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He clicked on Randy’s number and sent him a text.My mother is on her way.
Randy answered,We’ll talk later. I’ll dig around. Take it easy.
Adam waited until his heart stopped banging in his chest, and when he could finally stand without feeling faint, he reached into the stroller and unbuckled Adelaide so he could take her into the house.
“You’re having a bottle whether or not you want it,” he said, kissing her cheek, hoping to avoid the appearance of the sprite.
In the safety of his swamp shack, the fear of losing his baby subsided somewhat. Ashlie would not get her. If he had to move to Mexico to protect her, he would. Standing with her in his arms, he waited for the bottle in the bottle warmer. Even though she hadn’t cried for it, the minute he placed the nipple close to her mouth, she sucked it in.
“You’re so cute, I can’t stand it. Your grandmother is coming, little one.”
His mother, Paulina, was finicky about the baby’s care so he figured that was where he’d gotten the obsessiveness from. Everything was perfect in Adelaide’s realm, from her little clothes that he folded right out of the dryer so they’d be nice, to the constant bathing, lotion application, hair combing. If Adam could control it, he did, with hypervigilance.
At two, he heard a high-performance engine which meant his mother had arrived. With the baby in his arms, he opened the door just as her new BMW pulled into the driveway.
“Why didn’t you drive Dad’s car?”
“He just got it washed,” she said, climbing out with a white bakery box in her hand. For being fifty-five, his mother was a fit, strikingly beautiful woman. “I’ll go right through the drive-thru on my way home. No worries.”
She passed by him in the doorway, kissing him. “Can I have her?”
They traded baby for bakery box.
“You should read the letter from Ashlie’s attorney first,” he said, handing her the envelope.
“Oh, Jesus God, no,” she said, taking the unopened letter. “It can’t be good.”
“Yes. I’m ready to flee, Momma. Mexico.”
“Give her here, get me a coffee, and open your letter.”
No-nonsense Paulina. He did as she said, while she gave the baby the rest of the bottle. Placing the cup of coffee on the side table, she waited for Adam to open the letter.
“Randy called so I know what it says. She’s remorseful.”
“Too damn bad,” Paulina hissed. “It’s not her I’m worried about. It’s him!”
“Right. Me, too. I can’t imagine Adelaide having to be in the same room he’s in. It makes me sick.”
“We’re getting off track here, son. Focus. You have the attorney lined up. He’s a great guy. You need to take care of yourself now. Sit down and talk to me. How are things going with Katy being out of town?”
“I’m getting used to being alone again. Well, not exactly alone,” he said, pointing to Adelaide. “She doesn’t have much to say yet, but she’s good company.”
“She’s the strong, silent type,” Paulina said,
Laughing, Adam felt the pressure leave his head. “Thank you for coming, Momma. I feel better. That was freaky.”
“Loving her like you do right now never ends. Worrying about her never ends. That’s the only problem with having children; you think there’s an end in sight for the things that cause pain and there really isn’t. When your nearly thirty-year-old son calls in anguish, you drop everything to help.”
“Aw, Momma, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m just sayin’. Just be prepared for that.”
They drank coffee and ate beignets, talking about why a woman like Ashlie would trade her baby to be in a relationship with a jackass like Terry Marco.
“I can’t believe it’s all about money,” Paulina said.
“I think it is. My house could fit in his living room. How can a regular guy compete with that? Then I get worried that I’m being unreasonable, keeping Adelaide from her mother.”
