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“All right, Ms. Mayberry,” Officer Woods said. “Officers are assigned to your case. I’m certain they’re following up on every avenue, including Miss Blaine’s whereabouts that night.”
“Rocco’s,” Sunny called.
My head rested on his arm. Sunny’s office was an arcade, and his go-to alibi was a pie shop. Dear old Rocco owed Sunny a favor, or ten. When he needed an alibi, Rocco swore up and down Sunny was there at whatever time he said.
“But as you know, Miss Blaine is innocent until proven guilty. Your accusations aren’t cause to take a child from her mother, and leave her with someone who doesn’t have a right to her.”
“Please, listen. This isn’t about me. It’s about what’s best for—”
“Laurel.”
My baby’s curly chestnut crown poked above Charlie’s head. Wrapped in a pink blanket and matching hair bow, Officer Guzman carried her out. I stepped toward her, then I was running. “Laurel!”
Sprinting to her, arms out, Laurel immediately reached for me, twisting out of the stranger’s hold. I snuggled her to my chest—breathing in her powdery baby smell, and burst into tears.
Charlie, Sloane, the officers, and the nosy neighbors peeking over their porches all faded.
“It’s over, Laurel,” I whispered. “We’re together, and Mommy will never let you go again.”
LAUREL BLINKED UP AT us from her car seat. We showered her in praise and kisses from both sides, swinging her head back and forth.
“It’s been so long, baby girl.” Sienna kissed her fist and Laurel tried to grab her mouth for the trouble. “How’s Aunty’s favorite niece?”
“Oh, Sunny,” I said, “you said she’d be with me by the end of the week and I still can’t believe it. We have to stop at Green Mart. I don’t have anything for her. She doesn’t have a place to sleep.”
“Mind if we stop at home first?” Sunny posed as chauffeur, sliding in and out of Leighbridge noonday traffic. “Grab something to eat, show Laurel her new home, and Liam can tell you where the baby stores are around here. He might also have some stuff he saved from Tricky, so that’ll shorten your list.”
“That’s a great idea. Isn’t that a great idea, Laurel?” I was cheesing so hard my face hurt. Laurel mimicked the grin, laughing with me. My heart filled to burst.
Fuller, Shonda, and all the staff dropped what they were doing the second we came inside. Bane, Liam, and Tricky were right behind them.
“She’s so cute.” Tricky jumped up and down, fingers wiggling at her. “Can I kiss the baby?”
“Sure you can. Laurel loves smooches.”
Tricky popped a little peck on her nose. “Hello. You’re my new sister.”
“Lizzie, no,” Liam said quickly. “She’s not your sister.”
“But you said I could have one?”
“Yes, but—” Clearing his throat, he flicked to me and back to her just as fast. “I didn’t say that one was Mackenzie’s daughter.”
Elizabeth scrunched up her face, either ’cause she was confused or she thought he was.
Bending down, Liam presented Laurel a finger, and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Laurel. I’m honored to share our home with you. I hope you’re”—he drifted up, our gaze locking—“very happy here.”
“Da.”
“See?” Elizabeth cried.
Liam whisked her away, likely giving it another shot at explaining family dynamics.
“The kid’s frickin’ adorable,” Bane said. “Good job.”
I laughed—lighter and freer than I had in months. “Thank you. I worked hard to get her just right.”
“Look at this precious love,” Fuller said, shedding ten layers of ingrained sternness and revealing the soft woman underneath. “It’s wonderful having another baby in the house.”
“I promise Laurel won’t make extra work for any of you.”
Fuller waved that away. “Don’t be silly. We’re here for the three of you, whatever you need. Especially you,” she sang to Laurel. “Aunty Bethy is more than happy to be there for you.”
Laurel kicked her feet, gurgling and babbling her thanks.
“Yeah, Kenzie,” Shona said. “Truth is, we were waiting for the day Sunny walked in with a former one-night stand and their raven-haired love child. Leave it to him to go about it creatively.”
“I like to keep you on your toes, Shonda.” Sunny tossed his wig at the coffee table and put his arm around me. “Before you go, can I show you something?”
“Sure. It won’t take long, will it?”
“Not long at all.”
Sunny’s hand was warm on my back, leading us past my and Sienna’s rooms to the double doors at the end of the hall. Twisting the knob, he let it swing inward. I gasped, and Laurel grabbed my jaw—tiny fingers curling around my bottom lip.
That was fine, my mouth wouldn’t close anyway.
A white crib tucked against the wall, draped in the featherlight wings of the pink canopy. A gray glider and fuzzy pink ottoman sat beside it, beckoning me to put my feet up and relax with my baby. Above our heads, gold-painted steel butterflies flew to the ceiling. But none of that was what made me tear up. Covering the entire wall sharing Laurel’s crib, were dozens of painted lilies.
