NelsonfuckingPowers shook my hand, turned to our group of friends, tossed them a wink and was out the door.
“Nelson Powers touched my son…” Dawn whispered.
I grabbed his hand, the one that Nelson’s hand shook. “Oh, no you don’t. This hand is mine. I have plans.”
* * *
Marcus scratchedthe spot where the monitor had just been removed. We were signing a ton of papers so he could be free and clear and get the bail back.
Finally, after about twenty minutes of almost constant signing, they handed me the bond release papers and we were finally able to go.
There were some low angry voices outside of the office, but I didn’t care. We were going home, so I pushed the door open and separated the two men there—predictably, Vincent and Kyle.
Dawn was waiting down the hall, in the middle of a gaggle of gay men, and one straight guy. I laughed. She had no idea that she was now officially their mother, and if they ever met Marcus’ dad, he was going to be Gaggle Dad.
The highest of honors.
We headed down the hall to the Gaggle, but half way there, I spotted someone on the bench. I thought I was seeing things, but as we got closer, I was sure I wasn’t. Holding up a finger to stop Marcus a moment, I walked over to the haggard looking man in jeans and a green polo, with a pair of Chucks… and a baby on his shoulder.
“Felix?”
He jerked his head up and stared at me. “Oh. Hi.”
Christ, he looked exhausted. “Are you okay?”
He swallowed. “No.”
“What’s wrong? What are you doing here?”
“Family court,” he said, patting the baby on his shoulder. She let out a little puff of gas, then burped quietly.
“Family court?” I was utterly floored.
“So, yeah,” he said, and turned the baby so I could see. “This is Laurie Ann Bich… well. Soon to be Germaine.” The sigh he let out was one of a man drained of all physical and emotional strength.
What he said finally hit me.
“She’s yours?”
“She is now.”
“Felix,” I whispered, and put a hand on his shoulder. The little girl was asleep, her blanket curled in her fist and her dark curls just starting to make an appearance. From the way he looked at her, he was in love with the baby, and broken hearted over her as well. “If you need help…”
“Why would you help me?”
“Because we may not be best friends, but that doesn’t mean I hate you. It’s not my business why you have her, but I don’t want you to feel like you can’t ask for help.”
He swallowed audibly, and I saw tears in his eyes. “Thank you, Chase. That’s kind. I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Germaine?” The name rang down the hall.
He coughed and slipped the baby into the carrier next to him. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to sign the papers for my daughter.”
Stepping out of the way, I watched as he took everything with him and headed down the corridor. What the hell had happened there?
“Okay?” Marcus asked, slipping in next to me, and putting an arm around my waist.
“Yeah…I just…” I looked at him and blinked a few times. “Did not expect that.”
