Savannah tapped her pencil against her notebook and glanced at the clock which now showed ten past one. Her knee bounced as she fidgeted and tucked a lock of wavy honey-blonde hair behind her ear. Every ounce of courage had poured into making the call, her heart pounding and palms sweating as she requested the meeting with the enigmatic young doctor.

She shifted on the red upholstered bench, refocusing on the open page. The words blurred and she rubbed her eyes.

Her shoulders sagged as the door opened, revealing a young couple who chose a table by the window. The door opened yet again.

At the sight of the tall dark-haired man approaching her booth, Savannah exhaled a long slow breath.

"I hope you haven't been waiting long." He shrugged out of his wool overcoat and hung it neatly, tucking leather gloves and a cashmere scarf in the pocket before sliding into the opposite seat. "I got held up at the hospital." He ran slim fingers through his dark brown hair, settling the disarray caused by the icy wind. "How are you feeling today? How's your shoulder?"

"Sore." She rubbed her arm. "I have a huge bruise, but it's much better."

"Keep icing it. It'll take a few days to heal," he said. "I checked on Leanne. She's doing well, but not ready to fly. Are you planning to see her today?"

"I visited this morning and promised I'd go back this afternoon. She needed to sleep so they kicked me out." Her mouth went dry, and she took another sip of water before clearing her throat. "I have some questions."

"Would you like to eat while we talk? My treat." Aiden perused the menu. "The food's decent, or so I've heard."

Savannah opened her menu, even though she wasn't sure she could eat. Her stomach had been flip-flopping all morning. She wiggled her shoulders in a futile attempt to release the tension from her body.

Aiden motioned for the waitress, who arrived at the table sporting a bright smile. "Coffee, please. Savannah? Would you like a drink?"

"Coke?" She fought the urge to roll her eyes at the woman who'd ignored her when she'd first entered the café. The waitress had eventually poured Savannah a glass of water, but the arrival of this handsome doctor apparently warranted five-star service, complete with simpering smile and fluttering eyelashes.

The waitress trotted off but soon reappeared with their drinks. "What can I get you?" She poised her pencil over a small notepad, her gaze locking onto the young doctor.

"Savannah?"

"Chicken burger with fries." Savannah closed her menu.

"And I'll have a bacon cheeseburger with the garden salad. Thanks," Aiden said with an easy smile as he set his menu aside.

"Right away." The waitress beamed before heading off to place their orders.

"Have you always lived here?" Savannah frowned at the woman who kept peering their way, though she couldn't really blame her.

The guy seemed blessed with a genuine, classy charm. His deep brown eyes lit up when he smiled and he was decidedly good-looking and well-dressed. Leanne had already labeled the man a chick-magnet which made Savannah squirm, considering the circumstances.

"I was born here, though I lived in Philadelphia during medical school. Have you always lived in Portland?"

Savannah nodded. "I was born at University Medical. My mom taught fifth grade and my dad worked for a bank, but," she said, studying the man closely, "they're not my real parents."

"Oh?"

"They adopted me when I was an hour old." She pushed the ice around her soda with her straw. "My mom died a year ago. My dad is retired."

"I'm sorry about your mom, Savannah. You must miss her," he said softly. "How'd it happen?"

"A drunk driver." She sucked in a deep breath to combat the sudden pang. Her stomach clenched every time she thought of the needless and sudden way her mom had died. Even worse, the man who'd destroyed her life had yet to atone for his actions.

"It's okay to be sad and cry." Aiden's gaze never left hers.

"Here you go." The waitress placed food-laden plates in front of them.

"I'm starving. I never seem to have time for lunch." Aiden bit into his burger. After a sip of coffee, he motioned toward her. "Shoot."

Savannah ate a bite of her chicken burger to stall the conversation. Forever she had waited for this moment. Now it was here, she was afraid to hope this meeting would have a happy ending. That she'd finally found what she'd been seeking. It couldn't be this easy. Could it?

The man across from her continued eating, so she assumed he remained oblivious to her turmoil and doubts. Then she caught his swift glance and realized he'd been observing her the entire time. It unnerved her. Does he know what I want? She wavered, almost losing courage under his intense scrutiny.

"Dr. Hamilton?" Savannah drew in a deep breath. "I don't want to be a doctor."

"Oh?" He set his burger on his plate. "So why ...?"

"Please don't be angry." It took massive effort to look his way.

"I'm not." He leveled his gaze at her. "What's on your mind?"

She twisted her napkin in her hands, summoning the courage for the next step.

"What's bothering you, Savannah?"

Savannah's heart pounded in her chest, and her hands grew clammy. She dug into her worse-for-wear backpack, removed the plain brown manila envelope, and held it out, willing him to take it.

Aiden eyed the package before plucking it from her trembling fingertips. He stared at it without so much as twitching.

"Open it." She forced out the words in a tiny voice. "Please?"

It seemed to take forever for him to extract the contents. The swift intake of breath was audible. He stared at the photo, at her, then back to the picture in his hands.

Savannah's knees shook, and a shiver ran down her spine, goose bumps rising on her arms. "Look at the back." She held her breath as he turned the photo. After spending hours inspecting the name written in flowing script inside the faded red ink heart, she could imagine it in her mind.

