“Gillian! Gillian!” a male voice shattered the silence of night. They were all aghast to see Dylan rushing towards them.

“Quick, get into the car,” Esther cried.

He was standing in close proximity in seconds. “Gillian…please. I know I’m not supposed to be here but I have to talk to you. Give me just a moment of your time, I beg you.”

“Why should I bother giving you the time of day Dylan after how you mistreated me and dragged me to court? I have a life now. I’m married…to Art and I love him more than anything in the world.”

“You and I have a daughter together.”

Art and I will soon have child of our own. That’s why I’m here and not by his side.”

Dylan let out a raspy, deep sigh, exasperated by such news. “You were wrong not to tell me about the baby and run off with someone else. I loved you Gillian…I may have problems but that doesn’t mean I’m incapable of love. I was angry because you didn’t give me a chance to prove I can be a good father—that I can change. We could’ve worked things out.”

“You had your chance Dylan. It’s too late now.”

“I can help find our daughter. I-I want to take responsibility and I want to make amends for the past.”

“I thought your mother was in charge of all that. Does she know you’re here in violation of the restraining order?”

“No. She tells me her leads are good and she’s very close to finding our daughter. Art doesn’t have a chance.”

“I trust Art. I know he’ll bring my daughter home.”

Dylan was speechless for a moment, overcome by a swell of emotion. If Jerry and Esther had not been present, he might have surrendered to the brimming tears. His reaction terrified Gillian even more so than his bouts of rage. “Our daughter. She’s our child…all that is left of our love.”

“No Dylan. Impose visitations if you must but she’s mine. Let your mother find her first…I’ll get her back. Nothing in the world but death will prevent me from getting my child from your family.”

He stepped back. “Don’t be that way Gillian. Don’t be so heartless.”

“Yo Dylan, perhaps you’d better leave her…we really have to hit the road to get to the airport on time. She’ll be late for her flight,” Jerry suggested as tactfully as possible but nonetheless, he earned a jab from Esther for volunteering information.

“Hey, do me a favor and stay out of this,” Dylan raged back hotly causing everyone to start.

“I really have to go, Dylan. I hope…if you do find our daughter, you’d not keep her from me. Then I’d know you’ve truly changed your ways.”

“Pray nothing happens to your precious Art on the way home. I’m just as intent as you to get my baby girl back. By the way—I’ve named her Julie. She’s Julie O’Sullivan.”

Dylan’s tormented eyes continued to haunt Gillian the entire flight from Dulles to O’Hare. She ran to the restroom several times to retch, her stomach convulsing in agony.

“Julie…Julie, my sweet baby. Where are you? Come home.” She whimpered forlornly closing her eyes and letting the tears stream down her face.

Gillian was never so happy to see her mother again and rushed into her arms sobbing for joy. Soon returned to her childhood room and lay herself down on the canopy bed draped with delicate eyelet lace. She recalled her last night home, as she packed and dreamt of her reunion with Art.

The room would now be a safe haven for her and their unborn child. She curled up under the downy comforter and prayed for her husband…and the daughter she had borne Dylan. She had pitied him when he pleaded to see the babe. Was he capable of change, she wondered? He was so forlorn and desperate. Her sympathy for Dylan had been her downfall in their short-lived and ill-fated relationship. No, she thought. She could not permit herself to pity him again.