His Fresh Start ✔ (Book Three)

Chapter 23

Alan and Leo looked at me for a while without uttering a word. The reason why I asked them to stop by my bistro after I closed it lay on the table in front of us. I’d reread the words in black dozens of times, but they still hadn't sunk in.

“What do you think?” I asked.

Alan sighed. “You know it’s not my specialty. What did your doctor say?”

“That it’s not critical. That some supplements can improve it and if they don’t, there are treatment options available.”

Leo wiped a drop of water sliding down his tumbler with his thumb. “Do you need my opinion too?”

“That’s why I asked you both to come over.”

“Right,” he said. “While it’s good that you went and got it checked, it was a bit premature. At our age, one night of unprotected sex doesn’t necessarily end in pregnancy. You’re both in your thirties, and—“

“And now I know for sure there’s a problem, and it’s not Louise’s but mine.”

“She could be pregnant.” Alan shrugged. “You don’t even know whether she is or isn’t. Sperm motility can fluctuate. Didn’t they tell you to repeat the test?”

“The results of the one I did were enough for Dr. Green to tell me not everything is great.” I tapped my fingers on the page. “He’s seen cases like mine, and it doesn’t look good.”

“And you starting to look for issues before even knowing you might have some has nothing to do with guilt over other unrelated things,” Leo said, skepticism dripping from both his words and his gaze.

The problem with shrinks? They saw right through you. When a shrink was your friend, the amount of information they had exceeded what just a doctor would know. I could lie to Leo, but he was right — I went to test my fertility after that night with Lou not because we’d been trying to conceive, but because, subconsciously, I almost expected to have difficulties before having them.

“Here’s what I’d do,” Leo went on. “I’d talk to your girlfriend first, then go to see the specialist together if you’re both willing to try to conceive now, and see what to do once you have all the information. If everything’s alright with her, it might not be so hard to treat it.”

“I’ll take the supplements Dr. Green prescribed,” I said, folding the report. “It’s not like we decided to have kids right now. We just agreed it would be okay if that happened.”

A groan that left Alan’s mouth resounded in the hall of the bistro. “Thierry, look at your friend, the notorious secret keeper.” He jabbed his chest with his finger. “You can’t keep this from her because now you know. And she needs to know too, because it concerns both of you. Don’t do stuff that ruins trust in the first serious relationship you’ve had.”

“Louise has too much on her plate,” I said. “Things are still tense with her uncle, and I don’t want to add to her worries.”

Leo downed his drink and rose to his feet. “You’re a big boy. But you’re in therapy for a reason. People love you for you, Thierry. If you’re both serious about becoming parents, that’s not something you should withhold.”

“I know.”

Alan’s slightly narrowed eyes told me he wasn’t sure he believed me. So did Leo’s stare.

I wasn’t overly positive I believed myself, either.

***

After the tense few days following detective Donovan’s confession, things started to settle.

Louise talked to her uncle, and so did Ellie. Steve promised to treat Aiden better, and both Ellie and her mother decided to give the man another chance.

As we stood in Ellie’s art teacher’s, Joanne’s, gallery, my eyes swept over the guests of the exhibition Ellie took part in and landed on Steve chatting with Aiden. They looked relaxed, especially Aiden, who’d been through hell in the week after being discharged from the hospital. 

Jim O’Brien and his bandmates were there too. Although Ellie knew nothing, they helped Aiden organize a party for her we’d go to after the ceremony at the gallery.

It wasn't only us and those who came to support other winners of the painting contest — Ellie’s newfound godmother and her boyfriend were here, and Ellie was introducing them to her mother.

She motioned for me to come over, and I slung an arm around Lou’s shoulders as I stood next to her.

“Samantha,” Ellie’s godmother said, extending her hand.

 I shook it, saying, “Thierry.”

Her boyfriend took a step forward. “Michael.”

He looked familiar, and a few moments later, it hit me I’d seen him hosting a talk show on Channel One. The guy noticed the exact instant I recognized him and boomed with laughter, gripping my hand tightly. “Good to know I’m famous.”

“You could sign an autograph,” I said. “Or even better, stop at my bistro for lunch or dinner.”

“We sure will.” Samantha smiled. “Ellie told us it’s the best restaurant in the city.”

I shot Ellie a wink, and she gave me a broad smile, accompanied by a one-shouldered shrug. It was good to see her happy despite the tension at home and the revelations about her birth parents.

Thanks to Lou, I knew there was more to Ellie’s story — Samantha told her things Steve had no clue about. Although learning about her past didn’t change anything, and nothing would bring her birth parents back, Ellie had her mother’s pictures and got to know her thanks to her godmother. 

Joanne called everyone’s attention, and the award ceremony began. Everyone focused on Ellie both when they handed her the prize and later at the bar as we celebrated her success. 

A few hours later, all of us left except for Ellie, Aiden, and Jim’s band. Nothing spoiled a celebration more than a bunch of boring grownups. The kids deserved to have fun without our supervision.

Outside the bar, Louise and I said goodbye to Samantha and Michael. I drew an arm around Lou’s waist, and we strolled along the empty sidewalk, enjoying the warm spring air.

"Your uncle behaved," I said, looking down at Lou.

"He did. I hope what I told him made him reconsider how he treated Aiden. Speaking of Aiden, I'm a bit worried about the trial."

I paused. "Why? You don't think Daniel will be convicted?"

"He will be. There's no doubt. I just don't know what will happen after with his trust fund, and…"

"Me either." I squeezed Lou's side, resuming the walk. "But he isn't alone now. I'll keep an eye on him until everything goes back to normal."

"If there's such a thing as normal." Lou chuckled. "On the bright side, I liked Samantha. I think it's good for Ellie to have her in her life. She and Abby were close, after all, and Ellie has always thought she wasn't wanted, even though she never told me that directly."

"Partly because Steve never told her what he knew."

Lou leaned into me. "Let's give him a chance. Maybe he finally realized he was wrong."

I kissed the top of her head. "Maybe."

I didn't peg him as someone who'd change his ways so fast, but Louise seemed content for the first time in weeks. 

I wouldn't ruin that by bringing up my doubts regarding her uncle or mentioning that we might struggle to have kids because of me.