Robert Langdon awoke startled and confused to the ring of his phone. Who could be calling at this hour? He turned his body to look at his watch on his night stand. The Mickey wrist watch smiled back at him as he read the time, 2:43 A.M. I should be used to late night phone calls . The last two times he had answered the phone this early, he never went back to bed. Robert was very tired; he had been a mess these past two weeks preparing for his trip to France. For tomorrow, Christmas day, he was going to do something he never dreamed of doing before. One of Boston Magazines most eligible bachelors was about to propose to his love, Sophie Neveu.

As the answering machine picked up the call, he took hold of a small felt box next to his Mickey watch on his night table. He opened the box and gazed upon the beautiful object in front of him. How could she say no?

All over campus the news of Roberts's proposal spread like wild fire. How? He wasn't quite sure, but it did. Once news had spread, everyone was anxious to know what a Harvard professor of religious iconology could possibly come up with as a wedding ring, so was Robert. One of his favorite students, Jennifer and her friend Christina took Robert to search for wedding rings. He resented it at first, but in the long run he was glad they came. He had no idea what Sophie's ring size was, he didn't even know they had sizes for fingers. Now as he looked at the ring, he was pleased that he had chosen the girls selection. It was silver with three diamonds in it; there was one quite large one in the middle and a smaller one on each side. Now that he thought about it, the one he picked was rather plain and ugly.

The pleasing feeling he had was suddenly shattered by the phone. What now he thought; it couldn't possibly be the same person. Robert new he might regret it, but he gave in and answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello Robert."

"Oh, Sophie, I didn't expect you to call this late.""Robert honestly, it's only been two years and already you have forgotten my voice?"

At that moment, Robert felt a chill flow throughout his body. On the other line, the voice of his past was suddenly colliding with his present.

"Vittoria?"

"Well, it's nice to talk to you too."

"Do you know what time it is?"

"I'm sorry, come look out your window."

Robert got out of his bed and pushed aside his blinds, nothing. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"What," he replied, "there's nothing out here."

"Go to your other window."

Robert walked into his spear bedroom and looked out the window, out side stood his old girl friend, Vittoria Vetra.

"Well Robert, may I come in?"

Robert hung up the phone and went down his stairs. As he put on his robe he could not have fathomed what he was about to see.

Vittoria felt guilty as she watched Robert trembling as he put his cup of warm Nesquick to his lips and sipped. She had lost count of how long they had been sitting, a minute, an hour, it was all the same. The silence all around them was defining.

"Robert I'm sorry." Vittoria said in a meek voice. Suddenly Roberts face went from scared to furious.

"For what, showing up in the middle of the night, or keeping this a secret for over two years, if these aren't why I have more."

"Her names Elizabeta," Vittoria offered, "she's about 16 months." Still Robert was like stone.

"Robert please talk to me!" Vittoria implored. She reached out for his hand but he just pulled away. He must know I had no other choice, she thought. She watched him as he looked at the baby.

"Are you sure she's mine?" He asked. Vittoria nodded her head as tears filled her eyes.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Robert asked. He was apparently not about to show any sympathy. Why must he make this hard for me Vittoria thought?

"I wasn't ready for this and surely you weren't either. I didn't know what to do. I just couldn't put her up for adoption, I know how that feels. For a while my idea seemed to work, but every day I'd go home and cry. I just couldn't keep her from you and, well here I am. Please Robert, you must understand!" Vittoria looked at Roberts face, something else was going on.

"Robert, there's something you're not telling me." He gave her a look then laughed.

"Well after this I really don't feel guilty."

"Damn Robert, stop being so ignorant, I know, I was really foolish. I have no excuse; there were plenty of times I could have told you. I'm sorry." They were both staring at each other from opposite ends of the table. Robert was stone cold, Vittoria was hysterical crying, and so was Elizabeta.

"I know I was wrong," Vittoria was screaming now,"she's just a baby. She needs her father. Oh please let her into your life, let me in!" Robert shook his head.

"It's to late now."