"There was no doubt whatsoever who the father was. It had to be you but why did you and your mom both tell me you couldn't father kids? I went to see ...our mother and that's when she told me she didn't know for sure about you fathering children. I told her I was pregnant again and there was no doubt in my mind whatsoever. Your mom put her hands over her face and cried; I cried with her."The reason I didn't tell you last month was I knew you would have doubts. I didn't know if you would believe. I leaned over and kissed her forehead."No," she protested as soon as she felt my lips on her forehead. "A real kiss. A man-woman kiss." I don't know, honey, it's not - proper. For fathers and daughters to, I mean -"She never let me complete my sentence, pulling my face towards hers and pressing her lips against mine. I was surprised by the raw passion of her lips as they mashed mine, and her tongue slid into my mouth. It was as if a dam had burst, and I had no intention of fighting the flow; I. Christ, if I wasn't getting sicker by the hour. But then my mind soon moved on to other things as the girls said their goodbyes and I ambled back to my couch. The room bathed in warm candlelight, it was rather romantic, especially when Sophie came over and cuddled up to me, her back to my chest, breath warming her neck."I think this is going to be the best birthday ever."Sophie sighed contentedly. "Talking of birthdays," I continued, one hand on the girl's hip, the other stroking her hair. "The. B.A.candidate ran his shaking fingers through his tousled blond hair, and smiled athis uncle. Uncle Johnscowled. ?This cell phone thing is just an example of your disobedience, your wilfullness, just like your sinful older brother.? Oh, no,thought Stu. He?s going to lecture me about Eliagain. ?This is the trouble that your brother Elihuhad?? Uncle John said stolidly. ?He couldn?t follow instructions. Willful, thatboy was. Ran away, he did, and the authorities would do nothing? And now.