Chapter 37

It didn't take long for him to answer. "Everything you say is true, Estel," he said, without Estel being able to detect any softening in his tone. "But that doesn't change the fact that the child was mine." Since it was evident that you did not want it, you should have had the courtesy to inform me about it so I could take it and bring it up on my own.

"And how was I to know that, Michael?" Estel said as she turned to see his rigid and uncompromising face. Her eyes glowed with the anguish and rage she felt."I didn't know you," she said with self-righteous indignation. "I'm sorry." And I didn't care for the parts of you I knew about. How exactly was I supposed to know that you wouldn't laugh in my face when you ultimately failed to live up to your responsibilities?"

The response from Michael was softly implacable; he said, "All you had to do was ask," but you didn't. You just hurried to a doctor, and—" He cut herself off, the ferocity that lurked just beyond the surface of his civiliz