His Best Mistake by Kristi Gold

to see the cogs of confusion turning in his dad’s head but that, remarkably, didn’t happen. “I’m thinkin’ you have quite a bit of explaining to do to your ma,” he said as he stepped aside.
    “You could say that,” Kevin murmured as he walked into the modest den, still decorated much the same as it had been when he’d left home some seventeen years ago, right down to the same floral sofa and chair.
    After setting the car seat on the couch, he faced his father and asked, “Where is Mom?”
    “Fixing a bit of supper.” Dermot turned toward the kitchen and bellowed, “Lucy, my love, your boy is here.”
    “Which boy?”
    “Kevin.”
    “Wonderful! I’ll be right there.”
    A split second later, Lucine O’Brien came rushing out of the kitchen, her salt-and-pepper dark hair pulled back in a low bun. She wiped her hands on her apron and drew Kevin into a mama-bear hug that belied her small stature. “It’s so good to see you, dear. I’m making that chicken dish you’ve always loved. Can you stay for dinner?”
    After he pulled the explanation train into revelation central, she might withdraw the invite. “Is it the chicken with the noodles?”
    “Yes, it is. I’ve also made peach cobbler.”
    Oddly, she still hadn’t noticed the baby. “Sounds great, Mom.”
    When his dad cleared his throat, his mom asked, “Did you need something, Dermot?”
    “No, my love. I just thought you should know that your boy brought you a gift, although it’s not original. I gave you the same thing six times.”
    Lucy frowned. “What are you talking about, old man?”
    His dad nodded toward Carly, who was awake and looking around the room. Kevin walked to the baby, unhooked the harness, lifted her up and turned her around in his arms. “Mom, Dad, this is Carly, my daughter.”
    If Kevin had had a toy basketball handy, he could have dropped a three-pointer into his mother’s mouth. “I don’t understand, Kevin.”
    Which meant she understood what he was saying, just not why he hadn’t said it sooner. “I didn’t know about her until recently.”
    Without saying a word, Lucy took Carly into her arms and looked at her with awe. “I’ve hoped for so long that you would settle down, Kevin. I knew in my heart it would happen, but I never dreamed you would have a child.”
    His transformation had begun the minute he’d received a possible death sentence. The baby had only cemented his resolve to straighten out his life. “I never thought I’d have a child, either, but she’s mine.”
    Lucy tore her gaze from Carly and landed it on Kevin. “Who’s the mother?”
    He’d expected the question and had tried to come upwith a reasonable explanation. “Her name’s Leah Cordero. She’s a pediatrician. You’d like her.”
    Lucy suddenly handed the baby over to Dermot. “Kevin, I could use your help getting a platter down from the cabinet.”
    His mother didn’t need his help. She wanted to get him alone so she could grill him. Kevin looked at his dad, who’d taken a seat in his favorite lounger and was holding Carly up above his head while making ridiculous faces at her.
    “Be careful with her, Dermot,” his mother scolded. “You’re going to hurt her.”
    “I’ve done this before, Lucine.”
    And this was exactly the problem Kevin had with his mom—her tendency to be overprotective to a fault. “She’s fine, Mother. She’s not going to break.”
    Without responding, Lucy walked away. And Kevin, like the dutiful son, trailed after her even knowing he probably wasn’t going to care for what she had to say.
    When she donned her concerned face the minute they reached the kitchen, Kevin leaned back against the counter and waited for the lecture. He didn’t have to wait long.
    “Are you going to marry this Leah?”
    “No, Mom. She’s going to be leaving at the end of August and setting up her practice in Mississippi.”
    “And you’re going to just let her walk away with your child?”
    He didn’t