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“Okay.”

“I know what you thinking.”

“No, you don’t.”

“You think she’s gonna play them.”

I looked at him. “Well, since you brought it up.”

He exhaled and leaned against the back of the sofa.

“I gotta try, Melody.”

“I understand that. I just need you to keep believing what you’ve seen, even if she starts saying everything you want to hear.”

“I ain’t forgetting what she did.”

I wanted to believe him. I loved this man, but I wasn’t about to gamble another baby’s safety on him hoping his daughter would change.

“She can’t be around me,” I said.

“I know.”

“Or this baby.”

“I know that, too.”

He held out his hand.

“Come on. We got an appointment.”

I took it and stood. At least today, Storie was somewhere she couldn’t get to us.

By the time the nurse called my name, Justice had picked up every pregnancy pamphlet on the table beside him.

“You studying?” I asked as we followed her down the hall.

“Apparently, I’m supposed to know what size fruit my kid is every week.”

“You’ve done this before.”

“Been a minute. I’m brushing up.”

I laughed, and he tucked the pamphlets into his jacket.

Inside the examination room, the nurse took my vitals and asked a few questions before giving me instructions to get ready. Justice settled into the chair beside the table like he planned to supervise the whole appointment.

“You can relax,” I told him after she left.

“I am relaxed.”

“You look like you’re waiting to question a contractor.”

“Depends on how this appointment goes.”

“Please behave,” I playfully chastised.

“I brought you to the doctor. I ain’t brought you to embarrass you.”