Maribelle didn't want to be, but she was excited that Mike was coming back. She didn't know why she felt so comfortable with him. Unlike his daughter, he didn't seem determined to see underneath her hood. She sounded like a car and that thought made her laugh until the thought of a test drive sobered her. Those thoughts always led to Charlie. Why didn't he love her enough?

Mike was scheduled to arrive on Monday afternoon. She had asked Anna why he was visiting while she was in school.

"We have some things to do after school." She shrugged.

Maribelle had been thinking of her houseguest far too much for her own good. When he finally arrived, and she opened the door, she froze for a moment. It had only been three weeks, but he was even more gorgeous than she remembered. That coupled with the equally handsome man standing beside him left her unable to do anything but smile, nod her head and move aside so they could enter.

"Maribelle, this is my friend Bryan."

Bryan reached out his hand and she shook it. He didn't stare probably because Mike must have warned him about her hood.

Finally she found her voice. "Here's the key. You know the rest."

Mike nodded, and she felt a warm sensation radiate from her fingers as they brushed his. She had to gain some control because a girl like her could never have a relationship, not when she had to hide her ugly face.

Mike went to put his bag in the bedroom and she started to return to the safety of upstairs when he turned towards her. "Can I talk to you a minute... Mari?" He spoke her nickname with a smile. She had told him that her friends called her that but had never said that he was her friend.

She nodded, and he led her further into the living room away from his friend. Was he upset that she had encouraged Anna to visit?

"I need a favor. I remember you said you work from home and so... um could I possibly borrow your car for a couple of afternoons. I'll pay for the gas and..."

She smiled because he was definitely nervous, which made her feel sassy. "That's something that friends do for friends."

He smiled. "I'd like to be your friend, Mari."

She liked the way he said her name. "Fine." She never drove her car and worried about it sitting all winter.

"Really?" He looked relieved.

"Yeah, but on one condition. It really needs an oil change."

"I can handle that." He smiled.

She looked away because his smile did things to her. It depressed her because they could be friends but she could never pursue the combustion of feelings she felt inside when he was near.

What Maribelle wasn't prepared for was Mike being around the next morning. She thought he had left, but he returned calling for her up the stairs. He was there again, smiling with two cups of coffee in his hands.

She took the one he held out to her. "Friends have coffee right."

She smiled back. "You do know I have a new friend other than you." He shook his head. "Anna. She's been visiting me."

"Since when!"

"Since the day you left. Don't get mad at her."

"Why did she say I'd get mad at her?"

"No... no, not at all, but the first time she stopped by she had an excuse that was a lie."

"What was her excuse?"

She could tell he was uncomfortable and trying to ease him, she laughed. "That you forgot your phone charger. It's fine. I invited her to come back. She's sweet and smart and..."

"Sneaky! What has she been telling you?" He didn't seem panicked even though Maribelle had suspected that father and daughter shared secrets.

"Nothing. We've bonded over our mothers and their failures in living up to the title."

Mike sighed. "Anna's mother has definitely let her down recently, but that wasn't always true. They were close until George came on the scene."

"It doesn't sound like you like George either." Maribelle asked, curious of the man in front of her and what he thought of his ex-wife and her boyfriend.

"I'm sure he's a decent enough guy. The problem is that Shelby has chosen him over our daughter."

"Why does it have to be a choice?"

Maribelle thought of her father. He never put his relationship before his children. In his case, he hid his relationship from her and Davis. He'd go away every month but they always thought it was for business.

Mike sighed. "Things got a bit complicated and Shelby wanted nothing to do with it."

"Is that why Anna is here?"

Mike nodded. "I'll let Anna explain it to you."

So both father and daughter were closed lipped. Thankfully, the father didn't offer to trade secrets. He was too respectful, which made her like him all the more.

"How long have you been divorced?" She figured that was a safe question.

"Over ten years now, but our real mistake was that we got married in the first place."

"But you have Anna." She often thought the same of her parent but then she'd never had been born.

Mike coughed as if embarrassed. "Anna was before the trip down the aisle."

