CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Starsky smiled at the infant sleeping peacefully in his arms, one tiny hand curled around his little finger, holding on tightly, even in her sleep. Despite Hutch's objections, Starsky couldn't turn his back on Nicole. Starsky's attorney had advised him that, in the eyes of the law, unless it was proven differently in court, Starsky was considered the biological father since Jessica had put his name on the birth certificate instead of Nicky.
Nicky and Jessica had left Bay City for parts unknown, presumably together, so the truth about Nicole's parentage was safe for now. The divorce from Jessica would be handled quietly and discreetly with Starsky being given sole custody of Nicole Lynn.
An ecstatic Rachel was flying in from New York for a few weeks to help care for the baby until Starsky could find a live-in housekeeper to care for her while he worked. His friends and co-workers had all rallied around the brunet, buying the story that Jessica had voluntarily skipped town and abandoned the baby for Starsky to raise on his own.
Nicole had stolen the brunet's heart the first time he held her in his arms. She may not be his daughter biologically, but she was in every other way that mattered. He already loved her fiercely and vowed to protect her in every way he could, even if it meant omitting some important facts about her heritage. She hadn't had any choice in who her real patents were; to the world around them, Starsky was her father. That was a role he intended to take very seriously—with some help from her Uncle Hutch, who had softened considerably when he held her for the first time.
"You ready to take your little girl home, buddy?" Hutch asked with a grin as he presented Starsky with the car seat that the Dobey's had bought for the baby.
"Yeah, I am," Starsky said with a happy grin. He gently laid the sleeping baby in the car seat, covering her with a light blanket decorated with circus animals, a special present from little Rosie Dobey, who was thrilled that her favorite Uncle Starsky was a daddy now.
Starsky raised his head to look at his best friend and partner.
His life had been turned upside down since the day that Jessica had told him that she was pregnant, and he would never have gotten through any of it without Hutch's support and friendship. Now he was about to embark on another major change in his life and he knew that he could count on Hutch to be there beside him for that too. That was all that mattered in the end. As long as he had Hutch by his side, the burnet knew that he could accomplish anything.
THE END? MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.