by Nikki Ash
“No, it’s fine. There are plenty of things to do. Go save some lives.” Jake got a call early this morning needing him to come in. The hospital was understaffed, and a horrible accident filled up the ER.
“You sure? I’ll try to be back as soon as I can. We can make some dinner. Or go out. Anything you like.”
I smile back. “I’d love that.”
He kisses me hard, then gently places his lips on Bria’s cheek. “I’ll miss you two. Behave. No R-rated for her.” He turns to me. “You either. I know how scared you get.” I slap his shoulder.
“I was sixteen. You made me watch the entire Nightmare on Elm Street marathon.”
“Maybe I just wanted to get you to cuddle with me.”
“I did cuddle with you! I was scared out of my mind.”
He smiles and offers me another quick kiss. “Then my plan worked. Okay. Be back tonight. I’ll call you when I can. It gets swamped, so it’s hard—”
“Go!”
“Yes, ma’am.” He laughs, then turns back before heading out the door. “Willa?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
A smile explodes across my face. I love hearing him say that. “Love you too.”
He nods, his cheeky grin so darn sexy. “Okay. I really need to go now. Love you both. Call you. Order anything you want.” Then he’s gone.
I don’t stop smiling. Hours go by, and I’m still on cloud nine. When Bria is changed and fed, I put her down for a nap. It’s impossible not to shake my head at the mounds of clothes, toys, and knickknacks Jake bought. I pick up a pile of onesies that say I’m Daddy’s favorite to try and organize and put in the closet. I build a play center and a bouncy, and I’m opening up a box of stuffed animals when the doorbell rings.
I check the time. Jake said he would be home closer to bedtime. I jump up, unsure if I should answer the door. It’s not my place, so maybe I should just let them figure out he’s not here and leave. Another ring and I find myself walking toward the front door so they don’t wake Bria.
I check my clothing to make sure I look decent—he does live in a million-dollar apartment—and open the door. Meredith DuPont stares back at me, her lips thinned, though not surprised to see me.
“So, it is true.”
“What are you—?”
She pushes past me as if I’m nothing more than the help. “Where’s my son?”
“Um, he’s at work. He should be home—”
“Good. This doesn’t concern him anyhow.” She pulls her silk gloves off her dainty hands and retrieves something out of her couture purse. “I was hoping my son would be smart enough to stay away from you.” She turns back to me. “He has a successful future, as you know. While you were away finding yourself, my son was excelling, becoming the man he was born to be.”
“He was becoming the product of what you constructed him to be.”
She waves her hand at me. “Always a mouth on you. You know, your mother was right to send you away. To think you would have straightened out at college. No proper man would have attached himself to you. Shame. Your mother did have high hopes for her future—”
“I’m not sure what your point is,” I cut her off, “but Jake’s not here. So, if you’re done insulting me, you can go. I’ll let him know you came by.”
She pulls an envelope out and hands it to me. “What’s this?”
“It’s your future, dear. Go ahead. Open it.”
I hesitate. I don’t trust her, and my gut tells me I’m not going to like whatever is on this paper. I unfold it and immediately take note of the itemized list. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Not at all, dear.”
“You can’t just buy me. Jake won’t go for this—”
“Oh, Jake won’t know. Because you won’t tell him.” She takes a step toward me, her fake smile dropping, her wicked glare frigid. “My Jakey will not jeopardize his future over a mistake you made.”
“I made? I think it takes two to make a child if that’s the mistake you’re referring to.”
She scrunches her nose at the mention of Bria. “She has no standing in our family. For all I know, you became pregnant and claimed my son was the father. You were so desperate to grab his attention.”
I hiss at her accusations. “How dare you. If you cared enough, you would know she is your granddaughter. And good luck trying to trick Jake. He’s done falling for your deceiving schemes.”
Meredith throws her head back and laughs. “Oh, but he will. If you read at the bottom, it says, in fine print, if you don’t take the offer I’m suggesting, we will request a paternity test. It will come back that my son is not the father, and we will sue you for fraud. Then you’ll spend the remainder of whatever sad life you have behind bars.”
“But Jake is the father. You can’t lie about it.”
She snickers, peering down at her perfectly manicured nails. “Willa, I don’t think you’re understanding. I know it’s been some time since you were in a civilized atmosphere and it’s clear the nuns weren’t able to teach you any proper manners. I’m going to be straight with you. We will offer you a nice settlement. You and that child will disappear and not return. You will not make contact of any sort. You will not relay any information to that child about her father. My son no longer exists to you.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then you will lose everything. We will make sure of it. It’s quite amazing what power allows you to accomplish. Strip you of your child. Of her name. My son will be rid of you after the foolish games you’ve played with him. And you will be left with nothing but a cold cell. It’s up to you.”
She can’t do this. Jake won’t believe her. Crumbling up the piece of paper, I toss it to the ground and take a menacing step toward her. “And I choose the latter. I won’t bow down to you. Try your worst with me. It won’t work. Jake is her father; it’ll take a blind person to argue that. And I don’t need, nor want, your money. You’re just like my mother, more concerned with how this will reflect on you than the health and safety of your flesh and blood. Bria is your granddaughter.”
