Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
A wave of impending doom washed over me. Somewhere in this letter, the words connecting me to this child were going to crash into my life at full force. I steeled myself for the blow.
Peter brought the suitcases from our storage closet and cleaned them off before I began packing. An old photo of you fell out of an unzipped compartment on the luggage and landed on the ground. He stuffed the photo in his back pocket, not taking the time to look at it closely. Later that night, I fell asleep, and he stayed up with the baby, letting me rest.
Here’s something I didn’t know before Esmé: all babies are born with bluish eyes that change over their first six months. Esmé’s eyes transformed into an unearthly shade of icy blue—a color I am very familiar with, as are you. Peter had marveled at their uniqueness, but I panicked because they matched yours.
After putting the baby down for the night, Peter undressed, emptying his pockets on the bathroom counter. When he glanced down at your face on the photo, Esmé’s eyes stared back at him. He had no idea who you were, but a doubt formed in his mind he couldn’t shake. So, he decided to confirm she was his child. Three days later, he received a damning call from the lab and walked out our front door, never looking back.
You don’t deserve what I’ve done to you, Lucas, but Esmé has to be your child. I have no one else to turn to and can’t afford to miss this opportunity. I will be back to pick her up in two months. Please forgive me and use this time to meet your beautiful daughter. She’s an angel baby.
Inside her diaper bag is a list including her schedule, formula, plenty of bottles, and a two-day supply of diapers. I will call you in five days. You should have the paternity test results back by then. Please try to forgive me and understand my situation.
Until later,
Coco.
11
Lucas
“Hello, Mr. Shaw,” Jared answered on the first ring. He had perfected his brown-nosing skills.
“Meet me at the benefit in thirty minutes.” I ended the call before hearing his reply.
I turned to the woman who saved my life by helping me with the infant. She held up the bag Coco had left with all the baby paraphernalia in it.
“I made some fresh formula for her just in case she wakes up before you arrive downtown.” She pulled out a bottle filled with something white from the bag. “It’s only fresh for thirty minutes. There’s a full can of it in the bag with directions for later. If I didn’t have to pick up my son from his sitter, I’d stay and help.”
“I’ll manage.” I tossed a hundred dollars on the coffee table to cover the drinks and took the bag from the woman. I still didn’t know her name, but she was a lifesaver to drop everything and assist me.
“Do you have a car seat?” she asked.
I was holding the baby seat in my hand by its handle. The kid was starting to rustle around but hadn’t woken up yet.
“Isn’t this a car seat?” I answered her question with one of my own, wondering if it was a big deal.
“Nope.” She shook her head. “It’s just a carrier.”
Ah, fuck. “Thanks for the heads up.”
I carried the seat out the Fifty-Seventh Street entrance to meet my driver, using the side door.
I wanted to lose my fucking shit, but I didn’t have time to be angry or out of control. A room full of people expected me to show up in twenty-five minutes. I walked to my waiting car and opened the back passenger door.
“Can I have a hand here?” I shouted through the open car. My driver hopped out and was by my side in a flash.
“Yes, sir. I didn’t see you coming out.” His eyes trailed to what I was holding in my hands. He glanced back at me with wide eyes, his mouth hanging open. “Um, what the hell is that?”
“It’s a baby. I need you to take me and the kid downtown now.” I started to angle the seat into the car, but my driver put his arm on mine to stop me.
“Sir, I can’t drive you unless this is a car seat, and it doesn’t look like the kind my kids use.”
“Come on. I don’t see the problem. I’ll strap it in.”
“You don’t understand. I could lose my commercial license or insurance if I get caught. I can’t chance it. I’m sorry, Mr. Shaw.”
I had to think around this problem. Baby land wasn’t in my wheelhouse. I was only left with one viable solution. I set the carrier down in the back seat, assuring my driver it was only for a second.
I reached in my jacket for my phone and sent Jared a text. How in the hell would I even begin to explain my current situation to him? I didn’t even understand it, so a quick message would have to suffice.