Against the Odds (Fighting to Survive #2)(27)

“You’re suing us for full custody?”

I stop walking and take my stance before saying, “I have a daughter and I want to know her.”

He turns to face me and says, “And where is my daughter?” I don’t say anything — what can I say? I see a twitch in his jaw before he says, “Madison is my daughter and don’t you ever forget it.”


I take a step closer and say, “Madison is my daughter and I’m coming for her.”

Drake also takes a step closer, puffs his chest out and whispers, “Over my dead body.” He turns to leave and I watch him drive off.

I get to Upper Cut later than I intended to. When I walk in, Dad, Tim, and Gus are already there. I nod before I go to the water cooler and rehydrate. Looking around the room, I can see my sparring partner is ready and waiting for me in the ring. Dad and Tim tape my hands and glove me up as Gus instructs me and coaches me on my boxing technique.

After 12 solid rounds in the ring, I pretend that the punching bag is Drake Sinclair, instead of Abel Kennedy. Recently I haven’t worked out nearly enough and I almost forgot what a stress reliever it is. The lights flicker off and on and it’s my cue to shower up. I don’t run home tonight, Dad takes me. We stop by and pick up Italian food for dinner. I’m happy to see Mom and Leah laughing and having a good time when we get there.

Mom places all the food on the coffee table and I get the plates and silverware. It looks like a small buffet-style dinner. We all have dinner together and I don’t mention my encounter with Drake this morning. In fact, we don’t mention my workout either.

When everything is cleaned up and my parents leave, Leah and I go to bed. “I got an e-mail saying the chaise lounge was shipped,” Leah says excitedly.

“That’s great. It’ll give you another room to hang out in.”

“I think I’ll like to hang out in there,” she giggles. “She’s a nice and relaxing room,” she says, seriously.

“That it is. I think we need to add some pink in there. You know, make it a girl’s room for… ‘her,’” I say, using air quotes.

She laughs. “She really does need a name. I think pink will go well with the sage green color that’s in there. I also think that once we start using pink clothing and pink blankets it’ll be a lot of pink.”

“It’s a good thing I like pink,” I tease.

She snuggles into him and says, “Yes, it is. Maybe one day you’ll have a reason to like blue.”

Leah

Robert kisses my forehead and says, “I love blue.” We never discussed having another baby after this one. I think if we knew about the baby swap before this pregnancy, I never would have conceived this baby. Jamie would have certainly been our one and only child. We always wanted a big family and although that is no longer our wish, I would like to give Robert a son. I’d like to give myself a son, too.

Robert avoids all conversations about Madison and about his upcoming fight with Kennedy. There are things I want to know, yet there is never a good time to ask. Every time I think about asking, this baby starts kicking me like crazy. I know the baby can feel my emotions, so I do my best to remain calm with peaceful thoughts. The dark cloud still hovers, but it’s at a distance. It’s just waiting for the time and place it can swoop in and claim me. I’m keeping my eye on it, making sure it stays away.

“Story time?” Robert asks.

“Yes, please.”

He picks up Jamie’s bedtime book and removes the bookmark. “Tonight we have ‘Lady and the Tramp.’”

“I loved that movie when I was little.”

“Really,” he asks.

“I did. Mom, Dad, and I watch it all the time. I think Mom liked it as much as I did.”

“Well, let’s take you back to your childhood. Shall we?”

“Yes, please and thank you.” I pull the covers up, fold them over, and flatten them out before he begins reading.

“Comfortable?”

“As comfortable as I’m going to get.”

Later that night I get up to pee. It’s one of the few times that Robert doesn’t wake up. I try to get up out of bed without disturbing his light snoring. I waddle the short distance to the bathroom and realize my panties are wet. I knew I had to pee, but I didn’t think I had to go that bad. Another great side effect of pregnancy. I may need to wear Depends before this pregnancy is over. I sit on the toilet and scream when I see the amount of blood on my panties. It’s not just on my panties, it’s on my nightgown and running down my legs.

Robert rushes in and he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to. I can see the fear spread across his face. “Stay here,” he says before he disappears back into the bedroom. I can hear him talking to someone and I hope it’s a 911 operator. I try to wipe the blood away, but the toilet paper isn’t enough. I’ll need a towel for all of this blood. I begin to cramp and squint my eyes shut and try to breathe through it. I also attempt to do a Kegel exercise thinking it might hold the baby in.


“Are you cramping?” he asks from the doorway?

“Yes,” I say through gritted teeth.

When the conversation is over and my contraction has stopped, I yell for Robert. He is already dressed and is on the phone again. “I need a wet towel,” I say looking at the blood that is everywhere from above my knees to my waist. “I also need a new nightgown.” I barely get the words out before I get another contraction.