Chapter 20 – Addison
Chapter Twenty
ADDISON
“ I was half—no, more than half—joking when I said do crimes.” I tap the paperwork that Carr placed in front of me.
He jiggles Violet against his chest as he leans over my shoulder. I avert my eyes because seeing him hold the baby places my marriage fever into overdrive. I was happy being single before I met Carr, and now I’m dreaming of white dresses, shimmer veils, and a pasta bar reception. Utter madness.
“Remington is an asshole, and he’d be a shit dad. Using his greed against him is balancing out the moral scales.”
“I should have asked more questions about why he wanted to hire me as a nanny even before he had the baby. I just thought he was being creepy and was trying to hire a live-in for adult reasons, not baby reasons. Do you think he knew Megan was pregnant?”
“He must have gotten her pregnant deliberately because he wanted this Osaka deal. I’ve been working on it for over a year, and I knew Mr. Yamamoto was a big family man, but I figured I could put together the right package that it wouldn’t matter.”
“You were right in the end. Yamamoto still wants to make the deal with you.” I pat his arm. His bicep bulges when he holds Violet. He’s too sexy with the baby. I reach up and take her from him because there’s only so much a woman can take before she breaks.
“It was because of you and your honesty, but thanks for the credit.”
“Sounds like I deserve a big bonus.” Violet coos her agreement. As I lean down to brush my nose against the baby, Carr drops a kiss on my head.
“I’ll give you a big bonus tonight after I finish conning Remington out of his parental rights.”
He leaves without waiting for a response, but what would I have said if he stayed? We probably would be tearing our clothes off at the next nap break.
“I’m weak, Violet,” I tell the baby. “I like him too much. I don’t just love him, but I like him. I’m happier when he’s around, lonely when he’s not. It sucks. Don’t fall in love, honey. It’s no good.”
Violet kicks her feet and giggles in response.
“Of course you don’t mind. He’s devoted to you. He said “love” but not “I love you” so what does that even mean? I love having you in my bed? I love being able to make sexy jokes with you? I love going sightseeing with you?”
Behind me, someone clears their throat. I close my eyes and inhale my embarrassment at being caught by Errol talking about his boss this way. “Errol, you are quieter than mice at church.” I swivel around on my chair.
The older man dips his head. “Yes, I am sorry about that. I didn’t hear anything you were saying, so you needn’t be concerned. I was wondering what you would like to have for lunch today.”
“I like everything you make, Errol.”
“I was thinking of a light salad with Mandarin dressing and toasted pecans followed by halibut in a butter sauce and finishing with a berry parfait.”
“You’re single, right? We could marry tonight.”
He blushes. “I believe we would need blood tests, so tonight might be premature. That and Carr would kill me, so while it’s a pleasurable thought, I suppose it should just remain that—a thought.”
I laugh. “You’re too cute, Errol. I promise to keep this between us. Let me go feed Violet and then put her down for a nap. I should be ready for lunch in about thirty minutes if all goes well.”
“I will premake the salad and wait until little Violet is asleep before starting the fish. It will only take—” He stops talking as the security panel in the kitchen winks on. The front door camera shows Megan and two men in police uniforms. We exchange worried looks, but I know what I have to do. The woman on the front step didn’t even give Violet a name and abandoned her with a bachelor. She’s not fit to parent a dog let alone this precious girl.
“I’ll take care of this.”
“Are you sure? At least let me take Violet.”
“No. Megan will want to see her. The officers too. Go on. I’ve got this.” With Violet in my arms, I go to the door. Megan pushes past me as soon as I open it.
“Where’s Carr?” she demands.
“He’s gone.”
“That bastard.” She whirls on me. “Give me that.” She snaps her fingers toward Violet, who starts to make fussing noises at the sharp sound.
I stroke her back and adjust her pacifier. “Give you what?”
“The baby. That’s mine.”
“No. It’s Carr’s baby.”
“The hell it is.” She turns to the officers. “Arrest her. She kidnapped my baby.”
“Ma’am, if you would just hand over the child, we can be out of your hair,” says the uniformed officer. She has a round face and kind eyes. I hate lying to her, but this is for Violet’s sake.
“This baby is Carr McRae’s daughter.”
“And you are?”
“His fiancée.”
“That’s a lie,” gasps Megan.
