For a moment, I sat there in shock, looking at Elva and her wide, earnest eyes.
Nicholas wasn’t exactly the last person I thought she’d say. He had been visiting her a lot lately; he always seemed to make time for her. But I would have thought Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny would have taken higher priority for a three year old.
My face burned hot at the implication that Nicholas would… well, we would have to be married for Nicholas to be Elva’s father, wouldn’t we?
I cleared my throat. “Um, Elva, honey. Nicholas can’t be your dad.”
Elva tilted her head. “Why not?”
“Someday he’s going to have his own family to take care of. His own wife, and his own kids. He won’t have time to spend with you and me.”
Elva’s shoulders slumped. “Why?”
“We won’t be living here anymore then, and he’d h
