Maxwell overcame the small distance between them and checked on the child, who opened her first smile at him as soon as he uncovered her face. He smiled too and Anna saw the beautiful dimples that appeared on his cheeks, and decided that she would use that to differentiate him from the man she had left behind.
"It's just the two of us." He replied, looking at the baby. "What's his name?" Maxwell asked and everyone was silent, as Anna hadn't yet put a name to the child.
"Baby." Anna replied, frowning.
"We can't call a little wolf a baby forever, can we? He won't inspire respect if everyone calls him baby when he turns eighteen." He asked without taking his eyes off the child.
Anna suddenly made a decision that surprised everyone, especially Maxwell.
"Do you have any suggestions?" She asked, staring at him as she pushed the child into his arms.
Maxwell stared at her, seemed unsure for a moment, but then turned his eyes back to the child in his arms and smiled.
"What about Ian? That's his grandfather's name. On my mother's side, of course."
Anna realized at that moment that she couldn't exclude her own father from that decision, and turned to him with a determined look.
"Ian... I like it. What do you think, Dad?"
"I liked it too. If he turns out to be like the inspiration for his name, he'll be a great man."
"And what's your name? What do you use here?" She asked boldly and saw that her father flinched a little, but then came to his senses, having been taken by surprise. How had Anna concluded that he wasn't using his real name?
"You can just call me Daddy. I like to hear it..."
"Aren't you going to put your name on my birth certificate?" Anna asked, knowing that perhaps she was going too far.
"I already have, dear. You didn't come here with Anna's name, nor with the name of the man I was. We'd be easily found, and changing our name makes it harder for us to be traced and investigated. We can't reveal our identity. Then check your ID, and keep it a secret, because the name on it is that of someone who has built up a reputation for being dangerous." He said quietly and winked at her.
Anna was surprised and happy. She would still be surprised by many things there. She turned back to Maxwell.
"His name is Ian." She said, answering the question, and saw her heart leap when she saw his dimples again. She hadn't thought she could fall in love again, especially with someone who often reminded her of her past. And she wanted everything new now. So she ignored what she was beginning to feel.
"So, I guess all that's left now is to register him." Maxwell said and, to Anna's surprise, he turned red before continuing. "If you want, I can register him as my son... That guarantees a permanent visa for both of you." He finished saying, and handing the boy to her, walked away. He now put both hands in his trouser pockets.
What it all entailed was the least of Anna's worries. His attitude was noble, and even fair. He was her nephew, and it looked like he would be raised alongside him. Anna liked the idea of her son having a man to call father, so her response was quick. As if she already knew Maxwell, and knew that he would be a good father, and that he had an incorruptible character. Things she got right, but there were other significant things she hadn't thought of that would bring consequences and difficulties in the future.
Anna looked suspiciously at Maxwell.
"You don't have to do that. We're strangers." She said and shook her head, confused. "You don't know if Ian is really Adam's son."
He smiled and dimples formed on his face. Anna felt that smile hypnotize her.
"You made a copy of Adam in your womb. You don't know me. When I was in the apartment, visiting my father, you were never there and then, at the reading of the will, you were distracted. So my offer is not frivolous, Anna. I want to be the father of this child. And Ian deserves our family name."
Anna gave in. He spoke with great sincerity.
"Well then, I accept. Thank you for being willing to do this." Anna said and took a deep breath. "If you don't mind, I'd like to know where I'm going to sleep. I'm a bit tired from the trip."
"Of course. Your father will take you to the room we've prepared for you." Maxwell said, and handing the baby back to her, he left the room.
Beth was also looking forward to some rest.
One of Henry's men invited her to accompany him to the apartment they were staying in, while Anna's father took her to see his room.
Anna excitedly entered the room and happily realized that it wasn't too cold in there. She saw the air-conditioning control on the bedside table, next to a large bed lined with a pink bedspread with no designs on it. She also liked the large closet. He handed the child to his father and went to open it. There he found lots of jeans, shirts, blouses and sneakers. There were also three sets of women's suits. She frowned at the sight of them, but didn't say anything at the moment, until her father spoke.
"We'll buy you more clothes later, just the way you like them... These are for school and work."
Anna turned to him curiously, and Henry handed Ian into her arms.
"Work?"
"Yes. Maxwell needs someone in his office to help him and I thought you might like to..."
"Does he work?" Anna asked thoughtfully, as she had believed that Maxwell was a mobster, just like her brother.
"He's a judge. I thought it would be a good idea to work with him. Maxwell has a law firm. I took the liberty of enrolling you in the law course."