Songbird by Sydney Logan Page A

over.”
    I grin. “True. At least Mom will get the grandbaby she’s always wanted.”
    “That will be fun,” Dad says, his eyes twinkling with happiness. “It’s about time something wonderful happened to this family, don’t you think? We’ve been sad for too long.”
    “So you think this is a good thing.”
    “I think it’s wonderful. It’ll be even more wonderful when Callie finds it in her heart to forgive you.”
    When . My father, the eternal optimist.
    “Callie seems like a very intelligent, compassionate woman. Pregnancy can be a frightening thing, especially for a first-time mother. Make her feel special. Make her feel safe. That’s what she needs right now.”
    “I’m trying, Dad.”
    “By camping outside her apartment?”
    I shrug.
    “She’s scared, Devin. Even more so than you.”
    “I can’t imagine how that’s possible.”
    “Think about it,” he says softly. “ You can walk away. You can choose to wash your hands of the entire situation and pretend it never happened. Callie doesn’t have that luxury.”
    “I won’t walk away.”
    “I’m very glad to hear that. Callie needs to hear it, too. “
    I glance at my watch. I could invite her to lunch and tell her then.
    “Give her some time.”
    “I’m not a patient man.”
    “I’m well aware,” Dad says with a laugh. “Think of it as practice for the future. You’re going to need tons of patience to be a father. It’s really quite exhausting.”
    “I’m sorry that I’m always testing your patience.”
    He shakes his head. “Devin, you’ve never been a bad son. You’ve handled your heartache the best you could, just like the rest of us. I think this baby will be the best thing that’s ever happened to you. You’ll finally have the chance to look forward to the future instead of always focusing on the past. Shyann would want you to be happy.”
    I close my eyes. The sound of her name never fails to rip my heart out.
    “I don’t want to forget,” I whisper.
    Dad sighs sadly and places his hand on my shoulder.
    “And you never will.”

M y amazing breakfast and my heated clash with Devin keeps a smug smile on my face all morning long. I’m proud of myself for not falling for his crap. Did he really think he could bully me into talking to him? Just because he camped out by my door doesn’t mean I’m going to forget the horrible way he acted.
    While my personal life’s a mess, my career is finally showing signs of life. Frank called me into his office to say how impressed he was that I’d scored an interview with William McAllister. Apparently, the McAllisters are notoriously private when it comes to talking to reporters about their personal involvement with the benefit. Like a good newsman, Frank was curious about the family’s passion for childhood leukemia research, and more than once hinted that I should dig deeper. As I left his office, he reminded me to check the assignment board. I’m never excited to check it because I’m always given some trivial fluff piece, but today, I’ve been assigned to interview one of the city’s mayoral candidates for next week’s special election edition.
    I practically skip all the way back to my cubicle.
    “She’s alive!” Leo shouts from across the room.
    I smile and wave, grateful to see he’s on the phone. I really don’t want to talk to him. Not yet. I’d called in sick the past two days. I’m not quite ready to admit the truth and Leo has an uncanny ability to drag it out of me.
    I spend the morning doing research on my mayoral candidate and confirming the interview date and time with his office. I’m just about to head to lunch when I hear someone clear his throat.
    “You’re far too pretty to be hiding in a cubicle.”
    With a sigh, I look up to find Devin peeking over my wall.
    “Are you deaf? I told you to leave me alone.”
    “And I told you I’m not giving up.”
    “And I told you that you don’t have a choice!”
    A hush falls over the newsroom.