“No,” Jocelyn said. “He’s a respected member of the fire department. He’s not going anywhere.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow. I promise,” he said.
Jocelyn walked into the kitchen and found a banana on the counter. “Do you like bananas?”
Maverick pointed. “Nana.” She grabbed it to open for him and he reached for it just like that. As much as she wanted to cut it up, maybe that was how he ate it and changing things might cause a meltdown.
When she returned to the living room where she’d heard Chance and Nettie still talking, he was running his hands through his hair.
“I have nothing here for him. Not even to stay the night.”
“He sleeps with me,” Nettie said. “He doesn’t like being alone.”
Poor baby probably felt everyone was abandoning him.
Oh shit.
Was Chance having flashbacks? That thought just hit her.
No way he’d let this child leave if he thought Maverick would end up in foster care.
“Are you going to take Maverick back home or turn him over to someone else?”
Nettie sighed. “I’ll take him home. I thought maybe you’d keep him. I didn’t expect you to give me money. I thought you’d shut the door in my face.”
“I just want the facts. If he’s mine, we’ll get the paperwork started.”
“I’m sure Chance can get temporary custody,” Jocelyn said. “We can get an attorney tonight.”
He looked at her. “How?”
She waved him off. “I’m Jocelyn McCarthy. If Chance isn’t available for any reason because he’s working, please call me. Can I give you my number?”
She held her hand out for Nettie’s phone. The older woman gave it to her and Jocelyn entered her name.
“Neither of you is leaving me with him?”
“No,” Chance said. “I just want to do this right, but if you’re not taking him home, I’ll find a way to keep him here.”
Maverick was eating and crying. The tension in the room was affecting them all.
“I’ll keep him,” Nettie said.
“Why don’t I carry him down for you?” she asked. Chance had done little more than look at the child and her heart broke over that. She couldn’t understand why he was so detached, but maybe it was just the shock.
“Thanks,” Nettie said.
When they were in the elevator, Maverick finished his banana, snot was running out of his nose and she wiped it with the sleeve of her shirt.
“Were you really just going to drop him off with nothing? No birth certificate, clothes, anything? Not even a favorite toy?”
Nettie sighed. “I know you think I’m shit, but I wouldn’t have done that. I would have gone back to get more stuff. Or have you do it. I couldn’t pack it up anyway. I can barely get him here myself.”
She noticed Nettie walking slowly and shifting as if she was in pain.
“Are you going to be okay with him for a few days?”
“I’ll manage like I always do,” Nettie said. “Now that he’s walking it’s easier. I’m in a trailer, so no stairs.”
