The implication hit Harry straight on. His eyes turned to Laura and he walked over to the crib, gently picking her up.
“My granddaughter.”
He cradled her in his arms, rocking her back and forth, strolling the aisle.
“She is so beautiful when she is sleeping.” He paused in front of Zoe’s seat. “When did you realize this?”
“I noticed the label on your gun case, but I thought it was referring to Smith and Wesson. Later, I realized you were the ‘Smith,’ and the coincidence did occur to me. But there are millions of Smiths. However, just now when we were talking about everyone incorrectly thinking we’re dead and you happened to mention your son lived on Maple Street, an interesting possibility arose. The address sealed the deal.”
“Come here.” Harry gestured with one hand while holding Laura with the other. Zoe got up and Harry gave her a gentle hug—he needed to release some of the emotion. “I couldn’t figure out where you were going. I thought it was just more of your stick.”
“That’s shtick,” she said rolling her eyes. “This time no.”
“You ain't kidding.”
He slipped into an internal reflection, which invited quiet from Zoe.
“So my son has a girlfriend, and now a baby. Wow.” He snuggled close to the infant. “I just want to hold her…my granddaughter.” He touched his nose to hers. “Hello Laura, I don't think we’ve been properly introduced.”
#
An hour had passed. “Harry,” whispered Zoe, not sure if he was awake. All the beds were taken and they had been sitting quietly at the dining table.
His head didn’t move, but his eyes opened and looked to her.
“It just doesn’t seem possible. How could we both wind up on that flight? I mean, that’s a long shot even for fate to pull off.”
“Stranger things have happened.”
She sat up in her chair. “Be serious.”
“Who even knew you were pregnant?” Harry straightened himself.
“No one.”
“Not even a doctor?”
“No. I used a home pregnancy test. I was suspicious, having missed a couple months.”
“You told no one?”
“No one. I just wanted it to go away. When the test showed positive, I threw it in the trash.”
Harry needed a moment to process that statement.
“Your mother was visiting, wasn’t she?”
“Yup. I was in the bathroom. That’s where I saw the result. She was in the other room. Gads, I don’t know how I kept my cool.”
“Pretty hard to keep something like that from your own mother.”
“I would never tell her. I don’t need her telling me what to do.”
“So how did you wind up on the flight?” he asked.
“I told her I wanted to visit Aunt Betty. She’s in Denver. I even got mom to book the flight. It seemed easier, more discrete to deal with it there.”
Harry shifted in his chair. “It’s a little creepy talking about this with Laura sleeping over there.” He took a deep breath and blew it out. “So no one knew. It must have been fate.”
Zoe put her hand to her chin and looked out the window. A minute went by. “Wait. How did you wind up on the flight?”
“My wife booked it.” Harry must have sensed that his answer was not sufficient. “I love going to the gun show in Denver. It was a surprise present.”
“Not so fast. You guys are just scraping by and you fly out for a weekend in Denver. You’d be down hundreds of dollars in hotel costs and airfare.”
Harry shook his head and started tapping his finger on the table.“ She used frequent flier miles.” Harry lifted and opened his gun case, retrieving the envelope they had used for the list of names for Laura. “I was going to stay with someone Carol had found. Wouldn’t have cost a penny.”
Harry waved the envelope in front of Zoe.
“You’ve made your point. Stop swinging it.”
He stopped and two pieces of paper fell out, settling on the table. Zoe sniffed and reached for the smaller one, bringing it to her nose. “I know this fragrance.”
She unfolded the paper and on it was written “Betty” and a phone number.
“That’s Aunt Betty’s phone number. This is my mother’s handwriting.”
Harry’s eyebrows raised and with his mouth ajar, he leaned back. “It wasn’t fate after all.”
He apparently couldn’t get himself to unfold the other piece of paper.
Zoe guessed he was trying to come up with a reasonable explanation, but she finally picked up the note and read it aloud. “My dear husband, I received a visitor yesterday. She has a difficult daughter, much like you and Mark—little communication or influence. Like us, she celebrates life, which gets me to the heart of the matter. She showed me a positive pregnancy test which she found by accident. She is certain that her daughter is on her way to Denver for an abortion. Her name is Zoe and in fact, I’ve arranged for you to be on the same flight tomorrow. Mark is the father, though he doesn’t know. Neither does her aunt, with whom she will be staying. Her mother thought that I might be able to influence Zoe. I think not. But you could.”
Pausing to catch her breath, and collect her strength, Zoe resumed. “Her mother has arranged for you to stay with her aunt. Talk to Zoe. This is not a time for your fire and brimstone. In fact, I so fear it that I couldn’t discuss this before hand—I didn’t want to light your fuse prematurely. Take the time to know Zoe. She is a grown woman and can, and will, make her own choices, just like Mark. Nonetheless, I, and her mother are praying that you can influence her. Please tell Zoe we care about her, and our grandchild. Love, Carol.”
Zoe refolded the notes and put them back in the envelope. Her eyes were watery and a few tears ran down her cheek. Harry got up from across the table and slid in next to her. Their shoulders touched.
###
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