“I don’t have a granddaughter.”
“She exists whether you choose to acknowledge her or not. So does the love between your son and me. You can’t control us anymore. We’re not kids, and we’re cutting those strings. So, why don’t you turn around and go back to wherever it is you came from. I will be telling Jake you stopped by and what a conniving bitch you are.” I turn to walk away, giving her my back. I don’t need to see her witch of a face when she leaves. I move toward the hallway when her next words latch around my neck like a noose.
“Then I’ll cut him off. Take everything.”
I spin back, my eyes narrowed. “Go ahead. He’s an amazing man. He’ll be just fine without your blood money.”
Her cold smile tells me there’s more. “Oh, you don’t get it. You know better than to underestimate the power of who we keep in our company. I will strip Jake of everything he’s ever accomplished. His degree, his residency. With a snap of a finger, it will be gone. He will be as homeless as you are.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, I would. Just to get rid of you and that bastard child. Don’t test me, dear. How would Jake react to losing everything he’s worked so hard for? Would your love still be enough? Or would he resent you? You know my son was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth and wouldn’t be able to walk away without a penny. He may talk a good game, but in the end, he knows who he is. Can you say the same? Are you willing to risk it all on a childhood crush?”
I want to run at her and claw her eyes out. Scream and shout that her evil words don’t hurt me. But there’s this inkling starting to take root. He loves me. I’m not doubting that. But does he love me enough to sacrifice everything he’s worked for? And can I hold the weight of that guilt on my shoulders by taking it all away from him?
“You know I’m right. Do what’s best for that child.”
&nb
sp; “I am doing what’s best.”
She tsks me. “Are you now? Living in a low housing apartment that’s a cesspool for drugs and prostitution—”
“That’s not—”
“A job you maintain by offering sexual favors to your very lecherous boss?”
I gasp. “That is not true. None of that is true.”
She lifts her dainty shoulders. “It won’t matter, darling. How will that affect my son, his reputation, when one scandal after another continues to follow you? It won’t ever stop. True or false, you will stain his good name. Always running from another scandal. Is that how you want to live your life? Do you think that’s how Jake will want to live his?”
I need to fight and stay strong, but that little seed of doubt has me contemplating her threats. How do I win here? No matter the direction I take, someone loses. And for each option, Jake has the most to lose. She’s asking me to do the impossible—rip Bria from him just after learning he has a daughter—leave him after promising to trust one another and our future together. But her threats have power, and each one ends in tragedy.
“This will break Jake.”
“He’s a resilient young man. He’ll survive.”
“He won’t believe I just left. He’ll know you did something.”
She shrugs, sliding her purse up her forearm. “And that’s no concern for you.”
My stomach turns, and my chest constricts. To stay would cause too much havoc, and no matter how hard we fight, we won’t be able to repair it. But to leave means ripping my heart out and taking away a life Bria could have with her father.
I angrily wipe at the tear that falls down my cheek, her triumphant smile making me sick. She knows she won. Pulling out a pen from her clutch, she hands it to me.
“Smart girl. Now, sign, and we’ll both be on our way.” I wipe more tears, my shaky hands fighting not to rip her to shreds, and bend down to grab the piece of paper. Each detailed demand echoes in my brain. Am I doing the right thing? Will I survive losing him a second time? My entire body feels numb as I scribble my name on the paper and throw it at her. “Wonderful.”
“How is this wonderful? How is ruining two lives wonderful? It’s evil. And callous. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“The money will be deposited into your account within the hour. Enough time for you to gather your belongings, which I assume isn’t much, and be on your way.”
“I don’t want a dime from you,” I hiss, but she disregards me.
“A driver will wait for you and take you to the bus stop. I suggest picking someplace…off the map?” She waves her hand in the air, turns on her heel, and disappears out the door.
I collapse, banging my knees against the floor. I hold my hands over my heart as if that will stop the bleeding. The tears come in wretched waves, and I slam my fists into the marbled tile. How can life be so cruel? How can someone hold so much power over another? Panic severs my airways. I suddenly feel like I’ve made a huge mistake. I should have trusted in Jake. Had faith he would choose us no matter what. Instead, I panicked and signed our future away. But every which way I looked at it was an endless pile of destruction.
When I’ve exhausted myself, I begin to stand, realizing a man in a black suit is taking up space in the doorway.
“Can I help you?” I snap.
“I’ll be taking you to where you need to go as soon as you get your things, Miss.”
Right.
I pull myself up off the floor, gathering my bearings. I need to focus on the now. Bria. I have to grab her things. Bria. My lower lip begins to tremble. I bite down on it to keep myself from another breakdown. I pack her a bag, my cheeks still soaked when I grab the onesies Jake picked out. I pack enough food to last us a few days. No matter how hard it gets, homeless, hungry, I will never accept her money.
The man is still standing by the door when I carry out a sleeping Bria in my arms. “I need to stop by my apartment to grab some things. Unless the wicked witch forbade it.”
