Page 55 of Seeking Happily Ever After

Jessica was her mother.

He wasn’t even her father.

It ate him up to even think that. But at the same time, it was the only way he was going to be able to do what he knew he had to do.

But it didn’t matter how many times he’d called Chris; that was his professional advice. “If she wants to take the baby, you have to let her, Nick. Legally. We’ll fight it. We’ll do everything we can, but we have to do it by the book.”

By the book.

Nothing about this situation was by the book. They were rewriting the whole goddamned book, and there was nothing he could do.

“I’ve put in a call to your caseworker,” Chris said on their last call. “Susan Johnson. To see if there’s anything else we can do. Something I missed. I’m still waiting for her to call me back. But, Nick? I didn’t miss anything. You’ll have to let her go.”

Finally, he couldn’t put it off any longer. It was getting late. Jessica was getting restless. She was ready to go.

“Don’t do this, Jessica.” He tried one final plea. “Let’s talk about it and—”

“She’smydaughter, Nick. Thank you for taking care of her, but I’m better now and I want her back.”

Want her back?She wasn’t somethingthat could be cast aside and called back on a whim. She was achild.This wasn’t right.

Nick bit back his words and swallowed hard.

“There’s a reason you left her with me, Jessica. You know I can give her a good life. I can give her—” His voice cracked with emotion. “Don’t do this.”

She didn’t even have the decency to look remorseful. Instead, she just shook her head sadly. “I’m doing this, Nick. I’m her mother. She belongs with me. Are her things packed?”

“I didn’t have a chance to—”

“Never mind.” Jessica walked past him to where Amelia was playing. As Jessica grew closer, the baby started to fuss. “I’ll get new stuff. I just want to get out of here.” She turned to the little girl. “Come on, kiddo. It’s time to get out of here.”

Panic filled Nick. A helplessness like nothing he’d ever felt before rose up through him. His heart raced. Sweat beaded along his hairline. “Where are you staying? Do you have a place nearby? It’s getting late to go to—”

“I got a place, Nick. It’s fine.”

“Where is it? I can—”

“I told you.” She glared at him. “It’s fine.” She swooped Amelia up out of the play saucer and Amelia started to cry almost at once.

Nick winced and moved to grab the baby. “Just let me—”

Jessica swung around to keep him away. “No.” Her voice was firm, with an edge that hadn’t been there before. “Look, Nick. I know you got attached to her, but she’s not your daughter and you know that. Legally, I can do this. And I’ve been more than patient about it. Let it go.”

Let it go?

He couldn’t just let it go. Lethergo.

Amelia’s cries grew louder, as if she sensed that what was about to happen was not okay. It wasn’t. Nothing about it was okay. Jessica pushed past him to the door. It took every bit of self-restraint not to stop her.

It will only make things worse. Play nice.

Nick swallowed hard. He’d do things by the book. He wouldn’t do anything to screw up his chances at getting custody.

He followed her outside. “I’ll fight you, Jessica,” he said as she buckled Amelia into the car seat. His heart was being ripped out of his body with every cry. He clenched each hand into a tight fist and willed himself not to cry. Or throw himself on the car. “I love that little girl, and I will do everything in my power to get her back.”

She finished strapping in the baby and looked Nick in the eye.

“This isn’t over, Jessica.”

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