so scared for him when I thought you were out of our lives. Those hours last night were the worst I’ve had in years,” Anna said.

“I never expected to find a woman like you. Never thought of myself as a married man. But now I can’t wait. I’ll be getting a wife and son all at once. And maybe we can add to our family when the time is right.”

“Works for me. I always wanted several children. I’d love to have a baby with you.”

“I would, too, but I would never love it more than Zack.”

“No, the good thing about love is that it’s infinite. You’ll love our next child as much, and the one after that as well.”

“How many are we going to have?” Myles asked.

“As many as we want and can afford. I would not mind adopting one or two, either, and having some of our own.”

“Then the sky’s the limit, my love.” He kissed her.

Epilogue

Myles read the report from the detective. He slid it across the dining room table to Anna.

“Think he’s got it right this time?” she asked, picking it up to read.

Dinner had ended a little while ago. Zack was outside in the backyard playing with the puppy. Edith had gone to fuss in the garden while it was still daylight. Twilight came earlier each day in September.

“Maybe. This T. J. Tucker lives in Queens and works as an accountant. His wife’s a librarian. They have a nice apartment and the child’s name is Tommy Junior. What do you think?” Myles asked, pointing to the photograph of a family at a company picnic somewhere.

“They look happy,” she said, glancing up at her husband. “What do you think?”

“I hope they’re as happy as we are. It’s what I wanted to know, that he was well cared for and happy.”

“Now what?”

“I think I’ll ask Josh for his advice. Maybe have him contact them just to see if they need anything, to let them know I’m here if they do.”

Josh was their new next-door neighbor, fast becoming a friend. He was an attorney specializing in family law.

“Sounds like a plan. I’m happy with whatever you decide,” Anna said. “If you want to go meet them, I’ll go with you.”

“If they want that. Or maybe just knowing we’re in the background will make things easier for them.”

Myles rose and came around the table, taking her hand and helping her up.

“I’ll help with the dishes if you want,” he said, leaning over to kiss her.

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