Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Graham feels safe. We just met, but he resonates warmth, an aura of protection and manliness that I just want to lean into. He is a police officer, a true protector.
And right now, that’s what I need.
I run my hand over Lucy’s ringleted hair, rocking her gently. Julia has had such a tumultuous time surrounding this little angel. The nine months of hell she endured to bring her into the world had nothing on what she experienced with the sorry excuse for a sperm donor that was Lucy’s father. She’s referred to her time with him as the worst of her life, but also the best, because it brought Lucy into existence.
She knew how to separate the good from the bad, and she did so, breaking up with him and getting away from him as much as she could, despite his protest.
Marcus Anderson is a terrible man, one who deserved to die in a mudslide. Unfortunately, I doubt he was in the path of the one that just destroyed my life.
If Julia didn’t make it, legal guardianship of Lucy will fall to him, and the court will give her right to him.
I don’t think he’s really ever cared about his daughter. Not one bit. He’s showed no interest in her, besides as a tool to try to control Julia.
At a stoplight, Graham does some swipes on his phone before a voice comes over the speaker. “My golden Graham, how have things been going with the rescue?” an older woman’s voice says over the pickup’s speakers.
“Mom, I’m bringing a woman home to my place.”
“From the mudslide?”
“Yes. She has a child. I’m taking her in so they don’t have to sleep at the fairgrounds.”
“Oh, dear. How can we help, Graham?”
“We need clothes, diapers, baby food and formula, whatever else a baby needs. How old is your child, Tallie?”
I swallow. He keeps referring to Lucy as MY child. I haven’t corrected him – or Gertie when she asked. I’m living a lie, but I’m all she has if the worst has happened to my sister. “Thirteen months,” I say.
“Oh, that young?” the motherly voice on the car’s speaker says. “I’ll put together what we have, dear. We’ll take care of her the best we can.”
It’s a relief to hear that. It starts to dawn on me that maybe things will be okay.
“Anything else you need, hun?”
“No, no. All of that sounds wonderful. Thank you so much.”
We continue to travel the roads, and I’m left to stare out the window into the evening sky. I can’t help but think about everything. Hoping that Julia is somehow all right. Hoping that I’m making the right decision in not being upfront that Lucy isn’t my child. Hoping that Graham’s compassion doesn’t come with some fine print.
And hoping that the opportunistic narcissist that is Lucy’s father doesn’t see a natural disaster as... well, an opportunity.
It’s not long before we arrive at the property. There’s a spacious-looking cabin, with a few cars parked in front of it, including a police cruiser. Compared to most of the places I’ve lived, this is like a mansion. “This is where you live?”
“Ayup,” Graham says. “My father’s construction company built it for me. He’s helped build all of my siblings’ homes, and he’s always adding to his own. Guy’s nearly seventy and has quite the bug to never stop. Always afraid he’ll decide my place really needs a full-sized basketball court and he won’t take no for an answer.”
I can’t help but laugh. I step out of the car, still stroking Lucy’s back. The whole escapade must have exhausted her. I’m pretty beat myself, but I know I have to stay vertical for a little bit longer.
We walk through the doors, and we’re greeted by an older couple in their late sixties, Graham’s parents, I guess. They’re beaming, the mother rushing forward and hugging her son. “I’m so grateful you got back in one piece, golden Graham.”
They had apparently beaten us here after Graham called his mom. “I’m just glad to be of help. And I want to help her now, Mom.”
His father looks me up and down, and cocks an eyebrow. “What’s your lady friend’s name?”
“I’m Tallie Miller, and this is... this is... Lucy,” I say, hesitating as I decide whether to lie or tell the truth about my relation to the infant.
“Aw, she’s precious. May I hold her?” Graham’s mom asks.
I nod, presenting her to the older woman. She holds her close. It’s clear she’s quite the veteran when it comes to mothering, rocking Lucky gently, and adoring her all the time.
“We got the guest room all kitted out for you, miss,” Graham’s father says, waving us along as we go down the hall. “Plenty of baby clothes, and some old cloth diapers. A few decades old now, but Anise inspected them, they’re still good. If you prefer the disposable kind, I’ll gladly run into town to pick some up.”