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I laughed, but tears rolled over my cheeks. “You couldnothave known.”
“Well, no,” Cassie laughed. “But you’ll befine. That’s what matters. I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too. I’m not gone yet. I have to meet this guy and see if it’s all real and take that next step first.”
“And I’m going to squeeze every minute I can out of you still being here so I can see you before you leave.” She stood. “I have to get going. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“I think I am,” I said.
Cassie smiled, and I walked her to the door where she hugged me another time, bidding me goodnight.
When I closed the door, I covered my face with my hands and cried the tears I’d been biting back. It was an answer, a way out. I still had to be sure this was real, but if it was… I could survive this.
You’re a survivor.
I sank to the floor, my back against the door, and looked at the crappy apartment. It was small and dingy, but it had been home. I couldn’t wait to leave it all behind, but what waited for me when I did? Everything was going to change, and I didn’t like change.
Sometimes, though, it couldn’t be helped.
I took a shuddering breath and hoped to God that this was real, that it wasn’t some kind of sick joke or a scam or something that would mean I was right back where I started.
Alone and with nothing.
The thing was, I wouldn’t be alone, either way. I’d have the baby, and soon, she wouldn’t be a baby anymore, but another person who stood by my side. We could figure it out together, right? It wouldn’t be just me against the world anymore.
I’d told Cassie I hadn’t thought of names, but I knew exactly what I wanted to call her.
Emilia Jade Rosenberg. Emmie, for short, because she would be my precious little girl, my everything. I already knew it. She’d barely been a tiny bean on the screen when I’d decided I would give it all up for her.
“I guess it’s just you and me now, kiddo,” I said, putting my hand on my lower belly, where her existence was starting to show. “We could go to Portland, baby girl. You and me and a new life, and it can be better than this, better than what we have now. You deserve this. We both do. We’ll figure this out together.”
3
DANNA
Six Years Later
“Mommy?”Emmie called from her room in a thin voice, close to tears.
“I’m here, sweetheart.” I walked into the room and sat on the edge of her bed. “What’s wrong, baby?”
Emmie started crying. I leaned down and pressed my cheek against her forehead—a mother’s thermometer. “You’re hot, honey. How do you feel?”
“I don’t know,” she cried.
“It’s going to be okay. You’re okay.” I got up and walked to the bathroom where I’d put the meds the doctor had given me in the medicine cabinet. I’d already given her a dose for her fever, but it hadn’t done much at all. I was starting to worry—I didn’t have a lot by way of health insurance, and cash was tight, too. I couldn’t afford another trip to the doctor. If we had to, though, I would figure it out.
I wet a washcloth under the faucet and took it to the bedroom, putting it on Emmie’s forehead.
“This should help, sweetheart,” I said. “We just have to get this fever down, and you’re going to be just fine.”
Emmie closed her eyes, and her breathing evened out as she fell asleep. I took a deep breath, making sure she was asleep before I removed the washcloth—warm now after it had been on her forehead—and left her room. I didn’t shut the door the way I usually did. I needed to be able to hear her if she needed me.
My phone pinged.
How is she?
I sighed when I read Circe’s message.
