Impact (Suncoast Society #32)(29)

She nodded.

“If one of us is with you, that’s fine. Otherwise, you stay where you are. We’ll investigate online classes for you that you can take either here or in Florida. Try to get you some sort of degree you can use to help you get a better job once you graduate.”

“Is anyone going to want to hire me?”

“Perhaps not a bank, but I’m sure we can find you something to do. You have to have the proper mindset, that you will succeed. It’s time for you to take decisive action to turn your life around. And another rule, you will not only have no contact with your ex, but with anyone who knows him. As of now, you have no contact with anyone we don’t clear first.”

She nodded.

“I’m sorry to be so draconian about that—”

“Please don’t apologize. I deserve it. I didn’t do very good running my own life. I’m tired of trying. I need someone to tell me what to do to fix this mess. I’ll do whatever you say. It’s the only way I can keep KC safe.”

“Do you want us to locate your family so you can contact them?”

“No. They’ll want to take her away from you guys. I want you guys to have her. I don’t want my dad raising her.”

“You’re talking as if you won’t be around.”

“I hope I am, but I keep having dreams. It started about halfway through the pregnancy. I dreamed that I died. Various ways. I thought Monroe was going to kill me the other day and make them come true finally. The doctor in the hospital, when I had KC, said that dreams are normal when you’re pregnant. But they don’t feel like dreams. They feel more like premonitions.”

“Life is what you make of it. You have the opportunity now to not screw it up going forward.”

“Unless I’m in jail.”

“Even then, I’m sure you can take classes, read books, do anything to keep your mind active until you get out. And from that point on, you move forward. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. She might do the home visit tonight and say everything’s fine, grouse at you once more to get a job or go to school, and say you can move to Florida with us.”

“I hope so.”

So do I.

Landry didn’t want to think anything else, but in his heart, he suspected there would be yet another seismic shift on the horizon, an impact with far-rippling effects.





Chapter Ten


“ They have delivery, Tilly,” Leigh reminded her.

“Yeah, but I want it tonight.”

“Then bribe them. Hell, I’ll bribe them for you.” They were staring at a display of cribs. Tilly had finally decided on the one she wanted, but no way, with all their other purchases, would it fit in the SUV.

They had bought more clothes, blankets, diapers, toys, a baby bathtub, baby monitor, stroller, high chair—countless items.

On the way there, they’d stopped at the pharmacy to get the prescriptions for Katie’s supplements filled.

Leigh snagged the attention of a store clerk who assured them yes, they could deliver the crib for them that afternoon.

An hour later, they were heading home to unload everything before returning to the office. They had just arrived at the condo to unload when Landry called her.

“We’re on our way back, love.”

“And?”

“We have a home visit tonight at eight from the probation officer.”

“Dammit.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Um, third bedroom? Hellooo?”

“Right. I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh, wait. I have an idea. I’ll handle it. You stay here at the condo for the rest of the day with Sofia. The crib will be delivered sometime this afternoon. I can break that…thing down and put it in Leigh’s SUV and let her watch it for us. I have to go back to the office with her anyway to get my car.”

“Good thinking, love.”

“I have my moments.”

Landry and Sofia still hadn’t arrived by the time Tilly and Leigh were ready to leave. They got the spanking bench broken down and stashed in the back of Leigh’s SUV.

Now, the room appeared to be nothing more than a home office. The other stuff, like mats, that were in there made it appear to do double-duty as a workout or yoga area.

As Leigh drove them back to the office, Tilly laid her head back against the seat. “Twenty-four hours ago, I would have insisted you were crazy if you said I’d be taking care of a baby that wasn’t yours.”

“Who says I’m not crazy?”

“True. I think we’re all a little crazy.”

“It’s the good kind of crazy, though.”

“That’s still up for debate.” She turned to Leigh. “Am I doing the right thing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Her. Katie. Am I doing the right thing getting involved?”

“Well, while I will agree with your guys that racing in there without telling anyone what was going on or where you were going wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever seen you do, getting involved was absolutely the right call. That baby needs you guys. Obviously, her mom isn’t capable of caring for her.”

“Am I enabling Sofia by stepping in like this?”

“All that matters is you’re protecting and caring for that baby. That’s the only thing at this point that is of any importance.”