I lift my chin. “It’s true. Once we are married, I plan to adopt her as my own.”
“That’s my baby!”
“What’s her name?”
“It’s ah-ah,” she sputters and then spits out, “Megan Jr.”
“Megan Jr,” I repeat incredulously.
The cops are looking at Megan with suspicious eyes. “Ma’am, do you have a birth certificate or some proof that this child is yours?”
“I don’t carry that around,” she says. She slaps her hands on her waist. “Arrest this stranger, and let me take my baby and go.”
The cops exchange looks, and then one of them dips their head. “Ma’am, we’re gonna take our leave. When you have evidence like a birth certificate, maternity test, and DNA testing, we will be back and help you, but until that time, I think maybe you should just talk this out.”
“No, wait, you can’t go.” Megan grabs one of their arms.
The woman cop shakes her off, and Errol holds open the door as they leave. Megan stamps her foot and then lets out a scream of frustration. Violet starts crying. Megan claps her hands over her ears and shouts, “Make her shut up.”
Of course, the noise only makes Violet louder.
“You’re making it worse.” I push Violet’s head against my chest and scowl at her bio mom. “What do you want?”
“Where is Carr?” she asks, avoiding my question.
“Not here.”
“You’re not his fiancée.”
“What does it matter?”
She raises a shaky hand to her temple. “I need to talk to him now.”
“I know you don’t want this baby, Megan. You didn’t even name her. What is it that you want? Money?”
“No shit, Sherlock. Looking at you”—she sneers, raking her eyes over my boring leggings and oversized shirt that has a milk stain from an early feeding session—“I know that you don’t understand how much money it takes to look like this, and I live a certain lifestyle, and it needs money to keep it up.”
“You think Robert Remington is going to keep it up for you?”
Her eyebrows shoot upward. “He has to. I’m the mother of his baby. He has to pay me money every month.”
“Only if you’re the primary custodian, but if he has primary custody, then you have to pay him.” Violet has stopped crying and is sucking quietly on the pacifier.
“What are you talking about? That’s not how it works.” Megan’s voice starts to rise.
I motion for her to cut it out, pointing to Violet. Megan presses her lips together but keeps her mouth shut.
“Yes, that is how it works. Child support is paid by the parent who doesn’t have the child with them.” Megan shakes her head violently.
“It’s true, miss,” Errol chimes in. “You can look it up on the internet.” He hands her his phone, which must have the search results for her. She flips through a couple of screens and then staggers back. Errol helps her to a chair.
“What did Remington promise you?”
“He said he would give me one million dollars, but if I have the baby, I figured I’d be able to get thousands a month. I read one athlete’s wife got $40,000 a month.”
“Is Remington marrying you?”
Megan nibbles on one of her fingernails.
“I’m going to take your silence as a no. Also, child support ends when the baby is eighteen. Why don’t you call him?” I suggest. It’s a gamble, but I think hearing from Remington is the only way Megan will be convinced.
Errol hands over his phone. Megan lifts her chin and sniffs. “You’re going to give me that baby when I’m done.”
I won’t, but I figure I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, I’m banking on Remington being the ass I know he is.
The administrator patches Megan through, and Remington’s curt voice comes through the speaker. “Who is it?”
“Bobby, it’s Meggie.”
“Who?”
“Meggie. Megan, the mother of your child.”
“I don’t have any kids.”
“What do you mean you have no kids?” she starts screeching. I shake my finger in warning at Megan as Violet shifts against my chest. Megan glares at me but lowers her voice. “You offered me one million dollars for her a month ago.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Megan, but you’re often on drugs, so I’m just assuming that you’re high right now and having delusions. When you come down and you want some of my dick again, give me a call. I might be available.” He hangs up.
Megan stumbles backward, and Errol rushes over to catch her before she tumbles on her ass. He half-carries her to a nearby chair. The phone clatters to the ground. “What am I going to do?” she wails. Violet starts to cry too, which makes Megan sob even harder. Errol plucks the baby from my arms and disappears. Two crying girls is too much for him.
“Is this baby really Robert’s?”
“I don’t know. It could be Robert. It could be De—” She cuts herself off as if realizing she’s said too much.
I take a chance. “Carr really wants the baby. He’d be a good father. You should think about letting him keep Violet.”
“I do want the baby, Megan.”
We both jolt in surprise at the sound of Carr’s voice.