Jane,
By now, you have a gift, that you cannot return. I am sure that you have mixed feelings about him, or her. Your brain is telling you one thing, and your gut is screaming something else. I know that I promised I was the one to leave you that parting gift, but I didn't. I wanted you to know, that I could, at any time. I thought that it would be better, more conflicting, if you knew that the sperm was from someone else.
He may not have been present at the time, but he was responsible. I thought that it should be someone close to you. Someone you trusted. Your partner. He, is responsible, for creating the life that you have just delivered. I knew that leaving you my child, would be too much, for even you to bear.
It doesn't matter, who is genetically responsible, because I was the mastermind. Every time you look at your precious child, you will be reminded of me. And even though he, or she, will bear no resemblance to me, you will see my face, every time you look at him.
I am sure that you are wondering how all of this is possible. How I could have acquired his sperm. It was a mere coincidence, that turned into a brilliant plan. I once worked at a fertility clinic, as a janitor, after hours, under the table. Naturally, I was curious. I looked through each profile, picking out all of the flaws. When I met your partner, I knew I had seen his face somewhere else, before. The rest is history.
You haven't heard the last of me,
Charles
He drops the letter, and his eyes flit upwards, to his partner. He stares at her, with big eyes. He swallows hard.
"Jane this is just another one of his tricks, right?"
Jane reaches into the manila envelope, and hands one of the pages to Frost. He takes it from her. He reads the results.
"No," she answers, flatly.
"Are you sure?"
"Maura ran it herself."
"But, the original test was wrong. It was tampered with."
"She had it done at twelve other, independent labs."
"The results could have been compromised, too. James is a computer whiz."
"He was in solitary confinement at the time. He had absolutely no access."
"He could have swiped one of the guards phones, and..."
"The guards are not allowed to have phones on their person."
"Oh."
"Barry, just breathe."
"I can't."
"Listen to me, I don't expect anything from you. You didn't ask for this. You weren't even there, when it happened. I am ok with doing this on my own."
"Ok, or terrified?"
"Terrified, but, I'll be ok," she answers.
He doesn't say anything more to her. He gets off the couch, and walks away.
"I understand, if you want time to process this."
He ignores her. He continues to his destination. He stops when he reaches the cradle. He reaches in, and scoops up the sleeping baby. He looks at her. He studies her closely. She has the slightest bit of a yellow hue to her. Her facial features match Jane's for the most part. Same eyes, and nose. Same face shape. A strong jaw-line. Her hairline, is different, more like his. Her lips remind him of his own. He pulls off her crocheted cap. He runs his fingers through her now, non-matted hair. It's thick, and dark, like Jane's. It's not curly, but wavy, instead. It's coarser than what he imagines Jane's to be like.
He exhales. She opens her eyes, and looks at him. He expects her to cry. She furrows her brow, and threatens to do so. He shakes his head, and shushes her.
"Shh! No crying, little girl," he warns.
She stares up at him, with her eyes locked onto his face. He smiles at her, and puts the cap back on her head.
"What are you thinking, pretty girl? Huh? That all of this is crazy? I know, me too."
Jane joins them. She motions for the baby, after checking the time.
"I hate to interrupt, but it's time for her to eat."
"I have to get back to work, anyway. I just stopped by to check on you two."
"Maura will be back, soon."
He plants a kiss on the little girl's cheek. Then, he carefully places the baby into Jane's arms.
"I'll be back, later."
"You don't have to..."
"I know, I want to."
"Frost, you're my partner. This is going to be complicated. I don't know how this is going to work. It's already so difficult. I..."
"I understand. But, I'm her father."
"I am telling you that you don't have to be."
"I want to be."
"How are we going to make this work?"
"We'll figure it out. I promise. I don't know how, but we'll make it work. We have to, for her sake."
"Jace," Jane tells him.
"Jace? That is a boys name."
"I'm not changing it."
"I left you for a few hours, and you name her Jace? What is her middle name, Michael?"
"Joella," Jane reveals.
"I'll probably just call her Ella."
"Ella? Really?"
"I can't believe you gave her a boy's name."
"It's not."
"Yes, it is," he argues, "It's short for Jason."
"You have no say."
"Because I'm the father?"
"Because your name is not on the birth certificate."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
"You should get back to work."
"I'll be back," he warns her.
He leaves the apartment, and she makes her way to the couch, with a wide-eyed little girl. She studies the little girl, as they get situated. Somehow her thumb finds her way into her mouth.
"No, we're not going to have any of that. You can have a pacifier. I can throw that away. I can't get rid of your thumb."
Jace grunts in protest, when Jane removes the thumb from her mouth.
