A few days later, Joseph was house hunting when a call came through.

“Hello, good afternoon”

“Hello, good afternoon, Joseph, this is Maria. I got your number from Maya. I hope you don’t mind”

“Oh, hey Maria. I don’t mind. What’s up?”

“I’d like to meet up. Catch up on the old days, that sort of thing”

“That’s a good idea but I’m kind of in the middle of something. I’m looking for an apartment.”

“Perfect. That’s Maya’s field of expertise. I can ask her to help you out”

“That’s great. Then we can meet now if you want”

“Sure. I’ll meet you in the next hour at Aurora Cafe”

“Okay, sure. See you soon.”

Meanwhile, at Carla’s Events, Kitty and Kara were discussing her father.

“So, are you going to do it?”

“Yeah”

“Are you scared?”

“The doctors said I don’t have to worry”

“But you are”

“Yeah because I just came into my kid’s lives. They have lost two parents already. I don’t want them to lose any more people”

“Have you spoken to them?”

“I don’t know how.”

“It’s all going to work out. You’ll see”

“I hope so”

********************************************************************

The traffic to that part of town from where he was turned out to be really hectic. He got to the cafe thirty minutes after the scheduled time.

“Hey, Maria. I’m so sorry. The traffic was brutal”

“Hey, Joe, that’s okay. I heard there was an accident”

“Yeah, at the intersection”

“Was anyone hurt?”

“I can’t tell for sure but there was a motorcycle involved”

“Well, that can’t be good”

“You got that right. So, how have you been?”

“I’ve been good. You look well. I’m sorry to hear about Jane and Ernest”

“Thank you. You don’t look bad yourself”

“Okay, now that we’ve got the small talk out of the way, let’s get talking”

“Oh, is this what this is? Do you want to apologise for disappearing on me after our first night together? Things were great between us. What happened?”

“About that, I’m sorry. But honestly, I was hired to date you back then”

“I’m sorry, what?!”

“I was an escort, Joe. Ernest hired me to sleep with you and bring back your sperm”

“Once again, what?”

“I’m sorry”

“Let me get this straight, Ernest, Jane’s husband, hired you to be with me? Why?”

“He said he needed your sperm”

“Excuse me? For what?”

“Come on, Joe. You’re smart”

“Oh my goodness! I was the donor?!”

“Bingo”

“Wow, how do you know all this?”

“Ernest was one of my favourite clients”

“Client? You have got to be kidding me”

“Yeah, he and I used to meet a lot”

“Wow, he was a married man!”

“I know, so were many of my clients”

“I can’t believe I was ready to marry a whore!”

“Yes, I was a whore. I’m unashamed”

“Amazing! Was Maya one too?”

“Bite your tongue. That is my baby sister. You would respect her!”

“So, I’m guessing she wasn’t?”

“Never would I let her do that. I worked hard to give her a good life. Our parents died and our other relatives left us to fend for ourselves. I was her parent now. I had to take care of her. I was a pretty girl with no skills and a sister to look after. I did what I had to do. Now, my Maya is a college graduate. She’s a realtor. Making good money. About to marry a great guy. I have no regrets.”

“Wow, I’m so sorry. But we could’ve done it together”

“Water under the bridge. I’m dying Joe. Maya said unburdening myself of some of the secrets I have kept will make me feel better. And she was right”

“You’re dying?”

“Yes, I had to cope with my life somehow. I drank and smoked a lot. My lungs are fried and so are my liver and kidneys”

“You don’t look it”

“Makeup and being in bed all the time. Maya insists I rest”

“I’m so sorry to hear that”

“That’s okay. Those kids are yours, Joe. Take a DNA test.”

“I handed over full custody to their mom a while back”

“You can always share custody”

“I know. But what we did was illegal and if she doesn’t want to share, I can go to jail”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“I’ll have to talk to her.”

“Yes, do that”

“Now more than ever. I need a home here”

“Maya will be picking me up. You guys can talk then”

“Great”

It was night time. Joseph had joined the millers for dinner and had opted to put the children to bed which was music to both Elena and Kara’s ears. They had had a long day.

“So, when are you going to tell them?”

“Tomorrow”

“Are you not going to work?”

“I don’t have anything going on and I cleared with Carla”

“Wonderful, want me to be there?”

“Yes, because how do I tell my kids that I am donating bone marrow in a week or so?”

“You’re doing what?!” Joseph asked

“Shh, you’ll wake them up”

“Kara’s dad needs a bone marrow transplant and she’s donating”

“Absolutely not!”

“Boy, what? You better watch your tone” Kara warned

“You can’t possibly be considering this”

“I’m way past considering. I am doing it. I’m yet to tell the kids. That’s what we’re discussing. If you have nothing better to say then leave. This is our personal family matter. It has nothing to do with you.”

“It has everything to do with me! Because those are my kids too.

“Perdon?”

“I met with an old friend today and she told me that she gave my used condom to Ernest, Jane’s husband and that is what they used to fertilize your egg”

“Dios Mio!” and both women sat in the sofa dumbfounded

“So, you see, I have a stake in this as well,” he said angering Kara

“No, you don’t. You need to prove your claim and even if you are their father, it changes nothing. I have full custody”

“You are wrong. It changes everything. I won’t let you put my kids through any emotional distress. They have been through enough already”

“And none of that was my fault.”

“Agreed”

“Glad to know you. Now, leave”

“I’m not leaving until you tell me that you are not doing the transplant”

“Boy, get out of my house now,” Kara said standing up

“If you go through with it, I will take them from you”

“Excuse me? You have lost your mind!” she rushed to jump him but her mom pulled her back

“Joseph, leave! Now!” Elena shouted

“This isn’t over,” he said and walked out

“Mom” Avery called out sleepily from the top of the stairs

“Baby, what happened?” Kara rushed to her

“too loud, couldn’t sleep”

“I’m sorry. Let’s get you back to sleep” she escorted her back to her room

“Goodnight, Ry”

“Night, mom”  Kara closed the door. Checked on Liam who was knocked out and went back downstairs.

“Mom,” she said and fell into her mom’s arms

“It’ll be alright. First thing in the morning, call Mr Bowman”

“Okay”

Z