One Friday night a few weeks later, Ambria went to bed early, so tired she didn’t even wake when Dustin came to bed. Several hours later she sat up, her eyes wide and her heart thumping hard in her chest. When she felt wetness on her cheeks, she realized she’d been crying. She glanced down at Dustin and saw he was still sleeping. This was the first dream she’d had about an adult, so she wasn’t sure if it had just been a nightmare, or if someone was in trouble and needed her help.

Afraid she would forget something important, she got out of bed and went into the other room to write down what she’d remembered of her dream. After she’d written everything she could remember, she put the paper beside the phone, then returned to bed. She hadn’t seen the man’s face, but she did notice the color of his hair and the car he’d been driving. As she lay there, she tried to relax by thinking about the baby and it seemed to be helping, then just before she fell back to sleep, the phone rang.

Ambria knew who it was going to be and told Dustin to go back to sleep when he sat up, looking around dazed. She hurried out of bed, grabbing the cordless phone with one hand before it could ring again and seizing the paper she had written about her dream with the other.

“Hello, Detective.”

Martin laughed. “Don’t tell me you can now see who’s calling you?”

She laughed back. “No, but since I had another dream, when the phone rang, I figured it was you calling.”

“What time did you have your dream?”

“It was just after midnight when I woke.”

“What did you dream?”

“It was about a man with red hair, driving a small white car, who ran off the road, but I don’t know what the make or year of the car.”

“That’s all right. It’s enough to know we’re talking about the same man. Do you know what happened to him?”

“He was fiddling with his radio when he came upon a deer in the road. He swerved to miss it, ran off the road, and went down an embankment. It traveled a few feet, hit a light pole, knocking out the light, so it’s dark where the car is. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and he hit his head on the steering wheel and he’s bleeding heavily from a cut on his forehead, but he’s alive.”

“Is he bleeding enough you think he may die?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Did you see a large amount of blood? Do you think he may need a blood transfusion?”

“He might if he isn’t found soon.”

“He has a rare blood type, so I better inform the hospital so they’ll be ready for him.”

“I have a rare blood type too. What is type is he?”

“He’s AB RH negative,” he said, irritated at her interruption. “What can you tell me about the area of the accident?”

Ambria was stunned, for she knew only one percent of the population had this rare blood type. “What’s the man’s name?”

“His name is Ray Washington,” Martin said, being somewhat short with her, as he was anxious to find the man as soon as possible and didn’t want to play twenty questions with her.

Ambria sucked in a breath. With the rare blood type, both of them having red hair, and his name being the same name as her father, this man could be him. “This man could be my father,” she said, with tears running down her cheeks.

“Ambria, that’s great, but if we don’t find him and he dies, it won’t matter if he’s your father or not. Do you know where we can find him?” When only silence reached him, he realized he’d been rude to her. “I’m sorry Ambria. As much as you’ve helped us, I shouldn’t have snipped at you that way. What do you know about your father?”

“I’ve never met him.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

“Now about let’s get back to Ray.”

“I didn’t see enough of the area to recognize it.” Tears started to build in her eyes, frustrate she didn’t know how to find the man. “Who reported him missing?”

“He works at Folgers Coffee downtown and was headed home. He was supposed to call the office when he returned home, so when they didn’t get his call, they knew something had happened to him.”

Her first thought was this man probably wasn’t her father, as her mother had told her he was going to be a doctor in St. Louis, so he wouldn’t be working at a coffee factory. “Where does he live?”

“He lives north of the river.”

“What highway was he using?” she asked, knowing he could have used three, maybe four different routes to reach the Northland from Sixth and Broadway where the Folgers Coffee factory was located.

“We aren’t sure. Tell me what you saw before the wreck.”

“I saw him crossing a bridge over the Missouri River.”

“Did you recognize the bridge?” he asked, thinking how different the three bridges, which linked the north to the south were from each other.

“I didn’t really see the bridge itself, but I do know shortly after he crossed it, he passed a long building on his left.”

“Then we could disregard the Paso Bridge since there aren’t any buildings close to it. What else do you remember?”

“Just passed the building, I remember seeing a flashing X on the left side of the road. It was large, very brightly lit, and on ground level.”

“A flashing X shaped light?” Martin was confused, as he couldn’t place what that could be. “Was there were any stop lights along the road?”

