Eventually I started to think. Alex Goddard had planned to take from me, but had he also given? Had his "proprie­tary" ovulation drugs . . . causing all those hundreds of eggs to mature simultaneously . . . inadvertently let me get preg­nant?

Then I had a dismaying counter-thought. Could he have done an in vitro while I was under sedation, when he har­vested my ova? The ultimate link to Baalum. Was my baby Sarah's too? One of those last frozen embryos in his . . .?

Then I leaned back and closed my eyes.

No, surely not. This baby was Steve's and mine. Ours. Had to be. His unintended, beautiful, ironic gift.

Surely . . .

Uh-uh. Go for a second take. Embrace life. Be Molly Bloom and shout it.

Yes!

Yes!

* * *

BOOKS BY THOMAS HOOVER