Impact (Suncoast Society #32)(15)

Sofia nodded.

“FYI, I’m a nurse,” Tilly added. “So it’s not like I’m making this shit up as I go along. Well, I am, but not about that. Rule number four, you absolutely cannot have any contact with your ex. Is he the baby’s father?”

“No,” she said. “Her father’s dead.”

Great. “Then why didn’t you list him on the birth certificate?”

“Because he was in the gang and I didn’t want his family trying to get custody of her. He didn’t even know I was pregnant when he died. I’d only met him a few weeks earlier.”

“Why didn’t you tell them that at the hospital, then?”

“Because I didn’t want any record his family could follow.”

“Okay. Well, for obvious reasons, the no-contact rule applies to anyone. For right now, you’re off the grid.”

“Can we come to Florida with you?”

“We’ll have to figure that out. If you’re on probation, that might not be possible immediately. We’ll have to wait and see.”

“He threatened to kill her. Can you at least take her with you? Get her out of the state? Please? I need to know she’s safe.”

Tilly’s heart ached. She knew she was dangerously close to wanting to go back to the crappy apartment and burning it down with the * who’d beaten Sofia tied up inside. “That falls under the heading of ‘we’ll decide that once we talk to the attorney.’ Cris will meet us there. Follow me.”

Tilly was a little larger than Sofia and knew her clothes would fit the battered woman. She led Sofia to the master bedroom and found a blouse and slacks that Sofia could wear. They wore the same shoe size, so Tilly gave her a pair of black flats.

The woman now almost looked normal, except for her injuries.

The baby let out a cry in the living room.

“I’ve got her,” Tilly told her. “You sit on the couch and wait while I get her ready.”

Sofia started crying again. “Thank you so much for this,” she said. “I was so scared. I didn’t have anywhere else to go when I had her except back with Monroe.”

“They couldn’t get you to a women’s shelter from the hospital?”

“Monroe always had someone stay with me from the gang. I couldn’t get away. He warned me if I tried anything, that he’d tell them I violated my probation. I didn’t want to lose Katie.”

“What about your parents? Your brothers?”

She shook her head. “My parents disowned me. I can’t call them. I don’t even know how to contact any of my brothers.”

Trying to focus on one thing at a time, Tilly got the baby and checked her. She needed a new diaper, for starters. Grabbing everything else she’d need and moving it to the kitchen, and taking several trips to do so with the baby in one arm, Tilly started by bathing Katie in the kitchen sink.

She’d forgotten to get a baby tub, but they could pick that up later. The poor thing had been filthy when Tilly wiped her down in the parking lot, but at least she didn’t look like she had any diaper rash or other skin issues.

“When is she due back to the doctor?” Tilly called out from the kitchen. “Who is her pediatrician?”

“We go to the health department,” Sofia said. “She’s due next week for a check-up.”

After getting her bathed and dried, Tilly diapered and dressed her and prepped her a bottle of formula, which the infant eagerly started devouring like she was starving.

Based on how thin the baby appeared, it wouldn’t surprise Tilly to find out she was underweight for her age and length as well.

Tilly walked back into the living room, the baby in one arm, her other hand holding the bottle. “Why is she so thin? Was she underweight when she was born? Is she a preemie?”

Sofia looked at her lap. “Monroe was trading some of the formula I got from WIC for…stuff.”

Tilly suspected that meant drugs.

Reeeallly hoping she would get a chance to meet this f*cker face-to-face, Tilly fought back her urge to scream in anger.

“Rule number five, you will sign over a temporary guardianship of Katie to me and Cris and Landry. If you are serious about wanting to keep her safe and cared for, you’re going to do that. We need to have legal rights to take care of her, especially if you’re on probation. If something happens, I do not want her in the foster care system. Understand?”

Sofia nodded. “Thank you,” she softly said.

Tilly took a deep breath and let it out again. “I’m sorry I’m coming off as a massive bitch right now, but there are certain things that piss me off and hit every last one of my bitch triggers. It usually never happens all at once, but this time, it has. Abuse and children at risk are my two biggest triggers.”

Sofia managed a sad smile that nearly broke Tilly’s heart. “That’s okay,” Sofia said. “Because I know it means she’s going to be safe.”

“Well, so will you, as long as you follow our orders.” Tilly winced. “Instructions,” she amended.

“Thank you for this,” Sofia said. “I really appreciate it.”

“What are you on probation for?” Tilly almost feared hearing the answer.

“Monroe made me help them with a welfare scam and I got caught.”