Page 11

11

Miller

I want kids. Spending these few hours with Hannah has been incredible. She’s stubborn and funny and so innocent and inquisitive. Katy was just as amazing with her as I expected. We stopped for ice cream, and the girls laughed and played with the things Hannah brought in her backpack.

Lincoln has texted me several times to check in on Katy. I know he’s eager to get off work and check on her for himself.

When Spencer told us Justin and Nicole needed a break, we came running. We are one big happy family, and taking care of each other is what we do best.

“Are you ready to go home, Hannah? Mommy and Daddy miss you.” Her bottom lip pokes out in the most adorable pout.

“Brudder noisey.”

“I know, sweetie, but he’ll get better.” I pack up her small toys into her backpack and look around the room to make sure we haven’t forgotten anything.

“Did you two want to stay here while I bring her back?” Axel and Katy look up from their spots on the couch.

“I’d like to go so I can see Justin, if that’s okay. And the new baby.” Of course she would. I have no idea why I even suggested it.

“Absolutely. Let’s head out.” Spencer has a complicated alarm and lock system at her house, and we got a Nobel Prize-worthy lesson on how to lock everything properly when coming and going. I have no idea what she’s hiding in here that requires such security, but a woman living alone can never be too careful, I guess.

I already know she keeps at least half a dozen guns in various places around her little pool house, which kept me on high alert watching Hannah’s every move.

When we get to Justin’s house, he has a locking keypad similar to Spencer’s. Hannah starts spouting random numbers, giving me a stern face when I ignore her and knock.

“Free, six, twoo, seben. Daddy!” Justin opens the door, holding Miles, and I take the baby so he can scoop up Hannah.

“Hey, baby girl. Did you have fun with your uncles?”

Axel swiftly steals Miles from me with a big grin and pushes his way past us into the house. I let Katy go in before following behind the crowd. Justin gives Katy a side hug, and I can see the concern on his face as she walks farther into the house. He puts Hannah down, and she runs to look for Nicole.

“How is she?” I know the “she” he’s referring to is Katy.

My shoulders heave with my sigh as I reflect on the last hours we’ve spent together. “She’s avoiding, deflecting. Acting like nothing is wrong.” I haven’t had many interactions with Katy over the two years she’s been back in Justin’s life, but we’ve all had enough to know her personality. She’s usually a happy kid despite her home life. She puts on a brave face, but I can tell underneath she’s scared.

“Has Spencer told you her plan?” Justin keeps his voice low as we step into the kitchen. His living room and kitchen have an open floor plan, but the rooms are large enough to have a quiet conversation without being overheard.

“She has a plan?” While that doesn’t surprise me, the look on Justin’s face makes me pause. It must be something big for him to look concerned over Spencer’s decision. She’s always calculated and confident when she decides something.

“She wants to take in Katy.”

Okay, now I understand his concern. I look to the couch where Axel cradles Miles, and Katy and Nicole play on the floor with Hannah. Nicole looks much more refreshed than when I saw her earlier.

“As in, have Katy live with her? What about her mother?”

“Yeah. She said you, Axel, and Lincoln would probably help out, but—”

“Without a doubt. I’m here to help with Katy in any way I can, and I know Axel and Lincoln will feel the same. What do we need to do?”

“I guess we make a plan.”

? ? ? ? ?

“Are we sure this is the best plan?” I look up at the dilapidated apartment building. It’s hard to believe Justin used to live here. Although that was close to a decade ago.

“It’s the only plan we have.” Justin doesn’t look comfortable being here. I know this is where his life both ended and began when he tried to take his own life, and Katy saved him.

Spencer, Justin, and I all exit my truck. We decided to leave Nicole and Axel with the kids at Justin’s house. Katy has been through enough in the last twenty-four hours, and if her mother is anything like Justin has described, she doesn’t need to be subjected to any more negativity.

If I had my way, we would have left Spencer as well, but it was hard to argue with her valid point. Even a crappy mother would, or should, hesitate if two full-grown men show up at your door saying they want to take your daughter. At least with Spencer here, it lessens the blow that she wants to live with another female. We can just be the muscle to move Katy’s belongings.

“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?” Spencer did her research. She’s carrying with her a folder containing a document for Katy’s mother to sign stating that she’s giving parental consent for Katy to move out and live with her. I also overheard a hushed conversation that they are willing to throw money at her mother if that’s what it takes to get her to agree. We all know that Katy is better off with any of us than being here with her absentee mother.

“Katy deserves better, and if this is what it takes to make it legal, then I’m crossing all of my T’s and dotting all of my I’s.”

“It’s that one up there. 3F.” The three flights of stairs we ascend are dirty and unkempt. Paint chips from the brick and cobwebs decorate every corner.