“Not that I saw.”

“Then that means he didn’t cross the Heart of America Bridge, which leaves the Broadway Bridge or the Fairfax Bridge.”

“I don’t understand about the flashing X.”

Martin heard someone call his name. “Just a minute.”

Ambria could hear someone talking to him, but couldn’t make out what was being said.

“Ambria, I was just told the downtown airport has a flashing X display.”

The downtown airport was at the north end of the Broadway Bridge.

“What is it for?”

“One of the airport’s runways is closed. The flashing X is to help pilots know they can’t land there. Do you remember how far he traveled after he passed it before he left the road?”

“Not far. I don’t remember seeing the exit to Highway 9, so he has to be between the airport and that exit.”

“Hold on a second.”

She heard more voices in the background, but couldn’t make out what they were saying.

“Ambria, I’ve sent some guys out. We should know soon if he’s been found.”

“Which hospital do you think he’ll be taken to?”

“North Kansas City is the closest. Meet us there as they may need your blood if he needs a transfusion.”

“I’ll get dressed and meet you there.”

“Thanks for your help.”

After they said good-bye, Ambria woke Dustin to tell him where she was going. When she told him the man could be her father, he told her she should call her mother. She knew she should, but she said she wanted to make sure who the man was before she mentioned him to her mother.

They met Martin at the hospital and since Ambria was donating blood, the two men offered to do so as well since a hospital could always use blood of any type. Then they went into the waiting room, impatiently waiting for some news on the man.

“Mr. Washington can see you now,” a nurse called to them.

Martin stood with them, but told them to go on without him, as he knew this should be a private meeting.

Ambria grabbed hold of Dustin’s hand as they started down the hall. “I’m scared. What if he’s my father, but doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“Honey, if that was true, why is he asking to see us?”

“Maybe no one told him I might be his daughter.”

“Quit thinking up problems before they happen.”

As they followed the nurse to the man’s room, Ambria’s eyes went directly to the man in the bed and her mouth went dry. Was this man her father?

Ray looked at the young woman who’d helped the police to locate him and gasped, surprised to see how much she looked like his younger sister. He knew because of her rare blood type and the resemblance to his sister, Tammy, she must be his child he’d never believed existed. As he stared at her, he could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest.

“Hello, I’m Ambria Crenshaw,” she said, then turned to the man who’d entered the room with her. “This is my husband, Dustin. I don’t have any DNA proof, but I believe you’re my father,” she said, her voice breaking as she spoke.

“I believe you’re right. We should be tested to be sure.”

Ambria was torn, thrilled to be meeting her father for the first time, but at the same time upset knowing this was the man who had given her mother money, telling her to take care of the problem since he didn’t believe a baby really existed.

“Well, if you are Ray Washington from St. Louis, who gave Melanie Adams two thousand dollars to abort his baby he refused to believe she carried, then yes, you are my father,” she stated hatefully.

Ray was shocked at her cold words and was unsure how to proceed. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe your mother, as we had been very careful the few times, we were together. Later, I’d overheard a couple of guys from my dorm bragging they’d slept with her too, so I figured either way, your mother was lying about being pregnant with my child.”

Ambria laughed at his statement. “Have you ever heard of male boasting? Those guys were bragging because my mother had refused to sleep with them, but they didn’t want you to know she’d turned them down.”

“Your mother told you all that?” He was shocked. “Why would she tell you such intimate things?”

“Because I kept asking her why my father wasn’t living with us like my friends’ fathers were.” Ambria started shaking and when tears threatened to fall, she turned and rushed out of the room, leaving Dustin behind.

“Ambria, wait,” Ray called after her, then his eyes turned to the man who was his daughter’s husband. “How can I make it up to her?”

“I don’t know if you can. It was hard on her growing up without a father. Her mother got married when Ambria was ten, and Louis was a good father, but he died a few years ago.”

“Can you tell her how sorry I am for not believing her mother?”

“I can tell her, but I don’t know if it will make any difference or not.” Dustin felt sorry for the man in the bed, but he knew how much his rejection had hurt his wife so he didn’t say any more.

He pulled out a business card. “Could you give this to her mother? I’d like to talk to her, then maybe she could explain it to Ambria.”

