Page 52 of Love and Other Lost Things

She took a quick glance down the sidewalk to make sure nobody was walking by who would overhear. “Can I ask you something? Can I get a—uh—consultation?”

“I’m kind of on my lunch break, here.” Mr. Morgan lifted the sandwich.

“That interview made me late for my job and I got fired.” You owe me.

Mr. Morgan sighed, stuffing the rest of his sandwich into the paper bag on his lap. “Fine. Do you want to sue your former employer for firing you?”

“No. I want to leave my boyfriend.”

“Well… just leave.”

“It’s not that simple.”

Scarlett fussed in her stroller, and Jane pushed it back and forth to soothe her until Scarlett stretched and fell back asleep.

“Ah. I get it.” He nodded at the baby. “I don’t do family law.”

“But you”—Jane waved a hand—“you took some classes in law school, right? You can give me some advice.” She looked at him beseechingly. “Please?”

Mr. Morgan sighed. “This is off the record.”

“We need to get away. It’s a… delicate… situation.” Jane reached up to rub her shoulder. It still felt sore when she slept on it a certain way. “He’s not going to want to let us go.”

Mr. Morgan’s eyes drifted over her. “There are shelters for this sort of thing.”

“They’re full. And once they have an opening, we can stay for six weeks, but then we need to find a place to go. I have a newborn so I’m not working.” She pushed Scarlett back and forth again. “Is there any way that he can be made to pay child support or… something?”

“Sure. You can go to court. The judge will likely take your situation into account and order him to pay. But what he’ll owe depends on the custody arrangement.”

“Custody?” Jane’s voice rose.

Mr. Morgan looked at her sideways. “If he’s the father, he can potentially ask for fifty-fifty.”

Jane’s eyes widened. “But… what if he’s dangerous? What if he’s hurting me?”

“Do you have a record of that? Hospital stays? Police reports?”

Jane only had the one 911 call. And she couldn’t imagine what the police report would say about her. “No.”

“Does he have any history of harming the baby?”

“No.” Thank God. But it kept her up at night. What would she do if he turned his rage on Scarlett?

“Well, there’s a very good chance he’ll get at least partial custody. Unless he doesn’t want it.”

Jane grasped at that tiny bit of hope. Maybe Matteo wouldn’t want custody. He was the fun dad who liked to play with Scarlett when she was dry, fed, and happy but as soon as she started crying, Matteo couldn’t hand her off to Jane fast enough. “What if he doesn’t want it? Can we get him to pay child support then?”

Mr. Morgan made a skeptical face. “You can ask. The judge will likely grant it. But that doesn’t mean the guy’s going to pay.” He shrugged. “I’d never count on a deadbeat dad paying child support.” His gaze swept over Jane. “But I wouldn’t count on an abuser to let his woman go without a fight, either.” He raised his eyebrows. “If you get my drift.”

Most women who are murdered by their abusers are killed after they leave, not before.

“So, what should I do?” Jane kept pushing the stroller back and forth, but her hands were shaking now. “If I were… your sister or something… what would you tell me to do?”

“I’d say get a job. Save as much money as you can. Document everything. And then as soon as you can, take your baby and get the hell out of LA.”

Jane blinked to keep the tears from welling up. Get a job? What was she supposed to do with Scarlett? Save money? Without Matteo knowing about it?

Jane slowly turned and gave the stroller another push, and this time, she followed it down the sidewalk.

---