Page 20 of Please Save Me

“Is she this big yet?” His brow pulled together.

I lifted the sleeper and smiled at the white deer pattern dotted across the pink fleece before finding the tag.

”I hope not.” I laughed. “This is for a six-month-old.”

Cameron winced before taking it back. “Shoot. Well… at least you ain’t gotta push something that size out.”

I nodded before looking for the rack. Instantly, I found something with a newborn tag before realizing that I might not be able to keep her in that long. Something about that made me feel like a bad mom, even though I knew I couldn’t help it. What was worse was that I couldn’t tell anyone else that I felt like that, either. People in this world had real problems. All I had was a healthy baby and a scare.

So, instead, I reluctantly grabbed something preemie sized. A sick feeling formed in my stomach as I realized just how small this was. I wished Lucian was home; he was always the one I talked to about this stuff.

Still, I forced a smile and passed it to Cameron. “She’ll probably be around this size.”

He held the pajamas up by the shoulders before laying it across one of his forearms. At first, his brow furrowed, but then a smile blossomed on his lips. He had a dreamy look in his eyes as if he could already imagine himself holding our girl.

“Do you want to get it?” I asked.

He looked over at me. “Yeah, I think I do.”

He took his time throwing it in the cart before moving just far enough to stand in front of the blankets. That’s when I realized this might have been Cameron’s first time shopping for baby stuff…. with me, at least. He probably went shopping with the baby mama I knew he had and ran from.

“Hey, where are you from?” I asked.

He looked at me for a moment, and his lips parted. It looked like the words caught on the tip of his tongue, causing him to close his mouth just as fast as he opened it.

What was so hard about telling me where he was born? I could tell him everywhere I lived if he asked. That’s why I wanted to push the issue, but I never got the chance. When I went to speak, I was greeted by a grating voice.

“You should be ashamed of yourself.” an old woman harped, drawing my attention.

She had short silver hair and dark, beady eyes.

Cameron and I looked at each other with an expression ofwho is she talking to?

“Yes, you.” She continued.

But, this time, she reached over and grabbed me by the wrist. Panic shot through me as I remembered the way the bracelet my dad crafted for me felt. I tried to yank my arm free, but her grip was too tight.

Cameron protectively put his hands on my shoulder, but I wasn’t sure he knew what to do about this situation either.

“You’re throwing your whole life away. Kids these days have no idea how much work a babyactuallyis.”

Her words sunk in, and I rapidly realized she probably thought I was a teenager. This happened a lot when people didn’t recognize me. I assumed it just came with being short.

Cameron ran his hand down my arm before pushing her away and holding me close.

“She ain’t ruining anything—”

“You should be ashamed of yourself, too.” She continued, jabbing a finger into Cameron’s chest. “Ifmydaughter came home pregnant at her—”

“She ain’t my daughter.”

Cameron remained calm as the lady paled. Seeing her uncomfortable made me feel a little better.

“I-” she gulped as she stared at us. “Your niece?”

Cameron shook his head. Seeing as Cameron and I looked nothing alike, this was almost funny.

“She’s my girlfriend.” Cameron continued.

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