Page 9 of Perfect Bragg

“I’m afraid so.” She pauses, but I don’t have time to ask what happened and when before she speaks again. “As the sole remaining living relative, you are being given temporary custody.”

“T-t-temporary custody? I don’t understand.”

She reaches down to pick up her bag except it’s not a bag, it’s a baby carrier. Holy bananas. It’s a baby.

“Is this Robin?”

Amy gave birth two months ago, but I haven’t met Robin yet. I wanted to drive down to Denver for the birth, but my cousin asked me to wait.

Ms. Cross lifts the baby out of the carrier and hands her to me. “I’ll be back soon to help with all the paperwork. I hadn’t realized how far the drive to Winter Falls was.” She checks her watch. “I have other families I need to attend to. I’ll be in touch.”

She snatches the baby carrier from the floor before marching away.

“Wait!” I holler after her. “What happened to Amy? Where’s Robin’s father?”

“Mr. Craven can fill you in on the details,” she says before disappearing.

“What just happened?”

At my question, Robin lets out a wail. I stare down at the tiny human being in my arms. Her eyes are scrunched closed, but her mouth is wide open as she howls.

“Whatever you need, I’m here,” Elder declares.

“I’m… I… What?” My brain isn’t working. I have a gazillion questions, but I can’t figure out which one is the most important.

“Come on,” Elder mumbles before leading me by my elbow toward the rear exit.

I hear the elderly ladies of Winter Falls gather behind us.

“Ladies, I think we have our next project. Let’s go.”

“What should we name it?”

“Project Baby.”

“What are you doing? They’re getting away.”

I ignore their comments. I can’t deal with the town busybodies now. I have more important things to handle.

“My cousin died and I have her baby,” I tell Elder once we stop in the alleyway behind the brewery.

“I know, darling. I know. We’ll figure this out.”

“We?” I may be shell shocked, but I know this isn’t going to be a joint effort. This is my responsibility. This tiny human being is mine to watch over, mine to protect. She’s mine.

I stare down at Robin and a fierceness I’ve never felt before overcomes me. I will do anything to protect Amy’s baby. Anything.

Chapter 4

Did you hear the one about the woman who gets a baby dropped in her lap? ~ Text from Elder to Miller

Elder

“What am I going to do? I can’t care for a baby. I can’t even take her home, because I don’t have a car,” Harmony wails.

She’s not the only one panicking. Harmony – the woman I want more than my next breath – is now the guardian of a baby. A tiny baby. Terror the likes of which I’ve never experienced before grips me. I can’t be responsible for a baby.

One glance at the fear in Harmony’s eyes has me swallowing my panic. She needs me to step up now. Not air all my fears about being a father.

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