AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don’t say anything else,” Brock whispered, then he stepped back and looked at the detectives. “What precinct are you taking her to? I’ll be calling a lawyer.”
If looks could kill, Genevieve knew she’d already be pan-fried by the one given by Detective Stileano.
“Mr. Merrick has decided not to file charges against you.” Detective Stileano stepped closer. So close, it must’ve caught Brock off guard as he stepped to the side. Genevieve could feel her hot breath on her skin as she continued. “You go anywhere near Amelie or Mr. Merrick again, and your new home will be four cramped walls and a tiny cot. Are we clear?”
She nodded.
“You’re lucky he’s being this kind to you. Because I’d rather throw the book at you.”
Then Detective Stileano walked to the door and swung it open so hard, it hit against the opposite wall.
Detective Brandt followed, but much slower. “Second chances don’t always come like this. You say you didn’t mean it. Prove it by making better choices next time.”
He left, closing the door with barely an audible click.
“There’s no way I can keep this a secret.” Brock picked up his beer, chugging again.
She followed suit with her own. Yeah, her whole family would know by tomorrow what she had done.
It was a punishment she would gladly accept.
Better than a jail cell.
5
His heart thumped as the door opened. The woman who walked in looked rigid and stern like she was meant to be a drill sergeant for wayward kids rather than a pediatric doctor. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, no makeup, stern expression. She wore a white lab coat, shading most of her clothes underneath, but he figured that would’ve also displayed her unfriendliness to a T.
As she closed the door, a smile lit up her face, her eyes hitting Amelie sitting in his arms.
“Good morning, Mr. Merrick. Welcome to our practice. This is your first visit with your daughter I see.”
He nodded, warming up to her. Her voice was gentle. Such a contrast to her frigid look. “You can call me Corey.”
Mr. Merrick always reminded him of his father and that wasn’t a reminder he wanted—or needed.
She set her computer on the table. “I’m Dr. Johnson. I took a glance at your records and I don’t see any from the previous practice you went to. We’ll need those.”
This was a lot harder than he imagined it would be. The embarrassment. The anxiety. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t have any records from her birth and the appointments Melanie might’ve taken Amelie to before she dumped Amelie in his lap.
Of course, itwashis fault he hadn’t taken her to any appointments the moment he took over raising her.
“I don’t have any, Doc-ter.” He gulped when she eyed him funnily at the almost slip-up of calling her Doc. Not a great way to start a decent patient-doctor relationship.
“I see.”
She didn’t, but she probably didn’t know what else to say to him. Hell, he didn’t know what to say, where to start.
The beginning usually was best.
“Look, let’s get the awkwardness out of the way.” He attempted to throw a charming smile her way, the one that usually had women melting at his feet.
Although her features still looked stern and unwelcoming, the slight smile that curved around her lips helped give him the courage to continue.
“I didn’t know Amelie’s mother was pregnant. I wasn’t there for the pregnancy or how her birth was, what happened or didn’t happen. I wasn’t a part of the first three months of her life. I’ve had her the last two months, and while it is my fault I didn’t bring her for any checkups, I’m here now. The most information I can give is how she’s been doing the last two months, which I’d say is good.”
He fed her, bathed her, played with her, read her bedtime stories, sang with her, made sure she was the happiest little girl in the world. As far as he was concerned, she was doing well. This was a formality that he had to do—and make sure he was doing everything right with her teething. He could proudly say she slept decently the past two nights since he bought the soothing gel for her gums.
“Okay, that’s all good to know. Have you spoken to her mother about any of those things? It would be helpful.”