His hand passed across his jaw, his fingertips rubbing the rough stubble before he inspected the second document. "You were born on January fifth." He set the birth certificate on top of the envelope.

"Yes." Savannah shifted.

"Where did you get this picture?"

"My mom."

"How ...? Where did she get it?"

A thrill ran through her. This man sitting across from her bore a striking resemblance to the smiling teenager with his arms wrapped around the beautiful blonde girl.

"She found the picture tucked inside my baby blanket. Along with ..." She pulled up her sleeve and unhooked the ornate gold watch before dangling it over the table.

He retrieved the timepiece from her fingers and stared at it for the longest time before he turned it, surely seeking the inscription: forever in my heart.

"You've seen it before."

"Yes." He swept his fingers through his hair before he drummed them against the wooden table. "How's this possible?" Aiden shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Are you my Aiden Hamilton?" Tears burned her eyes as she searched his expression for a sign. "Say something, please?" She reached out, grasping his hand.

He wrapped his warm fingers around hers, squeezing gently. "I think so." His voice shook as recognition dawned in his eyes. "But ... wow, this is crazy."

It seemed surreal, sitting here across from this man who'd just admitted he could be her father. "Who is my mother?" Savannah whispered.

"Oh, Savannah." He shook his head. "I can't tell you."

"What do you mean?" Disappointment flooded through her as she sniffled, fighting the overwhelming urge to burst into tears. "How can you not know?"

"It's complicated," he said. "I'd need to talk to her. And ..."

"What?" Her heart sank at the realization he might not divulge the information she sought.

Aiden took several deep breaths. "I can't drop this on her without proof. We need to be absolutely sure."

"I have the picture, the watch, and my birth certificate. That's not enough?"

He rubbed at the light stubble on his jaw. "I'm ... I never thought ... the adoption was closed and sealed. Where to even start?"

"Can you start by telling me about my mother?" Savannah had spent hours imagining every possible reaction if she ever found Aiden Hamilton. She hadn't bargained for this confusing and hopeless situation.

"Savannah." Her name rolled off his tongue softly. "We never talked about you finding us. I never thought it possible."

"How do I prove it? I have all this." She motioned to the items on the table, swiping at her damp eyes with the back of one hand. "Why'd you give me away? Who'd do that?"

"Hey." He grasped her hands. "It's nowhere near simple. We were kids. I never even got to see her ... you."

"Did you love my mother?"

"Yes." He hesitated. "I've always wondered what happened to our baby girl. If she was happy and had good parents. I can't quite wrap my mind around the fact you're sitting here after years of wishing for answers."

"Now what?"

"Without access to legal files, which we're unlikely to get, we'd need DNA testing." His gaze held hers.

She shuddered, wondering what testing involved. "Does it hurt?"

Aiden shook his head. "It's a big cotton swab they rub on the inside of your mouth."

"Let's do it. I want to know."

"It's not that easy. You're fourteen. Your adoptive father is your legal guardian and needs to provide permission."

Tears brimmed in her eyes. "I want to know if you're my father."

"I would too, believe me."

She nibbled at her lip, unsure of what to do next. Even with Aiden Hamilton sitting right in front of her, she wasn't any closer to finding answers.

He studied her, his eyes narrowing. "Does your dad know you're asking these questions?"

Savannah bowed her head, picking at the pink polish on her fingernail.

"Oh boy." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is beyond complicated."

"He knows I have questions about my parents," she whispered.

Aiden emitted a long sigh. "Does he know you're searching? You brought this," he said, pointing at items in front of him, "from Portland, but you didn't know I was here, did you?"

"It's silly, but I ... like to look at the photo, so I keep it with me. I wear the watch every day."

"Nothing you've said is silly, Savannah." The corners of his mouth turned down. "Adoption is both a blessing and a curse. It leaves a lot of unanswered questions."

Savannah tilted her head. This man succinctly voiced something she'd never had the courage to express out loud. She loved her mom and dad, but she also had a gaping hole in her life. A missing piece she felt compelled to seek.

"There's no way around it. I can't cross that ethical or legal boundary, so you have no choice but to talk to your dad or you'll have to wait until you're eighteen."

"That's another three years."

"I'm sorry," he said. "More than you know. Giving up a child for adoption isn't easy. Having answers would be amazing."

Savannah faced the inevitable truth. Without her dad's blessing, the truth would be impossible to learn. "He won't be happy, but I'll talk to him when I get home."

Aiden pulled a card from his wallet. "These are my personal numbers. He can contact me." He squeezed her hand and smiled. "How about we finish lunch? You can tell me what you really want to do as doctor is off the table."

Savannah nodded. This hadn't turned out as she'd hoped, and she wasn't sure her dad would agree to DNA testing. She feared his reaction.

"Savannah?" Aiden dangled the watch. "Why don't you keep this?" He caught her fingers in his warm hand and fastening the sparkling jewelry around her wrist.

"You don't think she'll want it back?"

"She clearly wanted you to have it, and I bought it for her, so ..." He turned her arm. "It suits you. You need to keep this too." He handed her the envelope but tucked the picture in his pocket.

She almost protested, but maybe he needed it more than she did.