Against the Odds (Fighting to Survive #2)(25)

Later that night while lying bed, I ask Robert if he has heard anything from our attorney. “I actually saw him yesterday. I must have forgotten to tell you.”

Forgotten or intentionally didn’t tell me? Robert and I hardly ever fight, but I’m a little angry with him at the moment. “Oh, did he say anything important?” I ask, but I already know anything that Bruce said about Madison will be significant.

“He said that it’s getting difficult to get ahold of anyone from the Sinclairs, including their attorney.” Robert continues to talk, never taking his eyes off mine. “He said that he has a motion or two he wants to file in family court.”

I have no idea what that means. Visitation, custody, shared parenting? I have no clue. “What are they?” I finally ask.

“One was he is asking that the Madison, not be allowed to leave the country, on vacation or otherwise.”

“I hope he doesn’t do business overseas. But, why would Bruce care if they leave the country?” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I understand why. “He thinks they’ll take Madison and never come back.”

Robert is still watching me. “Yes, that did cross his mind.”

“Oh, God, Robert. All this time I was sitting here waiting for them to contact us, they could have been planning on taking Madison to some unknown island.”

“But they didn’t, Leah.”

“How do you know? You can’t be sure of that. Maybe they are already gone. Bruce needs to do something, now.” The baby kicks aggressively and I place my hand on my belly to calm her.

“Don’t get upset, she doesn’t like it,” he says.

“I know and I’m trying not to.”

“Gus drove by their house and Drake’s office today. They’re still in town.”

“He did what? Robert, he can’t stalk them, it’s illegal.”


“Leah, calm down. He isn’t stalking them. He just drove by.”

I pause for a minute and think about what I want to say. I have no idea what to do about the situation with Madison. “Robert? How did he get their address? How does he know where they live and work?”

Robert looks away and says, “I gave him the addresses and since I couldn’t leave you, I asked him to drive by for me. I had to make sure they were still in town.”

I admit only to myself that I’m glad to know they are still around. I understand Robert’s thinking, but there must be a better way of doing this. Robert and I talk about Bruce filing the motion and how long it will take. I voice my concern about Drake and his anger. I try to not think about it, but it’s all I can think about. I remind myself it’s out of love for Madison and it helps to relax me. I also remind myself of how sweet Chelsea is and that she wouldn’t be with a man who wasn’t kind and loving in return. Robert promises me that he and Gus won’t stalk the Sinclairs and I promise to try to remain calm and concentrate on staying pregnant. Robert informs me that he did an extensive search on the Sinclairs. He also adds that he needed to know that his daughter was being taken care of and was loved. I get that. I also considered doing that myself.

Robert stands up and walks out of the bedroom. When he returns, he is carrying a wrapped gift. “I forgot, but Bruce gave me this yesterday.”

“He bought the baby a gift?” I ask.

“No. It’s from the Sinclairs. They bought Jamie a gift when they thought she was still…”

Robert doesn’t finish his sentence. He doesn’t have to. “Should we open it?” I take the gift from him and shake it. It doesn’t rattle.

“I think we should and whatever it is, I can take it to the cemetery and leave it for her.”

I carefully open the gift and inside is a stunning doll. “Oh, this is gorgeous,” I say as I lightly touch her soft brown hair.

“It looks expensive, not what I thought it was going to be,” he says examining the doll. “I was expecting to see a baby doll.”

I ask, “What kind of doll is this?” Robert takes the baby from me and then takes his laptop off of his nightstand. He looks at the box and then types in Lee Middleton into his computer. “Feel her skin, she is soft just like a newborn baby.”

Robert touches the dolls face and then her hands. “She is very soft,” he says as he pulls his hands away from the doll. “Well, she is definitely not a toy and is very collectible.” Robert reads to me what the website says about the baby doll. We learn the dolls have been around for a few decades and the dolls are made of vinyl, not plastic. We decide we’ll offer the gift back to the Sinclairs since Jamie isn’t here to enjoy it.

Drake Sinclair

“Mr. Sinclair, Mr. Reed is here to see you.”

“Send him in, Carolyn,” I say over the intercom. We don’t have a scheduled meeting, so this can’t be good. I pick up the framed family photo that sits on my desk of Chelsea, Caden, and Madison, and me. It was taken during a family outing to the Sarasota Jungle Gardens at Christmastime. I keep the framed picture close by while I work to always remind me of what is important in life.

I place the picture back on my desk and walk towards the large double oak doors. There is a knock at the door before the door opens revealing Carolyn and my attorney. “Thank you, Carolyn,” I say, dismissing her. I extend my right hand out to shake Mr. Reed’s. “This is a surprise.” He returns my handshake but not before I notice the manila envelope in his left hand. “Should I assume there is a problem?”