Spencer knocks on the door when we finally reach it. There are loud noises from a TV coming through the thin door. We agreed to let Spencer take the lead, with Justin backing her up since Katy’s mother would probably remember him.

The door opens, and a woman with bottle-blonde hair who looks far older than her years looks back at us.

“Who are you? I ain’t got no money for whatever you’re selling.”

“Ms. North? Barbara North?” The woman’s eyes sweep over the three of us, trying to figure out who we are and why we know her name. She stops and pauses on Justin.

“It’s Babs. Why do I know you?” Her eyes scrutinize Justin.

“I used to be your neighbor when Katy was little.”

“Katy? You know my useless daughter?”

My hands involuntarily bawl into fists. How could she say that about that sweet girl?

“We all know your daughter, Ms. Nor-Babs.” She glares at Spencer.

“Oh yeah? Well, she isn’t here, and I have no idea why you three are. What do you want?”

“Katy,” Spencer says flatly. Her mask is on. It’s the first time I’ve seen it in the last two days, and I don’t miss it.

“Listen, lady. I already told you she wasn’t here.” Babs’ voice rises with agitation.

“I’m aware she isn’t here. She’s at my house, and I’d like your approval to keep her there.” Babs steps back as if she’s been slapped.

“You what?”

“I’d like to house your daughter at my residence for the foreseeable future. The age of consent to move out is sixteen, which Katy is. I have a document right here for you to sign, giving her permission to move out. I’ll just need…” Spencer continues to talk, but I can see in Babs’ eyes she’s tuning her out.

“Babs.” I know I agreed to be quiet, but this isn’t getting us anywhere. “We want…Spencer here wants Katy to live with her. She will take care of all of her finances. You don’t have to do anything but sign the paper saying it’s okay.” I can see the shimmer in her eyes at the loss of responsibility, but something quickly changes.

“What do I get out of it? I have chores that need to be done. You can’t just expect me to hand you my daughter.”

“We just want what’s best for Katy—”

“Two grand.” I gape at Justin. They talked about money being a last resort. I was hoping she would do the right thing for her daughter.

The corner of her lip tilts up, and she stares Justin down. “Ten.”

Did she just counteroffer him? She’s really putting a price on her daughter? This is disgusting.

“Three. We just want to get Katy’s things, and you won’t have to worry about anything else regarding her.”

“If you want her and her things, I want five grand.” My heart is breaking hearing this piece of shit woman barter her daughter for money.

“Four thousand. You sign the papers, keep all Katy’s stuff, and we walk away.”

I can feel the rage coursing through me as this piece of shit woman auctions off her daughter, and I want to punch something. I don’t think I’ve ever been so repulsed by another human in my life. We are doing more for Katy than I could have even imagined.

“Forty-five hundred.”

This bitch. I have no idea how Justin is keeping his cool, but I’m done.

“We’ll give you six grand if you add onto the paperwork that Spencer has full guardianship of Katy, and when we come back with real paperwork, you sign it, no questions asked.” Justin and Spencer look at me due to my outburst, but I don’t care. I need to get Katy as far away from this evil woman as possible. If I have to request guardianship for her because Spencer can’t or won’t do it, I won’t bat an eye.

Babs concentrates on my offer for far longer than is necessary before smiling an evil smile.

“Where do I sign?” I take the paperwork from Spencer and add my addendum. Spencer initials what I’ve written and hands it to the worthless woman to sign and initial. We tell her we’ll be right back with the money, and she smiles like she’s won the lottery. I’m sure in her mind she has, but in reality, it’s Katy and it’s us. Katy is getting out from underfoot of a woman who never treated her like a daughter and we are gaining a wonderful woman whose life is about to change for the better.

There’s silence between us until we get back into my truck.

“Fuck!” I take my aggression out on the steering wheel with a few quick jabs until Spencer puts her hand on my forearm, stopping my next punch.

“We got our girl.” I take her hand and rest my forehead on the steering wheel.

“Justin, I’m sorry. I’ll give you the difference. I just couldn’t listen to her for another second, treating Katy like she was property to be sold.”

“Miller, money means nothing to me. You got more than we came here to get. I don’t want anything from you.” Justin clamps a hand on my shoulder and squeezes.

“Do you realize what you just did?” Spencer’s question catches me off guard. She takes her hand away and turns in her seat to face me. “You got her mother to essentially sign her rights away. That means we can help Katy get emancipated and truly leave her mother.”

“Really?” I had no idea. I just reacted.

“I’ll contact my lawyer in the morning and see what needs to be done.” Justin squeezes my shoulder again and sits back in his seat. “Let’s get to the bank and finish this. Katy needs a new wardrobe and Nicole would love an excuse for a shopping spree.”