Dustin took hold of his business card. “I’ll do my best.” He left the man’s room and went to find Ambria who was in the waiting room, pacing the floor with tears running down her cheeks. He went to his wife and quickly pulled her into his arms. “Ambria, why did you run out of the room like that? I thought you would want to talk to him, get to know him, and ask him questions about his life.”

“I did, but I got to thinking what my mother had gone through trying to raise me on her own and I got angry.”

“Let’s go home. In the morning, call your mother and tell her about meeting Ray. Ask how she feels about him and the situation of raising you by herself.”

“Okay.”

When they got home, they return to bed, but Ambria was too keyed up to sleep, as she kept tossing and turning. Finally, Dustin couldn’t stand it any longer and reached for her. His lips found hers and soon they were making love. Afterwards, she put her head on his shoulder, let out a sigh, and fell into a peaceful sleep.

The next morning Ambria woke, dressed, then hurried into the kitchen to call her mother, wanting to talk to her without Dustin being nearby.

“Hello?”

“Mom, I need to talk to you,” she said, her voice full of anguish.

“What’s wrong?” Melanie heard Ambria’s pain and was afraid something was wrong with her or the baby.

“Mom, I met Ray Washington early this morning. He was in an accident and I was able to find him for the police, then I went to the hospital and donated blood for him.” She waited for her mother to say something, but the phone line remained quiet. “Mom, aren’t you going to say something?”

“I’m trying to think of the right thing to say.”

“Can you tell me why I grew up without him in my life.”

“I’m sorry about that. I was young, scared and my pride was hurt. I wanted him to come to me, whether or not I was pregnant with his child. I wanted him to tell me he was sorry, that he loved me and wanted us to get married.

“Why didn’t you try harder to tell him about me?”

“After you were born, I should have taken you and gone to his house, but I lost my nerve. The years flew by and the next thing I knew you were starting school and then I met Louis.”

“So you’re saying it wasn’t entirely his fault he wasn’t in my life.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.” Melanie felt bad for what she’d done to her daughter and even to Ray. “Can you ever forgive me?”

“Of course,” she said to reassure her mother. “Will you come to the hospital with me to see him?”

“Yes, I will.”

“I’ll come pick you up. Good-bye.”

“Bye.”

Ambria hung up the phone, then went to tell Dustin what she was going to do. She knew he wanted to drive them to the hospital, but she told him this was something the two of them needed to do alone. When she got to her mother’s house, she just honked the horn and her mother ran out to the car. They said hello and gave each other a quick hug, then the two women were quiet during the trip to the hospital. When they reached Ray’s room, Ambria knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Ray called.

Ambria took hold of her mother’s hand and the two women entered his room.

Ray didn’t need to ask who the older woman was as he recognized her. As he watched in silence, the two women came closer to his bed, and he thought about how the years had been good to her. “Hello, Melanie.”

“Hello, Ray.”

“Thank you both for coming. I must say, I’m surprise to see you, especially after the last time you were here,” he said to Ambria.

“I thought it was best if all three of us were together for this discussion,” Ambria told him.

Ray nodded, wishing their lives had been different for them. “I say it’s way past due.” He watched as Melanie and Ambria sat down in the chairs next to his bed. “I guess an apology is in order,” he said, meaning himself since he was the one who hadn’t believed Melanie when she’d told him about the baby.

“I’m sorry,” Melanie said, giving him a weak smile.

He laughed. “I didn’t mean you, I meant me. I’m sorry, Melanie. I knew you weren’t the kind of woman to sleep around or tell lies. I should have never believed Tom or Jack’s stories about you.”

“I should have tried harder for you to believe me about the baby.” She looked over at her daughter. “All you have to do is look at her and you can see a female version of you.”

“I think she looks like Tammy.”

She nodded at his comment. “How is your family doing?”

“Tammy and her husband, John, have two boys.”

She wanted him to mention a wife, but he didn’t. “Are you married?”

“I was once, but divorced a few years later.”

“Do you have any children?”

“A daughter,” he said as looked over at Ambria. “She’s a beautiful young woman, and I think her mother did a wonderful of raising her. Do you think we could start over?”

Ambria nodded, unable to speak, as her throat was too dry to form any words.

“Tell me something about yourself. I know you’re married, but I not sure how you were able to tell the police where to find me.”

