Page 51 of Seeking Happily Ever After

Katie half turned to Nick. Her eyes were wide with worry and relief to see him, as if he could fix the situation.

Maybe he could. Or at any rate, maybe he could deescalate it so that it worked out for Amelia. He nodded a thank-you to Katie and took Amelia, who had her arms outstretched to him, from his friend.

“I’m going to get Damon,” Katie whispered as she slipped from the guest house.

But Nick didn’t respond. He was focused on the other two women in the room.

“Tell this woman that she will not be taking our baby today.” Char didn’t even glance in his direction as she spoke to him through gritted teeth.

“Char.” He spoke her name gently as he came to stand next to her. He took his free hand and reached for hers. He gave it a squeeze until she looked at him.

“Tell her, Nick.” Charlotte’s voice shook a little.

He knew she’d hate that. But she was going to hate it even more that he couldn’t tell her what she wanted to hear. He inhaled the sweet scent of Amelia’s shampoo and kissed her on her head. An action that almost brought him to tears.How was he supposed to let Jessica take her?

“She’s Amelia’s mother,” he said, simply. “Why don’t we all sit down and discuss a few things.”

Charlotte’s eyes opened in disbelief, as if she couldn’t believe he’d even suggest anything besides kicking Jessica out on her ass—which, admittedly, was exactly what he wanted to do. It was taking all of his self-control to do therightthing. Even if it felt anything but right.

“Nick?”

Slowly, Nick met Jessica’s eyes that were so much like her daughter’s that it was startling. He held the baby a little tighter.

“Can I hold her, Nick?”

She twisted her hands together and leaned forward a little as she spoke, as if she was being drawn to the baby in a physical way.

Nick swallowed hard. “Why don’t we sit down for a minute and…” He looked at Char. “Can you please take Amelia for a quick diaper change?”

Thankfully, Char nodded and took the baby. She held her tight and glared at Jessica as she disappeared into the bedroom.

They didn’t speak at all while Charlotte was gone, and as soon as she returned with a freshened-up Amelia, Nick once more took the baby. He tried to give Charlotte a reassuring smile, but her mouth was set in a fixed line.

“Why don’t we all sit down for a minute?” he suggested.

As soon as everyone was seated, somewhat awkwardly on the sofa, Nick was out of excuses.

“Please, Nick?” Jessica asked again. “Can I hold my daughter?”

Next to him, Charlotte made a snorting noise, and if he wasn’t mistaken, a low growl rumbled from her. He squeezed her thigh briefly in an effort to settle her, but it wasn’t going to be that easy.

“There’s no way you’re going to let her hold her, Nick.” She didn’t even bother trying to lower her voice. “She doesn’t deserve it, Nick. You can’t—”

“She’s Amelia’s mother, Char. I have to—”

“You’re herfather, Nick. That counts, too.”

She looked at him imploring him to make it all better. But he couldn’t. And she didn’t even know the half of it, a fact that killed him a little inside.

“I’m sorry, Char.”

She tore her eyes from his and looked away as he handed Amelia to Jessica, because it was the right thing to do. But again, theright thingfelt so fucking wrong.

The moment Nick handed Jessica the baby, he wanted her back. His arms were empty and his breath was tight in his lungs. Next to him, Charlotte was tense and didn’t take her eyes off Jessica, who didn’t appear to notice Charlotte’s animosity, or more likely, didn’t care. Because she had her baby in her arms.

Nick watched closely as Jessica used her finger to trace Amelia’s face, touching first her cheek, then her nose and her chin.

“She’s so gorgeous,” Jessica said, more to herself than anyone else.

---