“Hello, darling!” Lucinda's cheery voice came through the phone. “How are you?”

Stefan could not help but smile at his friend's bright greeting. Lucinda was a force of nature, an irresistible force. “I am quite well, Lucinda,” he replied. Stefan removed the metal-rimmed glasses he wore for reading and placed them down on the sheaf of papers spread before him.

“I wasn't sure,” she chided him. “You haven't bothered to call since you left for New York.” There was a pause in the conversation. “How are things going with Jessica?”

“Quite well in spite of the tension my unexpected presence generated,” Stefan responded cryptically.

“What do you mean, darling?”

“It seems,” Stefan said, “that Jessica's former husband thought to surprise her with an early arrival.” A smile played about his lips at the memory. “The surprise was his as he watched Jessica and Bonnie arrive in New York at my side.”

Back in Oakdale, Lucinda pressed her hand to her throat dramatically and exclaimed, “Oh, my! Is dear Jessica alright?”

“My admiration for your beautiful attorney has grown even more,” Stefan replied by way of answer. “What a fool McKechnie was to toss away such a woman! It is an error I will not make.”

“Beware of overconfidence, darling. Jessica still feels deeply for Duncan. And he is Bonnie's father,” Lucinda reminded him. “That is a bond that can never be broken.”

For a moment's time, Jessica was overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. Sorrow, anger, regret, longing . . . they all came at her in a suffocating rush as she watched Duncan perform the simple act of brushing his tiny daughter's unruly curls off her sleeping face.

For the first time since she and Bonnie had arrived in New York four days ago, Jessica had agreed to Duncan spending time with Bonnie in the intimacy of their suite. Previous outings had been to the zoo, the park . . . all public places in which he could not press his agenda. But the steady rain which fell outside the hotel became the deciding factor in just how father and daughter would spend this second-to-last day of their visit.

It had been a wonderful visit for them all. Bonnie, now comfortable in her father's presence, had prattled non-stop for hours. At one point she climbed freely onto his lap and sat smiling up at him as he spun one of his outrageous Scottish “faery tales”. Occasionally he would pull Jessica into the telling of the story, much to Bonnie's delight. All in all, it had been a pleasant, easy experience.

Duncan rose from where he sat perched on the edge of the bed. He turned to Jessica and said softly, “Thank you.” His voice was tinged with emotion, and Jessica did not doubt the sincerity of his feelings.

After nodding, she led him from the room and into the living area. Automatically Jessica began to pick up her young daughter's toys, but was forestalled by the feel of Duncan's hand upon her arm. “I'd like a moment to talk to ye,” he voiced quietly.

Pointedly Jessica stared at the hand he had clutched around her upper arm. Though reluctant to lose contact with her silky flesh, Duncan nonetheless obeyed her unspoken command. He made a gesture of apology. “Please.”

Jessica sighed. “What is it, Duncan?” She sat on the couch and stared impassively at him. “What do you want?”

“Another chance.”

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