That night, while my son slept against my chest, Dr. Thorne came back alone.

“Vivian,” he said, his voice trembling, “I need to tell you something about Julian.”

I already knew it would change everything.

PART 3

Dr. Thorne sat down beside my bed like a man preparing to confess a sin.

“Julian is my son,” he said.

The heart monitor beeped steadily beside me.

My baby sighed in his sleep.