Twenty four hours and I'm still upset. Its not just that I let Chris back into my life, I let him into my childrens' lives. Hell I brought another child into this world, with him, thinking he'd changed and become someone who could be a good father. Yet the same man could care less about one of his children.

I don't understand, I can't even pretend I do.

So when the phone rang interrupting my thoughts I barely blinked, thinking it was probably just Chris, coming up with some sorry reasoning. But then my curiosity got the best of me and I checked the caller ID only to see Candace's number showing.

I answered only to find her interested in knowing if Chris and I had managed a New Year's reconciliation. Bursting her bubble wasn't something I really wanted to do but I didn't have much choice. Then it occured to me she might be a good sounding board, after everything she's been through with Chris, maybe she's just the right person to give me some good advice.

She sounded as surprised as I'd been when Chris told me what was going on. "He doesn't want anything to do with the boy?"

"That's what he says."

"That's quite the turnaround."

"Is it really?" I can't resist being the Devil's Advocate. "How many times did he try to convince you and Brandon he didn't want to be a part of Tristan's life?"

"That was different," Candace argued. "It was usually a reaction to something he'd done, a way to pay for his mistakes. He thought he was being noble."

"So thats what he's trying to do now? Being noble by not allowing Mikey a chance to know his father?"

"What do you think?"

"If I knew that, I wouldn't be asking your opinion," I say in frustration.

"Don't you think Mikey would have a more normal life if Chris Gaines wasn't his father? Look at Craig? He was a typical teenager until one day he learned Tommy Levitz was his Dad."

"Did you and Chris get together and talk about this already? That's what he said. But at the same time, look at the relationship between Pam and Craig. Do you think he's suffered knowing who his birth mother is?"

"Pam isn't a celebrity," Candace replies.

"That has nothing..."

She interrupts me," That has everything to do with it. Maybe Chris doesn't want Mikey to have to go through the crap Tristan had to, winding up in tabloids, wondering if certain opportunities came about because of talent or because of who his father is."

"You're on his side." I accuse.

"I'm not on anyone's side, Morgan. I know he's been acting like a jerk. I know you're mad at him and you have quite a few reasons to be. But I also know the two of you belong together and you need to stop fighting long enough to remember all the things you love about one another."

Guess she told me, huh?