Page 1 of What I Needed

“Who the fuck is this banging on my door so got damn early?” I shouted as I angrily marched from my bedroom to the door.

I looked through the peephole and didn’t see anyone and was tempted not to open the door, but something in my gut told me to do so. I turned the two locks, took the chain off, and opened the door.

When I didn’t see anyone in front of me, I leaned forward and looked to the left and the right to find the same result. Annoyed, I huffed as I closed the door, and just so happened to look down.

“What the fuck?”

On the floor in front of the door was an infant car seat, with a note attached, and a diaper bag next to it. I looked left and right again because I knew damn well someone hadn’t left a baby at my door. Still coming up short, I stepped into the hallway and walked halfway down in each direction. Not a soul was in sight.

There were only three other units on my floor, and they were older couples with adult children. The only logical answer I could think of was that the person meant to leave the car seat on another floor in front of someone else’s door.

I walked back to my apartment and looked down. From this side, I could see inside, and big, bright eyes on a tiny face looked back at me. I rubbed my eyes because God had to be playing a trick on me. I reached down to get the note that was attached to the handle of the seat and read it.

River Westmore,

You probably won’t remember me, so I won’t bother telling you who I am. I will reveal myself to you when the time is right. This is your daughter, and her name is Riverlynn Janelle Westmore. She was born exactly three months ago today. I hope you enjoy fatherhood and can give her the life she truly deserves.

Please take care of our baby.

I read the note three times before I looked in the car seat again. Those innocent eyes continued to stare up at me, and I did the only thing I could do . . . I took her and the diaper bag inside. As I reentered my unit, the woman I was with last night was headed toward me, butt-assed naked.

“Get your shit and go,” I barked.

“What? I thought⁠—”

“I won’t repeat myself. You need to get the fuck on.”

“Is that a baby? You have kids?”

“Samantha, if you don’t get your shit and get the fuck outta my place and take your ass anywhere but here, you gon’ find yourself outside just as you are.”

“My name is Natalie, dumbass!”

She stomped away, returning a few minutes later with her belongings.

“And none of my shit better be missing,” I shouted when she opened the door to leave.

“Nigga, I’m not a thief, and you ain’t got shit I want anyway. The dick wasn’t even all that.”

Before I could respond, the door slammed. I got up to lock it, then returned to the couch where the abandoned baby remained in her car seat. The last time I’d held a baby was when my sister, Rylee, was born. She was seventeen now, so that was a long time ago, and I was out of practice.

I went to remove her from the car seat, but she’d fallen asleep, so I took the opportunity to study her. She was no doubt adorable, with my skin complexion, pouty lips, and a nose shaped like mine. None of that meant that she was actually my child.

I went to my bedroom to find my phone, which was in the pocket of the pants I wore yesterday. On my way back to the living room, I called our team doctor.

“What can I do for you, Westmore?” Dr. Nolan said.

“Can you do a paternity test or connect me with someone who can?”

“Dammit, Westmore!”

“I know, and I don’t need a lecture. I’m always careful, so I’m not sure if this kid is mine.”

“Does the timeline match up?”

I rubbed my hand down my face and released a deep breath.

“I don’t know. The baby was left at the door of my condo with a note saying she was mine. She’s three months old, so that means I fucked her mother at least a year ago. I have no clue who she could be.”