Page 48 of The Body Checker

“That you did,” Quinn says. “You should be proud.”

Mom leans into the crib. “I can’t wait to hold her.”

“She’ll likely sleep for a few hours,” Quinn says, and tucks a light blanket around the baby. “The medicine knocked her out.”

“Let’s let her sleep.” Mom smiles. “There will be plenty of time for hugs later,” she says and ushers us out of the room, but Quinn stays behind.

“I haven’t finished my lullaby,” she says, and I get the sense that she wants to stay upstairs to watch over Daisy.

“We’re all so very lucky to have you,” Mom says before we head downstairs.

“Drink?” I ask, and they both shake their heads no as they sit, clearly wanting to get to the heart of matters.

“You seem to have everything under control, Jonah,” my mother says. “Quinn is quite something. She really cares about that child. Very maternal, a nurturer by nature.”

Before I can answer, Dad pipes in. “What will you do when practice starts up in a couple of weeks? When you have to go back on the road again?” He leans forward and steeples his fingers like he always does when he’s serious. “You’ve worked too long and hard for your career, Jonah. It’s all you ever wanted.” He pauses, then adds, “What can your mother and I do to help you manage all this?”

“It’s okay, Dad. I appreciate the offer, but Quinn and I have been searching for a nanny.”

“How is that going?” Mom asks.

“Slow. We’ve interviewed a few people, but I want to make sure I pick the right one. I don’t want to leave my child with just anyone.”

Mom nods. “Totally understandable, which leads me to my next question. Where is her mother?”

“She dropped her off one morning and vanished,” I say. “I hadn’t heard from her until today.”

“She contacted you?” Dad asks.

She wants to meet me for coffee tonight.” The stairs creak and I glance up to see Quinn, and she grimaces.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude,” she says. “I…ah…just want to grab that ear thermometer.” She hurries into the room and avoids looking at me as she grabs the new thermometer off the coffee table. A second later, she’s back upstairs, and I have two sets of concerned eyes staring at me.

“Do you think she’s going to try to take Daisy away?” Mom asks in a panic. She turns to Dad. “Your father will fight it in court, won’t you, Donald?”

He holds his hands up. “Before we get ahead of ourselves, you’re going to need to meet with her and talk to her. For all we know, maybe she wants you both back.”

I don’t bother telling him that what I had with Shari was only a fling. There was never anything meaningful or deeper. I’ve never wanted that with anyone…until now.

Shit.

“I mean, a child does need a mother and a father, right?” Dad says.

“Yeah,” I agree.

“Maybe you should be thinking of doing the right thing.” I brace myself for what’s coming next. “Hockey is the most important thing in the world to you, so maybe you should get married, then your daughter will be cared for by her rightful mother, freeing you of worry when you go back on the road.”

Rightful mother?

How does she have any rights when she up and abandoned her daughter—leaving her with a guy like me—without so much as leaving me a car seat, or a contact number if anything goes wrong? Quinn stepped up to the bat without question. Quinn should be Daisy’s mother, goddammit. Too bad a family is the last thing in the world she wants.

12

Quinn

With Jonah out meeting Shari for coffee, and Daisy asleep in the master suite, I finish the painting in her room, needing something to occupy my hands and my thoughts. Nervous energy wells up inside me and I can’t stop my mind from racing, from playing out every possible scenario.

Ever since I overheard Jonah’s parents telling him he should do the right thing, I’ve been a mess.