I blink. “I’m sorry, what?”
Okay, now I’m getting pissed. Who does this lady think she is?
“There’s concern that some of these recent choices were made to influence an open CPS case,” she continues carefully.
I stare at her for a beat, then laugh. I can’t help it. Laughter just pours out of me, and Owen and Ollie look at me like they aren’t quite sure what to do.
“Who would fake this?” I say, gesturing vaguely at everything. “Literally, this is our life. It’s messy, wild, unplanned, and absolutely not something anyone would choose for appearances. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Ollie tightens his arm around the baby. “We’re not pretending,” he says calmly.
I continue, “Look, we are both good people. We stepped up and we’re doing it again. We want to be where we are, as strange as it may look to someone on the outside, so you can put that down in your little notebook, too. Because if anyone tries to come between me or either of these kids, I’ll fight them. I’ll spend every dollar, I’ll go to court, I’ll do anything. Do you understand me, Monica?”
Monica looks surprised and still holds her expression blank. “Understood, Poppy. Understood.”
“Good. Because I mean it, whoever is feeding you bullcrap information needs to stop. It should be a crime to make false allegations,” I add, shaking my head, so angry now.
Ollie doesn’t look overwhelmed so much as frustrated by what she’s saying.
Monica studies us long and hard.
“And you’re happy about this baby?” she asks. "It’s my understanding that neither of you knew about her. You didn’t mention anything in our previous interviews about a baby.”
“I’m happy.” Ollie nods. “And we didn’t know. Otherwise,we would have said something. We’ve been forthcoming on everything. This isn’t something we could have predicted.”
I don’t even hesitate. “I’m happy. It’s a surprise, but this is our family. We stick together and support each other through it all. I love my husband, and this baby is our family. The circumstances about how she got here really don’t matter. She’s here, and she needs us. And our family sticks together.”
“We’ll have a discussion and be back,” the hospital social worker says.
She makes a note and leaves with Monica without another word.
The door shuts, and the room goes quiet.
Ollie and I look at each other and have an entire conversation without speaking. Both of us are scared and worried.
I lean in and whisper, “We’ll do whatever it takes.”
He nods and squeezes my hand and agrees. “Whatever it takes.”
My lips find his, and it’s soft and grounding, like sealing our plan with the kiss. We hold the baby together like she’s the center of gravity, keeping us from floating apart.
“I already love her so much, Poppy,” he says softly, cradling her in his big hands.
“I know, me too,” I say, leaning into him.
“No one is taking her from us,” Cami agrees. “I’ll call Jack. We’ll be here. Whatever it takes.”
A few minutes later, the door opens again. Monica steps back in and pauses. “The waiting room down the hall is full of people who seem to love and support you. You weren’t kidding when you said you had a great village. It’s a rather large village. And they’re all supporting you more than I’ve ever seen people pull for someone.”
Monica glances back down the hall and then back at us. Herexpression doesn’t soften, but something shifts. “I’ll be in touch,” she says.
When she leaves for good, Owen grins. “Do you think the prize is still on the table?”
I laugh and pull him into a side hug. “If it is, you’re definitely winning it.”
“Who would have it out for us to call CPS?” Ollie says, shaking his head.
“I thought maybe it was Jeremy Toddy. Or a disgruntled customer.” I shrug.
