Hope falls into my arms, crying.
She just lost a brother that she never truly had.
Losing him hurts…
***
“What do you mean Dash’s mother is back?” Emilia storms around to the back of the bakery with the baby on her hip. “Max was supposed to be arranging his adoption.”
“She came back for him.” Paisley hasn’t called yet, but it’s only a matter of time.
“Well, she can’t have him. She just dumped him and walked away. He’s ours now.”
Emilia’s definitely where Hope got her stubborn streak from.
“This was just the reason Paisley gave him to me, and didn’t put him in the system yet. Our goal is to reunite families. Give them a safe place to raise their children. To give Dash the best home possible.”
Emilia glares at me. “I know that. But not Dash. He belongs with us. Maybe I can convince her.”
That woman could convince the sky to turn purple. “Is that really what you should do?”
Emilia stares at me for a long moment. “Why did you have to have the biggest heart of all of us?” She gives Dash a squeeze and hands him to me.
“Bisnonna, no.” Hope runs into her great-grandmother’s arms and cries.
Dash reaches up and places a hand on my cheek. It’s as if he knows what we’re saying.
“Everything is going to be just fine, little man. You’re going to end up in a good home, happy and loved.”
My phone rings. Paisley’s name pops up.
This is it. I’m going to bring him back to his mom.
But all I want to do is cry alone with Emilia and Hope. “Hello.”
“Dash’s mom would like to talk to you.”
She probably wants an update before she takes the baby. “We’ll be right there.”
One step in front of the other.
We’re going to do this. I leave the two women crying and walk down the street as a sports car zips up.
It stops in the middle of the street, and Max hops out, leaving the door open.
“Now. It’s happening now?” He runs to me.
“Yes. I’m bringing him to his mom. She wants to talk to me.”
“How? How can you stand there and give him away?”
I blink. “I told you once. He deserves the best. It doesn’t matter how much it hurts. Or how my heart feels like it’s being torn out of my chest. This isn’t about me. This is about what’s best for him. And growing up with a mother who loves him is the best.”
“You’re sticking your hand in with the cobra again.”
Huh?
“And this time it has fangs. I love you so much.” He leans in, and his lips land on mine hard, demanding.
