Lost Chances

Dan Evans & March Nova

by Atonia & Layne

Sitting quietly in a booth at Andy's, Dan Evans sipped his coffee. The lunch rush seemed to be just about over, so surely March Nova would be finished soon. Dan had asked one of the waitresses to tell him that someone was here to see him when he had a break. He wasn't sure Nova would talk to him.

The one time they'd actually met was at the McGee's barbecue awhile back. Nova had been Libby's date then and Dan had not been in a good mood over it. Things hadn't gotten violent, but they hadn't actually been pleasant either.

Right now, though, Dan was still burning up with curiosity over Libby's pregnancy. Over the baby he'd found out she'd lost when the nurse at the hospital had told him about it. He had to find out if she'd mentioned it to March Nova, if he knew anything about it.

March didn’t usually work lunch but Andy was out sick with a cold, he finished up what he had to do and curious as to who was looking for him he discarded his chef’s jacket and walked out into the dining room, Dan Evans? He turned to Molly and she nodded that was the table. March walked over and slid into the booth.

“Ciao Dan, you are looking for me?”

"Yes, I am, Nova." Dan's voice was grim. He was both upset and angry over whatever was going on with Libby.

"And I'll cut right to the chase," he continued. "Did you know Libby was pregnant?"

March was caught off guard and the answer was evident on his face, “pregnant, no I had no idea she was pregnant, what does this mean?” he ran his hand over his face, “she is going to have a child.” A range of emotions went through is eyes, he knew it could be his. “I understand she had a car accident and is in hospital but…pregnant I did not know of this.”

Dan could tell by the look on March's face that he was telling the truth. So, Libby hadn't told him either. Hadn't called him for help when she'd been in the hospital. She hadn't told either of them.

"She's not gonna have a child any more, no," Dan sighed. "Seems she lost the baby in the accident."

Dammit, he'd hoped Nova might know who the baby's father had been! Richie Roberts! Dan gritted his teeth, but said nothing aloud. Libby had taken up with Richie Roberts and that seemed to be who she was set on talking with, on asking for help when she needed it. Why him, dammit!

“But this is terrible, ah poor Libby, I am so sorry to hear this, it is a shock you know? Did she tell you who the father was?” he was almost afraid of the answer, but he also knew it could have been Dan, Libby had told him about Dan.

"No." Dan's answer was short. "She didn't tell me. She didn't tell me anything. It wasn't even her who told me she lost the baby. It was a nurse at the hospital."

"I was hoping she'd told you who it was."

“Well obviously she did not.” He looked at Dan, “one of us perhaps. I am sorry but I don’t know how else to say it.”

"There is no other way to say it." Dan's eyes were on March's. "She slept with both of us, and it could have been either one."

Dan sipped his coffee and went on. "Unless it belonged to Richie Roberts. You know she was seeing him?"

March moved the candle around on the table, “Yes I am aware she is seeing Richie Roberts but working as I do in the midst of the village one does hear things, it could not have been Robert’s child. I have heard one of the reasons for his impending divorce is that he cannot father a child, he’s had a vasectomy a little thing he neglected to tell his wife. So it was one of us and sadly we will never know. I do not think she was seeing anyone else but the two of us and I am afraid I was not always responsible.”

So, if whatever Nova had heard was reliable, then Roberts was out. Dan sighed. That left him and March. He ignored the question of being responsible. Lord knew that what he had done with Libby had been irresponsible in more ways than one--leaving off contraceptives being maybe the least of them.

He looked at March curiously. "Does it bother you? The idea that you might have been a father and now you'll never know? The idea that she didn't even tell you?"

March met his eyes, “yes it does bother me, it saddens me very much to know this. I do not understand why she did not tell me of this pregnancy. I would have helped her in any way I could as I am sure you would have done.”

"If that baby had been mine, I would've done anything in the world for it." Dan's eyes had a faraway look.

He was thinking about the days when William and Mark had been small. Those had been the happiest times of his life. To have had the chance to have another baby...

Quit dreaming, Evans, he told himself firmly. All that's over. There'll never be another child, another family. What could you have given that baby if it had been yours? What could you have given Libby? Nothing but trouble.

Out loud he said to March, "Well, I guess it doesn't matter much at this point, Nova. I was just hoping maybe you knew something."

March shook his head, “sorry Dan, I wish I did. You saw Libby, how is she I sent her some flowers but with Andy out sick I could not go.”

"I saw her, but I didn't talk to her. She was asleep the entire time I was there. I could tell she'd been crying a lot, though." Dan's eyes softened at the memory of Libby's tear-stained face, troubled even while she was asleep.

"The nurse told me she was fine, though. Except for the baby, all she had was some scrapes and bruises. She was supposed to be coming home today."

Dan wasn't sure what else to say to March Nova. Wasn't sure if there was a need to say anything else. They'd both had feelings for Libby, apparently still did. But it looked as though she was with Roberts now, even if they were trying to hide the fact by calling themselves 'friends'.

“I’m glad there was no other injury to her, yes I heard she was coming home today, Richie Roberts was in here for a quick lunch earlier one of the waitress tells me he was in a hurry to get to the hospital so I think he is bringing her home. I don’t know maybe I will see her later, perhaps you will also…it is a sad situation for us no?”

"Yeah." Dan's voice became short again at the mention of Roberts taking Libby home. "Trouble is, we don't know which one of us should be sadder."

“Well then, let us be equally sad because right now we both are fathers who have lost a child, we will never know for sure and perhaps she did not know herself. I am glad you have talked with me, there is no need for anger or jealousy between us now. I still care for Libby and wish her well. She is with Roberts now, I do not know what will happen there, he does not have just one woman you know this I am sure.” March raised a brow.

Dan was a little surprised at March. He thought they should share the grief? He didn't want to find out for sure who had been the father?

He drained his coffee cup and set it down. "Oh, yeah, you hear a lot about Roberts and his women around this town. I'm thinking it would do the town a big favor if someone bought out Mr. Jessup's store and put him out of business."

He smiled at March. Nova was right. There didn't seem to be any need for them to be angry at each other. "Well, to hear both of them tell it, she's not 'with' him. She's just his 'friend'. Strangest friendship I ever heard of."

“I think it is possible to be friends and lovers at the same time but she may be fooling herself, she is seeing no one else at the moment and I think she may see more in him than he does in her. I worry for her. She has no one else you know it is possible she may fall in love with him and that would be a mistake.” He sat back in his chair, “Jessup he carries tales about everyone, I think he knows what color underpants I buy at Barrett’s,” March smiled.

"Purple." Dan grinned. "He told me that last week. That's why I buy mine in Coffs." Nova wasn't a bad guy at all. If only he hadn't been so jealous, he might have seen that earlier.

"I worry about Libby too." He didn't know why he was confessing that to March Nova. "There's nothing anyone can do, though, except keep an eye on her, I guess."

Rising from his seat, Dan extended his hand to March. "Enjoyed talking to you, Nova. I wish it had been under happier circumstances."

“I too have enjoyed this talk and since I am near I shall keep an eye out for her, should anything arise I shall contact you.” He shook Dan’s hand.

"Thanks. I'll do the same." As Dan left, he wondered to himself if there were any other way to find out who the father of Libby's baby had been.