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“I have the right to refuse”

“What I’ree to meet with me, answer some basic questions, just talk, really, then I won’t ever ask for any kind of contact with the child I’ll be gone Unless, at any time, for any reason, you or the baby would contact reed to that, too

And because he no that if his offspring ever needed hi, he would be there

“You’ll agree to disappear after I meet with you”

“Yes” Assu he could live hat he saw And if nothe’d have to check with his attorney Maybe all he could do was express his concerns to child services To have them watch out for the baby Maybe he couldn’t even do that He was getting way ahead of himself

Probably for nothing Just because he’d seen one child hurt didn’t mean that he would see another

And rudeness didn’t auto

“How many times?” she asked

And he grinned She was on her toes now—and so was he

“Once,” he said “Preferably in your home so we can have a private conversation I’d also like to see where the child will be raised, but if that’s too weird for you, I’d settle for anyplace you choose, and pictures of the living space or anything else you’ll agree to share”

“You’re too weird for me”

He didn’t doubt that And didn’t explain, either Not until she’d given him what he needed

“I need to speak with you”

“Is there a medical problem? The clinic would have said so Unless you withheld that information from them”

“There’s no medical probleoing to be well cared for”