Page 78 of Avenging Kelly

I glanced at Amy. “You want half? I usually eat half and take the rest with me to work,” I explained.

She reached into the pocket of her spring jacket and pulled out a small packet of tissues. “This is absolutely the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but I have a baby of my own to look out for.”

Amy glanced toward the booth where Rena was feeding Daisy before she turned her gaze back to me. “You do well with her.”

I wanted to say it wasn’t like I had a choice because they left her with me most of the time, but I didn’t want it to come out as judgmental as I was sure it would. I knew Mia was only sixteen, but I’d have thought she’d want to be with her baby more. Wasn’t there some instinct thing that played into it?

“I enjoy it. She’s really a wonderful baby. I’m sure you guys were glad not to have her when you were packing. What time is the truck going to meet us at—”

“The truck will be there at eleven, but Mia and I won’t be coming with it. I’m sorry you paid for someone to haul the baby’s things, but I know you’ll need it,” Amy answered as she reached into her purse and came out with a large manila envelope. She placed it on the table and slid it across to me.

“What’s this?” I asked her.

“Before Mathis died, he’d actually agreed to take Mia’s baby. We hadn’t told Kelly anything about it, figuring it would be easier if Mathis told him when Kelly got out of prison and they were together. It’s far too painful for Mia to care for Daisy. She was raped, and every time she sees the baby, she’s reminded of everything that happened to her,” Amy said.

I was without words. Mathis had said nothing to me about taking Daisy and raising her. It really made me wonder if Kelly was wrong—Mathis was in love with him, not Jonah. Amy and Mia must have believed they were a couple, too.

“Were there plans for Mathis and Kelly to be together when Kelly got out?” I asked.

Amy looked down at the table. “Well, I mean, we all thought they were together, but I’m wondering if we were wrong. I can’t imagine Kelly would get over Mathis so quickly, so I think maybe we misjudged their friendship.”

That reminded me that we’d heard nothing about who that car belonged to that we’d found in the Spires Tower. Had anyone followed up on it? I’d need to check with Casper, but at the moment, I had a scary envelope in front of me.

“What about you? Don’t you want to be with your granddaughter? I’m sure Kelly and I can pay for counseling for Mia to help her work through what happened. It’ll take time and healing for her to feel like her old self, if that’s even possible, but there’s no clock on this. We’ll help you as much as you need.” There were good trauma counselors out there. Hell, Kelly was at a place getting help with his problems, so I was confident we could find someone to help Mia with hers.

“I don’t have the time or the desire to raise a baby, London. Plus, that child is a reminder to me, too, of all the months I thought I’d never see my little girl again. I know Daisy is innocent in all of this, but neither of us can bear to be around her. We didn’t mistreat her, but we didn’t love her the way she deserves.”

I pushed my breakfast away, my stomach roiling at her comments. I felt like I needed to bang my head on the table.

Amy touched her finger to the envelope. “These are the papers we had drawn up for Mathis, so I contacted the lawyer and had them change the papers to your name and Kelly’s. Mia’s giving up her parental rights, and the birth father wasn’t listed on the birth certificate. If you two want the baby, she’s yours. If not, Mia’s going to give her up for adoption.”

The lump in my throat was the size of a softball. “I’ll look these over and talk to a lawyer. I’ll take temporary guardianship of Daisy until Kelly gets out of rehab, and we can discuss it,” I answered her, knowing I was doing the right thing. After everything Kelly went through, to find out his sister and mother wanted nothing to do with Daisy was going to hurt. I wouldn’t leave that little girl with no one to love her.

* * *

Two months later…

I carried Daisy into the Victorian. She’d just turned six months, and we’d been to the doctor that morning for her check-up and another round of vaccinations. I knew she’d be feverish in just a few hours, so I needed to do a few quick things for Casper before she got cranky.

Back in May, Gabe and Dexter had given me the name of the attorney they’d used when they started the adoption process of Dylan and Searcy. Miller Downing had put together the paperwork for Mia and also Amy, who had to sign, as well, since Mia wasn’t yet eighteen.

After executing the documents, there was a quick hearing in a family court judge’s chambers, and I was granted temporary guardianship and a medical power of attorney over Daisy until Kelly returned to New York. Once he was home, alternative papers could be filed to give him permanent custody because she was his immediate family and the process would be much easier that way. I could adopt Daisy later. I was counting the hours.

Daisy wasn’t the only change in my life of late. Casper had been teed up to take the big chair at GEA-A—coordinating the schedule of case assignments for the American office when Dom asked to be reassigned—and he wasn’t thrilled. I’d chosen to be out in the field less and work in the office more to support him, which he really appreciated.

It was better for the family, and by that, I meant my family with Daisy and Kelly, since Amy had taken Mia and moved to Maryland to teach at a private school. Mia had her GED, so she was planning to take college classes online, or so Amy had written in a letter to Kelly and me. I didn’t know if Kelly had actually received a copy at rehab, so I was worried.

Daisy and I had bonded like I never believed to be possible. She was a beautiful little girl who I loved, and if Mia ever came back and wanted to rescind the current guardianship agreement, my heart would be crushed.

I carried Daisy to the back door, and when her little head rested on my shoulder, I felt love deeper than I’d ever felt in my life. She was still sucking her thumb when she was tired, which was the cutest thing in the world, though the pediatrician told me we’d need to break her of the habit soon for the benefit of her teeth.

Before I could put my hand on the scanner, the back door opened, and Austin stood there with a big smile and open arms. “Gabby wants to see you. I’d love to take her, if you don’t mind.”

I handed Daisy over to Austin, smiling as he hugged her. “Hello, Cupcake,” he greeted the little princess.

“She just got her shots this morning, so she’s getting a little crabby. I gave her the meds the pediatrician said to give her, so hopefully she’ll doze off. I’m just dropping in to do a few things I promised I’d help Casper with and then I’m taking her home,” I stated.

Austin placed his hand over Daisy’s forehead as he cradled her. “She doesn’t feel warm.” I smirked.

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