CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

'Brian has leukemia," Yvonne said. Nicholas looked at her with shock with his eyes. He did not know what to think, what was he supposed to do? The woman that he loved was kidnapped and he did not know what she was going through in the hands of her kidnapper, and now the son that he did not know existed was sick with cancer. Nicholas just stared ahead and held Brian in his arms, he could not say anything to Yvonne. The car drove them to his house in quiet. Nicholas did not say anything anymore. The words died on his tongue, and for a while it felt like all he could do for Astra was to pray. 'Why was Brian with you? Why not Astra's parents?" Nicholas asked. It seemed like a safe topic. Nicholas figured that Astra's parents would have told him about the child. They had been so sympathetic during the divorce. 'Did you not know?' Yvonne asked. She looked shocked. 'What?" Nicholas replied. He was curious as to what she meant. 'Astra's parents had disowned her because of the divorce. The