CHAPTER 36
The next morning,Naomi stood in front of the mirror, pulling her hair back into a ponytail for the third time.
She lowered her hands, stared at her reflection, and forced herself to breathe.
You can do this.
Behind her, Grace lay in the bassinet, awake and content, watching the mobile spin slowly above her head. She made small cooing sounds, completely unaware that in less than an hour, she’d be in a jail.
Seeing her mother through a pane of glass.
Naomi’s stomach twisted.
Now, standing here in the early morning light with her nerves frayed and her chest tight, she wondered if she’d made the right choice by agreeing to do this.
She thought about Good Boy, about how empty the house felt without him.
She thought about how all this was leaving her feeling wrecked.
She liked playing it safe. It was why she’d picked a job in finance because she liked dealing with the expected.
Now she’d been thrown into a situation totally outside her comfort zone.
Maybe God was trying to stretch her, to make her grow. But why did growth have to be so painful?
Speaking of which . . . after her quick memory last night, she’d texted Gio and asked him if anything happened that day at work before her attack. He’d quickly typed back and said, no. Then he’d asked why. She’d explained that she thought some of her memories were coming back. He’d typed back,That must be a relief.
She’d put her phone away before he could continue the conversation anymore. She didn’t want him to take the opportunity to ask her again if he could see her.
She pulled her hair back one more time, secured it with an elastic, and crossed the room to the bassinet. “Hey, sweet girl.”
Grace’s eyes seemed to find hers, and her mouth curved into something that might have been a smile. Or gas. Naomi wasn’t sure.
But it softened something in her chest anyway.
“We’re going to see your mama today,” Naomi said. “She’s going to be so happy to see you.”
Grace kicked her legs.
Naomi reached down and brushed her fingers over the baby’s soft cheek. “You’re so loved. You know that? So, so loved.”
The sound of a vehicle pulling up to the house drew her attention toward the window.
Micah was right on time.
Relief flooded through her. She hadn’t realized how much she’d anticipated his arrival until he was here.
She stood and moved to the window, watching as he climbed out of his SUV and started toward the house.
Just seeing him made her feel like she could breathe again.
You can do this,she told herself again.You just have to get through this.
She turned back to Grace. “Okay, baby. Let’s get you ready.”
Naomi lifted Grace from the bassinet and changed her diaper before dressing her in a soft pink onesie and a knit hat her mom had made. The baby squirmed, uncooperative, and Naomi had to work to keep her still long enough to snap the onesie closed.
A few minutes later, Micah arrived. Her mom had let him in.
