Page 79 of Beautiful Desire

“Don’t stress, Elle. Fabi, Marco,andLuca all ran a background check on her. She came back squeaky clean. Not even a parking ticket. She’s a model citizen. Fabi wouldn’t let anyone around Lily if he didn’t think they would keep her safe. You spoke to all her past clients, and they all gave her raving reviews. I think you picked a good one.”

Taking a deep breath, I stare at the bottom right corner of the screen. I know she’s right. Fabi insisted all three of them run their own background checks on Melinda. He said Luca is the best, and if there was anything to uncover, he would find it. When they all came back clean, I felt a lot better about Melinda’s trial today.

“Thanks, G. I know you’re right. I seriously don’t know what I would do without you guys,” I tell her because it’s the truth.

My family all turned their backs on me when I needed them the most, but G and Fabi have never wavered. They were there with open arms when I showed up crying on their doorstep, telling them I was pregnant.

Pulling me from my thoughts, she clears her throat as I look back at her face.

“Want to run through the nanny cams with me to test it out and make sure they’re working?”

“Um, yes. I thought you’d never ask!”

We both laugh, and I spend the next fifteen minutes going through all of the nanny cams with her, taking her around my apartment and showing her where I have them placed. She suggested I move two of them into different places so I get a better view from the camera on my phone. We finish just as the buzzer to my apartment goes off.

“Shit. She’s here, G. I’ve gotta go.”

“Deep breaths, Elle. Everything will be fine. You’ve got this. I’m only a phone call away if you need me. Love you, bitch,” she says as she blows me a kiss through the screen.

“Thanks. Love you, bitch,” I tell her before ending the FaceTime.

Wiping my sweaty hands on my leggings, I walk over to the intercom and buzz Melinda up. It doesn’t take long before there’s a knock at the door. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath in before turning the handle and opening the door, revealing a smiling Melinda on the other side.

“Oh, honey, breathe. It will be okay. Can I give you a hug?” she asks as soon as she sees me.

I nod my head, and Melinda holds her arms wide, embracing me tightly. As she swallows me in a big hug, I instantly feel some of the nerves and tension melt away.

Pulling away, she looks me up and down, assessing me. “Better?”

“Yes, thank you.” Feeling embarrassed, I step back into my apartment and move aside. “Please come in. I’m sorry. This is all new to me.”

Stepping through the doorway, she reaches for my hand and pats it twice.

“No need to be sorry, dear. I understand. In fact, it’s the parents whoaren’tworried that have me worried,” she chuckles, letting go of my hand and making her way farther into the apartment.

I close the door and follow her the rest of the way in.

Needing some reassurance, I say, “Really?”

Turning to face me, she walks up and cradles my cheek in her palm. “Yes, child. Really. It means they don’t care who watches their children, only that they don’t have to.”

“I hate to admit it, but that makes me feel better.”

We laugh, diffusing any remaining tension. I spend the next twenty minutes showing her around my apartment, going through Lily’s daily routine, and showing her where everything is.

A muffled cry comes from the baby monitor; peeking at the screen, I see my sweet baby girl is awake.

“I’ll go grab Lily, and then you can finally meet her.”

“Sounds good.”

The closer I get to Lily’s room, the louder her cries become. Opening the door, I see her tiny body thrashing around in her crib. When I peer down, her face is red and angry looking. Her eyes are squeezed closed as she continues to wail.

“Hey, baby girl, don’t cry. Mama’s here, sweetheart.”

At the sound of my voice, she opens her eyes, her cries settling a little. Leaning over the railing, I scoop my arms out to grab her, picking her up and holding her close to my chest.

Getting a whiff of her signature baby scent, I’m instantly on cloud nine. Lily relaxes into me as she snuggles, and the crying ends. Standing in the middle of the nursery, holding her close, I sway us back and forth while humming “You Are My Sunshine” to her. After a couple of minutes in our little bubble, I know I can’t stay here forever and head out of her room and down the hall to a waiting Melinda.

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