Page 34 of The Baby
“Okay. Let’s get you fed. Cody, didn’t she have a suitcase orsomething?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said tightly. Not happy that he’d been the person who delivered her to ourdoorstep.
“I’ll get it,” Ruby said, then rushed out of the house as if she was afraid of anyone touching herstuff.
“I’m sorry about this, Jake…” Codybegan.
“Stop. You had no idea. Go get somethingtoeat.”
He looked back at the open door and seemed reluctant to leave us with her. As if he’d handed over something to us that turned out to be dangerous. Something that looked like a helpless puppy, but was really a wolf indisguise.
Ellie put her arm around my waist to offer support, but I couldn’t put a name to how I was feelingrightnow.
“Well, I screwed up pretty bad,” she said, leaning against me. “But being who we are, it really doesn’t matter who she is, does it? You see that bruise under her eye she’s trying to hide withmakeup?”
I did. I saw thebruise.
“She’s in trouble,” Ellie concluded. “We’re going to need tohelpher.”
Help her. This girl who said she was my half sister. The daughter of a woman Iloathed.
Then Ellie patted me on the shoulder. “Look at it this way, Jake. At least this time you don’t have to marryanyone.”
