Page 43 of Fight for Me

I laugh at that, and trail after both women when they start leading us to the kitchen. “I can relate. I’ve been a crying, moody bitch throughout the whole pregnancy.”

Amelia giggles as she pushes me to sit in one of the chairs, with Henry placed in my lap. “Yeah, I feel for my fiancé. I’m surprised he hadn’t run for the hills yet.”

“So, who’s the lucky guy?” I ask giddily.

“His name is Mark,” Amelia answers dreamily. “About a year ago, Sammy started to complain about stomach aches. So, we went to see a pediatrician. Turned out she had appendicitis.”

“Shit, I’m sorry. Is she okay?”

Amelia waves her hand dismissively before grabbing a cookie from a plate and giving it to Henry. “She’s fine. Both she and Silvia are watching TV upstairs as we speak. Anyway, Mark was the surgeon operating on my girl. I was so grateful and wanted to thank him for his good work, so I asked him out for lunch. He said yes, and the rest is history, as they say.”

“Wow,” I whisper and lean my head on my hand. “That’s wonderful, Amelia. I’m so happy for you. How far along are you?”

“Six months,” she says proudly and rubs her small bump.

“No way! This is six months?” I point at her stomach. “I looked like a freakin’ barrel at six months with this little guy. So unfair,” I mutter playfully.

“I’m sure you’re exaggerating.” Amelia laughs, then takes the seat opposite me. “Since we have some time before the roast is ready, why don’t you tell us what you’ve been up to after you jumped out of that window.”

“Don’t remind me that I did that,” I wince and grumpilyadd, “My back has never been the same.”

Amelia grins. “I bet. But it was pretty badass.”

“Badass...” Ruth scoffs and throws a stink eye her way as she moves around the kitchen. “I almost had a heart attack when you told me she jumped out. That was stupid. I’m glad you didn’t break anything, Jenny.”

“Don’t worry, Ruth. I’m stronger than I look.” I wink at her.

“That you are.” I whirl around at the deep male voice coming from the doorway.

“Are you done, boy?” the older woman asks Brody as she dries her hands with a towel.

“I stopped the leak upstairs, but also noticed some loose tiles between the shower stalls and one of the drains is clogged. I’ll come by some other day after work to fix it.” He takes a seat next to us, and without hesitation gives his hand to Henry to play with when he wiggles his little chocolate cookie-smudged fingers. “So what did I miss?”

“Jenny was just about to tell the tale about her big escape,” Amelia informs him.

Three pairs of eyes focus on me, and I stiffen, my arms tightening around Henry. “Oh, I...I don’t...” I stumble over my words and then take a deep breath to calm myself. “What do you want to know?”

––––––––

“ANYWAY, IS LUCY STILL around?” I ask with hope in my voice, as I sit back in one of the couches in the common room.

After dinner, we moved here from the kitchen so that Henry could play with the shelter kids in the set-out playpen full of toys. I took a spot from which I had a direct view of my kid and was surprised when Brody sat down right next to me, with our arms rubbing against each other.

“Lucy? Oh, she was here for a while. She got a job in Miami last year and decided to move there. Figured it’s far enough to start a new life,” Ruth answers with a satisfied grin.

“Really? Wow, good for her,” I smile, trying to hide my disappointment. I don’t know why I thought she’d maybe still be here. It’s been three years. Of course, she had to move on from the shelter.

“Lucy left her contact in here if we wanted to reach her. I’m sure she’d be happy to hear from you,” Amelia reads my expression and answers kindly.

I smile back at her, but then freeze when Brody asks in a hard voice,“So, why didn’t you come back to the shelter after some time? I gathered that you liked it here. If you knew it’s safe to come back, and you had to know it at some point if you still stayed in Madison, then why stay away?”

“Oh, I think we’ll let you two talk in private now. Let’s go, Amelia.” Ruth gets up, looking uncomfortable, and pulls up Amelia with her.

“Yes. It’s time for me and the girls anyway,” the pregnant woman says and gives me a hug. “It was wonderful to see you, Jenny. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“I hope we can catch up some time, maybe you can come by with the girls to the diner after my shift or something,” I offer helpfully.

“I would love to! Give me your number and I’ll text you.”

---