1990 (#27) - Tiny's rejection, Kate's birth and the feeling between Brock and Esther

Having returned to work in the Chancellor's estate, after the strong experience she had with Katherine to whom she obviously now feels much more attached, Esther lives some very happy moments. The approaching moment of childbirth, in fact, makes Esther dreamy and excited, as well as impatient to embrace her daughter. Despite all the good intentions of the woman, however, Brock seems very concerned about the lack of a male figure in her life, especially because the child will be forced to grow up without a father. Convinced by Katherine's support in his initiative, Brocke then decides to track down the child's father, Tiny, to inform him of Esther's pregnancy and of his right and duty to take care of his child, or at least to take part in his life. However, Tiny, a gruff man without many prospects to offer his son, refuses to recognize the unborn child as his own, which makes Esther, who has never really forgotten him, sad and literally infuriates Brock, who is unable to understand the man's choice. And not even a desperate attempt to convince the plumber by making him see Esther, with the excuse of a broken faucet, succeeds in making the man desist from his intentions. Resigned to living without a man by her side and to raising her unborn child with a male figure, Esther concentrates exclusively on the pregnancy, until the day her water breaks. Immediately taken to the hospital, the woman gives birth to a baby girl, under the bright eyes of Brock and Katherine. When Katherine herself asks Esther what name she wants to give her daughter, the woman genuinely admits that she hasn't thought about it yet; at first, Esther thinks of the name Tina to leave her daughter something of her father, but in the end, not seeming enthusiastic about the idea, she decides to pay homage to the most important woman in her life, Katherine, by naming her daughter Kate. The gesture inifinitely moves both Katherine and Brock, who is proud to know an extraordinary woman like her mother and Esther. It is with this one that Brock spends much of his time over the next few weeks, both to help the woman in raising her daughter and because of an obvious chemistry with her. The prospect of a possible relationship between them, also hoped for by Katherine, is however interrupted by the sudden departure of Brock, called back to India to continue his mission.