"Oh well, that happened with my sister more than once." Maribelle was nonchalant as if it was no big deal because she could tell he felt awkward.

"At least I only made that mistake once." He looked as if he was hiding something.

Maribelle thought it was unfortunate that a man like Mike thought marriage was a mistake. Obviously she wasn't meant for marriage but she bet plenty of women would be happy to have him for a husband.

He ended their conversation mumbling something about a nap and Maribelle wasn't sure if she had said something wrong but the cheerful Mike had disappeared and a quiet version replaced him. His response convinced her they both had scars although only she had external ones.

Mike had hours before he had to pick up Anna at school for her counseling visit. He had worked all weekend and didn't sleep much so he excused himself for a nap.

Conceiving outside of marriage seemed to be a trend for the Bassett family now. He would give anything for his daughter to not be carrying a baby but she was, and he was taking her to her ultrasound and doctor's appointment to support her. He wanted her doctor to know that she was loved even though most days, he felt like he had abandoned her.

He slept so long that he had just enough time to grab some lunch before getting Anna. When he emerged from his room, the house was quiet and the car keys were on the kitchen table. He would like to call to Mari and thank her, but he didn't want to interrupt her work.

He used his phone to guide him to the school and Anna showed him the way to Dr. Deb's office. He had never been to a counselor before even when the old chief suggested he should after he had been trapped and was experiencing nightmares. When they walked in Anna took a seat and he glanced around and saw the sign that instructed them to do just that.

He didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't a woman about the same age as him wearing slacks and a sweater. She looked approachable, and he was suddenly glad that she wasn't wearing a suit. She reached out her hand to introduce herself and he introduced himself as Mike, Anna's father but he suspected that she already knew that.

"Come on in and we can have a chat." Her smile was warm and friendly. Once they were seated with the door closed, she said, "Anna has talked to me about her relationship with her mother and with Dustin." He cringed at the man's name and she gave him a weary smile. "She also talked a bit about how she's disappointing you."

He reacted by forming a silent 'oh' with his mouth. Anna reached over and took his hand. They were each sitting in comfortable chairs since there wasn't a couch in the room. When he found his voice. "I'm disappointed in a lot of things but not Anna. She may think she chose to be with him..." Even the pronoun was sour in his mouth. "... but he preyed on and groomed her." She nodded. "I hate that he hurt my baby girl."

She nodded and looked toward Anna who nodded back. "We've also been discussing her feelings toward the baby."

Mike felt his pulse quicken. He hadn't dared bring up this subject remembering how she had wanted to raise it.

"Anna felt very hurt and confused when the person she thought had loved her rejected her. She is even more confused about carrying a baby that is part of that man. Coupled with the fact that other than being tired she has had very few symptoms and she finds it easy to forget until she's forced to remember." Mike understood because he often had to remind himself too. "Each time jolts her back to reality. I believe you'd rather avoid its existence?" She looked towards Anna who nodded. "Unfortunately, avoidance can only last so long and Anna needs to decide what she wants. She has wavered a bit. Anna, do you want to share with your father?"

"I want to go to college so I don't know if I can keep it. I worry I'll change my mind and it'll be too late."

He breathed a sigh of relief at least she wasn't adamant that she wanted to be a mother.

Dr. Deb began to explain how it would make sense to talk to adoption professionals to find out all the details. "I'm no expert but I have friends whose child came to them through a wonderful open adoption. They share the child's life with the birth mother but in return the birth mother lets them be the parents."

"So she gets to see her kid?" Anna asked.

"Yes, not always in person but they share pictures. I think they live some distance apart." She turned to Mike. "Anna and I have discussed how hard a baby can be and given your single status and schedule it would make it very hard on her. We have assumed her mother would not want any involvement."

Mike was almost certain they were right. He sighed. "Shelby made her feelings clear."

"What about you?"

Mike didn't know what to do. He didn't want to force Anna's decision. This doctor was good because she read Mike's face. "Anna, why don't you let me talk to your dad alone."