I stood, but my feet couldn't move until I evened us out. "I never thanked you."

She searched my face in confusion, but then softened. "It's what any good mother would have done."

"But I haven't treated you like one-and that was wrong. You didn't ask for this when you married my dad."

"I did actually. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I married Andrew. And I have never once regretted that choice." She pursed her lips when I raised my brows. "Okay, maybe a few times I regretted it. But I'm glad I didn't falter in my moment of weakness."

"Yeah, well, I faltered in mine. That's for damn sure."

"You were just a boy, Callum. No one is ever going to hold that against you."

"But I'm not anymore. I haven't been for quite a while."

She smiled sadly. "In your eyes I might never be your mother, but in my eyes you have always been my son. So to me, I think of you that way-that same young boy who used to hold Andrew's hand when you went to visit Julep in the hospital. The same boy who was always too sad to open his presents on Christmas. The same boy who needed someone to make his lunch, and send him off to school, and make sure he did his homework. Just as I saw you then I see you now-and that day in the attic was no exception. You were just as innocent and scared. I wasn't going to be responsible for breaking your heart twice in one lifetime."

I shook my head. "I wasn't angry that you married my father-it was never about you. Not really."

She touched my hand. "I know that."

Marta walked with me to my car carrying a container of food and a bag full of cookies. "I know everyone in our family goes into hibernation on this day, but I thought maybe your Everly might like a little Christmas cheer if you saw her later."

I took the container and cookies from her. "You know . . . I haven't been much of a willingly participant in this whole need you have for children and family, but Everly yearns for a mother. She never knew hers, she died at birth. She's never even seen a picture of her."

Marta touched my arm and apologized, but then said, "Did you know what her name was? Maybe . . . maybe you could find a picture of her somewhere. Andrew told me her father is important . . . so maybe there's a public picture of them together."

I nodded. "Yeah, that's a good idea."

"But in the meantime," she rested her hands on the containers, "I'll be happy to help her any way I can."

Graduation Part Five A PLAN TO FAIL.

I was in hysterics.

"He doesn't even have both hands on the wheel!" Tatum held her forehead as she watched Nick practice driving an ambulance, the final bit required for becoming an EMT. "I told him he should have just become a cop or firefighter!"

"God knows you don't need to use two hands to be a firefighter, Tot."

Nick went flying by us again as we watched him circle the hospital parking lot for the fifth time. Wheels screeching, rubber burning, and still . . . only one hand on the wheel.

"He hasn't even turned on the siren!" she wailed. "What does he think this is? He's not chasing down the enemy! He's trying to get an injured or dying person to a place WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SAVE HIS LIFE! How will anyone get to the hospital . . ." and then she broke off in Greek, screaming at him, as he whizzed by, again.

I began to laugh, but was halted as Timothy emerged from the doors behind us.

"I need to talk with you," he said grimly. "Now."

The fact that he didn't even raise a brow to the mad-man whizzing around the parking lot, in an ambulance he no right to be driving correctly, let alone insanely, made my skin stiffen.

I followed him to the end of the first floor where he stopped before a large fish tank. For a few moments he simply stared at the fish as they swam.

"I heard from Arthur Baumgarten," he finally said.

I waited but that was all.

"Yes," I began, "I'm applying for residency at Atlanta Memorial."

He turned, arms crossed over his chest. His eyes might as well as have been coals they were so dark and heated. "Then what the hell was all this for, Trovatto?"

And this meant Everly.

"I already told you-I love her enough to let her go. Trying to take her away in a devious manner almost killed her. So I've decided to love her the right way, instead."

He stepped closer. "By moving away from her?"

"I'm guaranteed a job. I'll need to provide for her."

He blinked. "You're planning on taking Everly with you?"