Page 71 of The Sacrifice
I pull my cellphone out of my purse and clear my throat.
Moments later, Mrs. Rhodes answers, “Yes?” She pauses as if she senses I’m crying. “Is everything okay?”
“Hello, Mrs. Rhodes. It’s me, Mia.”
“I know that.”
“Right.” I swallow. “I need you to….”
“What’s wrong? Is the baby okay? I’ll be right there.”
“No. Hadley is fine. They’re both fine, but I had to quit my nanny job, and I need you to–”
“What did he do?”
“He didn’t do anything.”
“Then what didn’t he do? Because you’re quitting, and it sounds like you’re crying.”
“It’s complicated.” I swipe my hand over my cheek as a bird swoops in the bright blue sky. The day is beautiful. Blue sky. A few white puffy clouds. It should have been a day of celebration.
“I knew he wasn’t mature enough to be a parent or be in a relationship. His dad and I will–”
“Stop,” I snap with more force than I intended and a woman with blonde hair raises her eyebrows as she walks past me. Her knee-length black boots click on the sidewalk, and I lower my tone, “This was my decision at the advice of his attorney. Jackson doesn’t want me to leave.”Didn’t. He probably does now.“The DNA results came in today, proving Hadley is Jackson’s daughter. His attorney said it would be better if I wasn’t his nanny, and if he were single throughout the legal proceedings. They’re seeking full custody and terminating Roxanne’s parental rights.”
“Well, of course, they are. I don’t know what kind of woman could walk away from her child and never look back. It breaks my heart,” she sighs. “Dear, you’re the sweetest person. Jackson is lucky to have you in his corner. Thank you for loving my son and Hadley and reminding me that he’s a grown man and not a teenage boy, leaving his stinky socks in the middle of my living room.”
“He might not feel the same way.” I walk down the sidewalk. “I dumped him in his attorney’s office.”
“To protect his child.”
“Yeah.” My shoulders sag. “It was the right decision, but it might be the end of my happily ever after.”
“Dear, that is impossible. My son loves you. He’ll see that this was the right decision.”
“We’ll see.” I stop with my hand on my car door. Hadley’s car seat base. My eyes swim, and all the bravado I’d held onto disappears. My throat closes. “Can you come to get Hadley at the stadium?” The words barely choke themselves out as I struggle to speak. “I brought the paternity papers to him and left her with him. I should have taken her home and had you come there. But if she was with me, I wouldn’t have been able to leave.” My skin feels clammy, as if I’ve broken out into a fever.
“I understand. It’s fine. I’ll call him and come and get her. And tell him if he’s mad at you–”
“Don’t. Please, just let things happen as they’re supposed to. Who knows what’s going to happen a year from now?”
“A year?” she scoffs. “Mark my words. It’s not going to take a year.” A soft rustling sound comes through the speakers as if she’s rushing around getting ready to leave the house.
“Do you have a car seat?”
“Of course. See? My son would be an idiot not to stay in love with you. You put Hadley first no matter what?” She pauses as I yank open the door and slide inside, blocking my view of the backseat but not before the hot vinyl seats burn the backs of my arms. “Unless you think you’ll fall in love with someone else. Or leave town. You had another job lined up. Are you leaving?”
“I don’t know.” I don’t want to go, but what will I do for a year while we wait for the custody case to conclude? I’ll need money at some point, and I can’t live off my brother forever.
“Well, okay.” The disappointment is clear in her voice, but everything is still swirling in my head. If I stay in town, I’ll be tempted to drive by his house daily. I’ll press Andrew for information. I won’t be able to stay away from them. “Whatever you do, keep in touch.” The phone clicks in my ear.
Should I go? It would make more sense to fulfill my obligations. And stay busy. Then, I’ll come back when he has the case finalized and says he wants me back.
Of course, I’ve broken every nanny rule in the book, so I’m clearly not a suitable nanny. But what do I do? Work at a grocery store? Get a teaching position?
I slam my head against the cushion.This sucks. I did the right thing, right?
Chapter Thirty-Eight