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“I’m going to jail, too. So much for a stellar record.”
Another deep breath escaped before she pulled on the door and entered the blissfully warm building. It was an older apartment building in an older section of the city. Not fancy by any means. No doorman, and to her delight—and demise—no lock on the door. She didn’t even need to be buzzed in. This was not a safe place for a baby.
But she wasn’t Amelie’s mother and she had no say. She needed to start remembering that.
She eyed the names written on the wall and noted which number she needed and headed that way. Of course, she knew his apartment number, but her nerves were so rattled she had wanted to double check. Her heart pounded the entire time, regretting the decision and knowing it was the right one, even though she hated to do it.
Her hand shook as she raised it to knock on the door.
She should’ve called her mom and dad before she came here. Said good-bye. Told them how much she loved them. Then called her brothers to say the same. To make sure they didn’t retaliate and get themselves in trouble over her.
Because as soon as she followed through on the knock, her entire world would come crashing down over one little choice she made. A stupid choice, but hers nonetheless.
The soft sound reverberated around the empty hallway. It was relatively clean, but it spoke of old age and history. That many people had come and gone. A stop on their way to something brighter and better.
The door swung open.
Her sorrowful eyes met the golden-brown eyes filled with hatred, then instantly with relief.
“You. Hand her over now,” Corey demanded. He didn’t wait for her to listen. He reached out and snatched his daughter out of her hands.
She felt the loss deep in her soul. Holding Amelie for the short amount of time she had—a little over an hour—had given her back something she had lost.
Her best friend.
She stepped inside when Corey walked away and shut the door. He grabbed his phone from the kitchen counter and she didn’t move to stop him. It was his right to call the police. She had taken his daughter without permission. Given him a scare. Put worry on him that hadn’t been necessary.
But he didn’t move his fingers over the screen. They stared at each other across the way. A small room. The living room and kitchen together. A grungy couch and a large TV across from it. No knick-knacks scattered around, although there was baby paraphernalia everywhere. The counters were semi-clean, cluttered with baby supplies. Formula and bottles. A pack-n-play sat next to the couch. Toys on the floor along with a baby blanket hanging over the side of the pack-n-play.
She didn’t say a word, nor barely breathed.
He continued to stare hard at her, as if he stared long enough, the floor would open and hell would be at her feet.
“Who are you? Because her mother is dead.”
Her bottom lip wobbled, but she forced herself to hold the tears back. Now was not the time to break down. When she was alone in her cell—hopefully, alone anyway; she didn’t want to share with anyone—she could break down and cry like a hungry baby.
“How’d you find out?”
“I’m the one asking questions here.” His hand tightened around the phone.
She noticed the gesture and knew her life was in his hands. Best not to tempt the beast.
“Genevieve Carlton. Melanie was my best friend. I failed her and I told myself I wouldn’t fail her daughter.” Her bottom lip betrayed her again and wobbled. “But I failed her, too.”
“Why’d you take her? Hell, why’d you bring her back? How did you find me?”
So many questions and she didn’t know where to start.
“Well, I don’t know why I took her. I made a choice. I see now that was the wrong thing to do. I told myself you wouldn’t be good for Amelie and then…” She didn’t like how he was staring at her. As if one snap of his fingers and he’d be able to get rid of her without anyone ever knowing she was here. Technically, no one did know. Wrong move on her part. But she forged on. “I went back to the bar and saw you leave. I know I shouldn’t have done it. I was afraid to give her back, though, so I followed you. Here.”
“You don’t know me. You don’t know I wouldn’t be good for her.”
“You’re a druggie. You have a record. You weren’t even there for Melanie during her entire pregnancy!”
Corey took a step forward, thrusting his hand holding the phone at her. “I didn’t even know she was pregnant. Not my damn fault. Yeah, I have a record. I made mistakes and I own up to them. And for the druggie part. Was. I was a druggie. I’ve been clean a year, and damn proud of it. So, no, you don’t know a damn thing about me.”
“Melanie wasn’t clean. She…” Her eyes watered and she had to force those fretful tears back once again. She couldn’t think about her friend and losing her the way she had.