He steps aside, showing some human in him, and grabs my bags and the car seat. “Where exactly are you supposed to take me?” He doesn’t answer me. The car is waiting for us just outside the building. He adjusts the baby seat and allows me to settle Bria while he puts our bags in the trunk. I stop to take a look back, knowing Jake will be home soon and I won’t be there to greet him. I’ll be gone with no note or explanation. He will hate me for what I’ve done.
I rest in the seat, my mind sinking back into a childhood memory.
“Have you ever thought about running away?”
Jake pushes me on the swing behind the guest house. “Today or in general?” he laughs.
“Any day. Have you ever thought about running away from here—away from all the expectations?”
He pushes me two more times before answering. “Of course. Probably just as much as you, if not more.”
Silence washes over us until I speak. “I want to run away. I don’t want to be what they want me to be.”
“And what do you want to be?”
“Free to be me.” He stops my swing and twists me around to face him.
“You should never let anyone tell you to be anything but yourself. That person is perfect. And if you ever decide to run away, I’ll come with you. Keep you safe. We’ll disguise our identities and live in a small town that only eats pancakes and popcorn. We’ll have a gigantic pool and build a fortress so none of them can ever get to us again.”
“We can do that?” I ask, hopeful.
“I would do about anything if you asked.”
I don’t realize we’re sitting outside my apartment until the man opens my door. “Please be timely, Miss.” I climb out and unlatch Bria from her seat, but the man stops me. “She stays here. In case you try anything.”
I snap my hand away. “I’m taking my daughter with me. If you think I would trust leaving her with you—”
“That is not an option. I have orders. Grab your things or don’t, and we go straight to the bus station.” My eyes scan him, then look to my sleeping daughter. It doesn’t feel right leaving her with a stranger. The wind picks up, sending a chill down my spine. My stomach shifts uneasily, and I look back at the man.
“I’m not leaving her. She comes with me.”
He takes a menacing step toward me. “Then I’m going to ask you to get back in the car.”
I clasp and unclasp my fist, unsure of what to do. There’s only one thing I want in that apartment: my box. I can be quick. Just grab it and be back down within minutes. I start chewing on the side of my cheek. Five minutes tops.
“Fine. I’ll only be a few minutes.” I run inside, taking the stairs two at a time. The heaviness in my chest gets heavier the farther I get from Bria. My breathing becomes rapid as I make it to the last floor. My pulse slams against my temples as I unlock my door and dash into my apartment. I’m trying to count the seconds in my head as I race into my bedroom. I open my nightstand and grab my box. Underneath should be her… “Shoot, where is it?” I dig under nameless items, searching for Bria’s birth certificate. My hands shake with onset panic. “It was right here. It’s always been right here.”
A splintering boom comes from my front door, and I jump, twisting around. I grip my box to my chest, my eyes frantically searching for any type of weapon to defend myself. A large shadow slinks through the doorway, and I drop the box and grab for the lamp on my nightstand, ready to swing.
The intruder thrusts my bedroom door open, and I freeze. “Jake—”
“What do you think you’re doing?” His broad chest heaves. His face is rigid with tension. His fists clench at his sides. I take a step to run to him, needing his comfort, needing him to tell me everything will be okay and wake me up from this nightmare. I take one step but stall. “Willa, answer me. What the hell is going on?”
“I…I’m leaving.” The words are sour on my tongue. My heart pounds, and my palms sweat.
“What do you mean you’re leaving?”
> You can do this, Willa. Think of his future. “I’m leaving you. This isn’t going to work.” I stop to take a short breath. My tone holds no truth, and he knows it. “I want nothing to do with you. Leave me alone.” Shit, I can’t do this. My tears give me away. I fight to suck in air. “Go live your life. Because I can’t be in it.” My brain feels like static. I’m losing focus on what I need to do. “Please, just go.”
“Willa.” A million tiny needles prod at my heart. He moves toward me, and I throw my hand out. I won’t be able to get through this if he touches me. “Willa, tell me what happened.”
I shake my head. I can’t. I made that decision when I failed us and signed that paper. “I can’t. Please. This is for your own good.”
He ignores my plea to stay away and comes at me, gripping me in his hold. “What happened?” he demands, his voice is tight. “I’m not an idiot, Willa. What did she do? What did they say to convince you running is the answer?” He shakes me. “Tell me!”
“I can’t. I promised. They won’t take away everything you’ve worked so hard for. You’ll get to live your life without the burden of me holding you back—”
“Stop! Stop. If you think leaving will do anything but destroy me, you’re crazy. I don’t care what they do to me. They can take it. Everything. I only want you and Bria. Why can’t you trust me? Let her do her worst. We will fight. I told you.”
Let her…
“How do you know—”
“I came home, and you were gone. The scent of my mother’s perfume tainted the place, and I came to one conclusion. I had the doorman play me the security footage to confirm it.”
“She made so many threats. I couldn’t bear to be the reason…how would you still love me—stand to look at me, knowing I’m the reason you lost it all? How would you still—?”
He cups my cheeks. “I would love you through anything. Do you think I care if they strip me of my name? I’ve never wanted it, just like you. Steal my hard work? It’s been for them—not me. I can start over. Be anyone. But if I’m not with you, I’m nothing. Let them do their worst.”