A little girl, eighteen months in age, blessed with full rosy cheeks and reddish-brown hair that fell in a tumble of natural curls giggled with delight. Holding out her chubby arms, she waited, knowing from her brief time on earth that no adult could resist her request.
“So much for sneaking a quick look before I jump in the shower.” Eve lifted the girl, settling the slight weight onto her hip. She brushed a kiss across a warm forehead and as she breathed in the heady scent of clean baby, for one precious moment, she felt the burdens of the world lift from her shoulders. “How’s my Petal?”
“Hi!” the little girl gurgled, patting Eve’s cheek with one chubby fingered hand.
“You should be asleep.”
The admonishment died on Eve’s lips when she realized any kind of logic would be lost on the beaming baby. Instead, she briefly put aside her role as a thoughtful guardian and let herself bask in the unabashedly happy greeting from someone who, unlike most of the people in her life, wanted nothing more than a smile and a hug.
“I don’t have the resources to give you a lot,” Eve said with a tinge of regret. “However, unlike when I was growing up, you won’t ever miss out on all the things money can’t buy.”
As Eve twirled the little girl in a circle, she felt her heart expand with emotion. From the moment she took on the responsibility of caring for another human being, she made a promise to herself. Instead of her childhood, the one filled with little happiness but plenty of the stark realities of life, she would emphasize things like fun and hope and joy.
“You’ll learn soon enough how hard living can be, Petal.” Eve settled the yawning baby into the crib. “For now, you do the smiling, I’ll do the worrying. Deal?”
Eve didn’t receive a response, nor did she expect one. True, the little girl’s vocabulary was on the rise, but for the most part, she was still at the gurgle and grin stage of life.
“Talking is overrated,” Eve assured her little sleeping beauty. “You’re a good listener—a skill more people should cultivate.”
The rush of baby inspired adrenaline fading fast, Eve headed toward the bathroom. Her day began early and the precious minutes, until her next job began, were ticking away with alarming speed.
Standing under the misty spray of water, Eve indulged in a moment of self-pity before giving herself a mental shake. She had no regrets. None. Every time she looked into that little girl’s blue eyes, she knew without a doubt that she made the right decision.
“I dare anyone to tell me differently, Petal,” Eve whispered. “Until the day you look me in the eye and tell me to hit the road, I’m yours. Even then, I’ll always have your back. You will be healthy. You will be happy.”
Eve stepped from the shower. Wiping the steam from the mirror, she gazed at herself. Noticing the stubborn set of her jaw, she shook her head.
“I made a promise to keep you safe, Petal. And to my last breath, no one will stop me.”
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
Seattle, Washington
“YOUR BROTHER HAS a child.”
Certain he misunderstood, Dylan closed his eyes and ran his mother’s words through his head one more time. The result didn’t change. Rubbing his temples, he took a deep breath, raised his gaze, and reminded himself of the futility of losing his temper.
“A baby?” When his mother nodded, Dylan let the air leave his lungs in a slow, steady stream. “Tanner is a father?”
Sylvie Montgomery skillfully poured tea from an antique porcelain pot without spilling a drop. Reaching across the narrow mahogany, she set the cup in front of Dylan. Slight in stature, her dark hair perfectly styled into a short bob, and wearing a flowing floral silk dress, she looked as sweet as spun sugar. And for the most part, the image she presented the world wasn’t a lie. However, for all her soft-spoken ways, at times—like now—she could be as ruthless as a war-hardened general.
“Stay calm. Anger won’t solve anything,” Sylvie said.
Dylan should have known when his mother didn’t chastise him for showing up late in the afternoon, instead of rushing over the moment she called, that a large amount of shit had hit the fan.
“Where brother dear is concerned, there is no solution,” Dylan pointed out.
“Tanner does his best.”
“And God help us all.”
Dylan almost laughed but quickly lost the desire when he thought of the innocent life his brother had so carelessly brought into the world.
“I’m not happy. However, we need to stick together, Dylan,” Sylvie said as she offered him a cookie.
Shaking his head, Dylan wanted to remind his mother that contrary to her hopes and wishes, all the world’s woes couldn’t be solved by baked goods. Instead, he concentrated on not blowing his top.
“I know Tanner. He doesn’t admit his mistakes unless every other option has failed. What happened? Did the mother show up at your doorstep?”
“The unfortunate young woman passed away several months ago,” Sylvie told him, her dark eyes brimming with genuine regret. “Tanner only heard the news a short time ago.”
“What about the child?” Dylan asked. “Where is she? Or he?”
“A little girl.” Sylvie sighed. “The details aren’t clear, but your brother believes she’s doing well.”
“Doing well?” Dylan scoffed. “Why doesn’t Tanner know for certain? His daughter is out there, without her mother. He should be frantic for details.”
“Tanner is worried.” Sylvie bit her bottom lip, a sure sign she wasn’t as calm as she appeared.
“Where is he, by the way?” Dylan looked around. “Locked in his apartment?”
When Sylvie didn’t respond, her eyes fixed on her cup of tea, Dylan had his answer.
“He left town?” Disgusted, Dylan ran a hand through his
