Page 37 of Not the Bodyguard's Baby
“I sang. It felt good. I haven’t sung for weeks. Before the alarm sounded, Jethro was singing to Harmony, and your mom asked me to sing something better.”
Adam watched the screen. His father joined his sister’s bodyguards and was talking to someone. He assumed it wasn’t Sven because the person stood shorter than the three men out there.
September hummed a few bars before launching into the chorus of one of her top-one-hundred hits.
I’m falling in love again with you, and even tho it’s too good to be true—
I wonder if it could be, that you are falling in love with me...
Not for the first time, Adam wondered if she had written a song for him. September sang only the first couple words of the second verse before she stopped and gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. She pointed at the monitor.
Adam turned to see what she was looking at.
“Do you mind if I turn up the volume?”
September shook her head and nodded, then shook it again. “I mean yes, turn up the volume, please.”
Jethro offered Shyla a seat in the living room—the one where the camera had the best view.
Shyla didn’t use any small talk. “I am not going to beat around the bush. I am sure you know where September is, and I’m also sure you are underestimating Sven. He called me an hour ago after being kicked out of the hospital again. He said he’s calling his lawyer and is going to press kidnapping charges against Adam.”
“Why?” asked his mother.
“He got someone to admit a baby had been abandoned at the office a week ago.”
September grabbed Adam’s arm. “I did not abandon Harmony. I placed her.”
Adam pulled her into a half hug and then watched the screen, mesmerized.
Jethro turned in his seat, presumably to give Adam a better view. “I don’t see how he can press kidnapping charges based on his theory.”
“He’s been to the police station a couple times; says he knows the police were investigating the presence of the child.”
Melanie shook her head. “I still don’t see how he can claim kidnapping when both of you seem to be ignorant to the gender. Illinois birth records are not public. Since Sven wasn’t married to September at the time of birth, he isn’t listed as the father.”
“I knew you had been helping her.”
“And what exactly is it you are doing?” Melanie crossed her arms.
Adam muted the volume for a moment. “Don’t worry. Mom didn’t reveal anything she didn’t intend to.”
September clung tighter to him. He rubbed her back, hoping she would feel the calm he didn’t.
Shyla looked directly into the hidden camera in the living room. “I assume she’s either on the other end of this video or you are recording it for her. Don’t look so shocked. I’ve been in the business longer than most. I can spot most cameras a mile away. That one is very well hidden.” She stood and came toward the camera. “September, I have a lot of things to apologize for. One of those things is not realizing how villainous Sven was when he came to work for me. I should never have tried to force you into an abortion. I wouldn’t have let you go through with it. But I was reasonably sure the threat would send you running back to the Hastings, where you would be safest. There is a way to stop Sven. I think you know what it is as well as I do. Only you might not know I have evidence. I’m only going to talk to you one-on-one. This is not going to be recorded. When you are ready to talk, Melanie knows where to find me.”
Shyla looked around the room. “Should I stay here or go wait for a call?”
Jethro shifted in his seat again. “We can try to reach out and contact her. It will be September’s decision whether she talks.” Jethro stood and showed Shyla to the door. “Now, we were in the middle of celebrating the twins’ thirty-second birthday. Fortunately we didn’t light the candles before you interrupted us. Please do not come back here again. Sven probably tailed you.”
Adam waited until the front door closed behind Shyla before pulling September into a full hug. She buried her face in his chest. They stood together long after the all-clear signal beeped.
The urge to kiss her consumed him, but he knew the timing was wrong. “Why don’t we take Harmony out and get some cake? We can figure out what to do after consuming chocolate.”
September pulled back and gave him a half smile, then nodded before stepping out of his embrace and gathering her daughter in her arms.
* * *
Melanie placed two cakes on the table, one chocolate and one vanilla. Abbie gave Alex a mournful look. “Trade me cakes this year?”
