“I’m sure she’ll be fine without you for a few minutes,” Tabitha says.“Plus, it would be good for us to get acquainted.”
I give JJ another silent nod. I’ll be fine.
With a shrug, he pads out into the hall. He’s been gone a total of five seconds when Tabitha clears her throat and sits a little straighter in bed. “How long have you two been together?”
I want to look anywhere but at her, but I hold her stare, determined not to back down. “It’s new.”
She nods. “Right. Listen, I never wanted to be a mother.”
A shocked breath escapes me at her candor. “Okay.”
She doesn’t even look at the baby to her left. “I already found a couple to adopt. That was the plan when I thought she was my ex-boyfriend’s, but the second she came out, I realized that was highly unlikely.”
My stomach drops. “What?”
“My ex has very dark features. Olive skin, dark eyes. He’s Dominican. There’s no chance in hell that baby isn’t JJ’s.”
I want to argue with her, but Avery really does look like JJ. She has his eyes, and honestly, there’s this strange sixth sense inside me that tells me that this little girl belongs to him.
“The second I realized that, I made the call,” Tabitha continues.
“Made what call?” I’m having a hard time following this conversation, my head spinning.
Tabitha has an agenda. It’s clear as day, but I haven’t quite worked it out.
“I told the couple that I’d decided to keep her. But—” She holds up a finger. “And this is the important part, Adeline. My daughter and I won’t play second fiddle to you.”
Jaw slack, I shake my head. “I would never ask JJ to pick me over his child.”
She settles back against the pillow. “Good, then we’re in agreement.”
“What are we agreeing to?”
“You dump him. Tonight.”
My stomach rolls. This fucking bitch. And yet I’m not even a little surprised.
“Are you out of your mind?”
“No. I’m protective. And with you in the picture, JJ will never put me and our daughter first. So the choice is yours. You stay with him, and I’ll push for the adoption. His name’s not on the birth certificate yet. He’ll have to fight it if he really wants her. It’ll be a mess. Or you break up with him and give him the chance to be a father to his daughter. Give us a chance to be a family.”
My heart crumples in on itself. Family. God, had she used any other word, I might consider fighting back. But she’s right. Avery deserves to have her father in her life. JJ will be an incredible dad. And I…I never wanted to be a mother. This will get messy. No matter what. With a woman like Tabitha in his life, JJ will never have peace.And my presence will only make it worse.
JJ returns, a cup of ice in one hand and a pitcher of water in the other.
Tabitha’s smile turns sugary sweet as she thanks him.
He barely looks at her, instead focusing on the baby, picking her up and snapping a few pictures of her.
By the time we leave, it feels like I’ve been trapped in one of those twirly upside-down rides. I can’t catch my breath or find my footing. Every scenario I consider ends the same way. JJ and I will be over. It’s only a matter of time. But he’ll have his daughter. I won’t get in the way. My whole life, my own father has wanted nothing to do with me, and that has shaped me into who I am now. A woman who’s always a little chipped, a little broken. I won’t do that to JJ’s daughter. I won’t do that to him.
“She’s so perfect,” he says as we get into the elevator. “My mom is going to lose it when she sees her.”
I force a smile. “Yeah, she is.”
“And my dad, oh my god, I can’t wait for them to meet her. Do you think Tabitha would let us take her over there to meet them once she’s out of the hospital?”
I shrug. “Maybe?”