“It’s hard to explain, but I’ll try.” Ambria told him everything except about her going into the book and now living a different person’s life.

“Did you become a doctor?” Melanie asked him.

He laughed loudly. “After I took a few pre-med classes, I found I hated it. I got an engineering degree and right now, I’m working downtown at Folgers Coffee. What are you doing?”

“I’m working at a publishing firm.”

“You always did love reading.”

They had a nice visit, but soon Ambria said it was time for them to leave. They said their good-byes, then they started for the door.

“Melanie, wait a minute,” Ray called.

Melanie stopped to look at him. “What is it?”

“Can you stay a bit longer?” he asked softly.

Melanie looked at her daughter, then back at him. “Why do you want me to stay?”

“I would like to get to know you again,” he said, his eyes telling her more than his words had.

“Ambria, you go on home. I’m going to stay here for a while.”

Ambria wanted to say something about her mother spending time with her father, but then quickly decided they were both single adults, it wasn’t her place to say they want they could or couldn’t do. If there was a chance they both might find happiness together, then she wasn’t going to try to prevent it.

“Call me when you need a ride home.” She kissed her mother, then left.

When Ambria got home, she told Dustin about the visit, saying her mother had stayed to talk to her father.

“How would you feel if they got involved again?”

She smiled at her husband. “I really don’t know, but I do know I’m not going to do anything to prevent them from renewing their relationship if that’s what they want. I know my mother truly loved him once, in fact, she may have never stopped loving him.”

He pulled her into his arms. “I’m glad you’re taking this so well.”

“I might not have been as forgiving if you weren’t in my life,” she informed him, giving his a warm smile.

He gave her a puzzled look. “How’s that?”

“I love you so much that I would do just about anything to keep you in my life.”

He gave her a sweet smile. “Even sex,” he whispered softly, then wiggled his eyebrows at her.

She laughed. “Yes, even sex.”

“Now?” he asked hopefully.

She laughed again. “Dustin, it isn’t even noon yet.”

“What does the time have anything to do with it?”

She took hold of his hand. “It doesn’t,” she said, while pulling him behind her as she started towards their bedroom. Once there, she slowly undressed while keeping her eyes on his body.

By the time he removed his last piece of clothing, she still had her bra and panties on. He came to her and took hold of each of her hands. “Let me.”

She wanted to do it herself, but didn’t want to disappoint him. “All right,” she said, moving her hands away from her remaining clothing.

He put his hands to the back of her bra and tried to unhook it. “Damn, I’ll never get the hand of undoing one of these. How come you can undo it so easily?”

Ambria giggled. “Maybe if you’ve undid one as many times as I have, it would be easier.”

“I know,” he said, giving her a sexy grin, “you can quit wearing one all together.”

She shook her head at his comment. “I don’t think so. Since I’ve gotten pregnant, my breasts have become sensitive, and the last thing I’d want is for them to be hanging freely and bouncing around.”

Dustin laughed as he removed her bra, then he quickly covered her breasts with his hands and began caressing them. When she sighed, he brought his lips to hers. “I love you,” he whispered, slowly moving her backwards towards the bed. “Tell me want you what.”

“Oh Dustin,” she purred against his lips. “You. I want you,” she said holding him tightly against her.

“Your wish is my command.”

When at last their passion had been spent, they laid there with Ambria’s head on his shoulder, playing with his chest hairs.

“Ambria, when do we have to quit making love because of the baby?”

“The doctor said we can make love as long it isn’t painful for me.”

He leaned up to look at her. “I thought you were to quit six weeks before the baby was due.”

“That used to be true, but now the doctors say sex can help speed up labor.”

His eyes widened. “The doctor wants you to have sex while you’re in labor?” he asked, completely shocked at her statement.

“If the man doesn’t mind having sex with a whale, then I guess you could.”

Dustin tightened his arm around her. “You aren’t going to look like a whale.”

“You don’t know that.”

“How much weight are you planning on gaining?”

“I think twenty to thirty pounds is the usually amount, so I guess somewhere in that range.”

“No matter how much you gain, I’ll still love you.” His hand moved to her breast. “Would you like me to prove it to you?”

“If you can, big boy,” she teased, putting her hand on his penis, while bringing her lips to his.