“Laura is going to take my baby,” she told me. “I won’t let her.”
Mia explained that she had been working double shifts and would receive her paycheck at the end of the week. Once she had enough money for a deposit, she planned to take her daughter back.
Sophie had agreed to care for the baby temporarily.
I offered Mia our home.
She immediately refused.
“You don’t understand,” she said. “You tracked down Sophie, called the resort, found Laura, and now you’ve found me.”
Her words stopped me.
She was right.
I had spent the entire situation chasing answers because uncertainty frightened me. I had never stopped to consider how frightening my involvement might be to Mia.
“I’m sorry,” I told her. “You don’t have to trust me.”
Then I made her a different offer.
“My house is open to you and your daughter. No conditions. If you don’t want to come, I’ll leave you my number and go.”
Mia looked toward the portable crib in the corner.
“I get paid Friday,” she whispered.
“Then maybe you don’t need rescuing. Maybe you just need somewhere safe until Friday.”
Her expression softened.
“What about the hospital paperwork?”
“Let’s find out what needs to be done legally,” I said. “And let’s tell the truth.”
Mia picked up her phone.
“Will you stay with me?”
“Yes.”
The following morning, we would deal with the paperwork. For that night, I simply drove her home.
When we arrived, Sophie was standing at the window with the baby in her arms.
She opened the door and froze when she saw Mia.
