Marriage Material

“As I’ve stated, sir, we’ve exhausted all avenues. There was no father listed on the birth certificate, and according to her records, it was an artificial insemination.”

“I just…” I can’t think straight, and the room begins to spin.

“We’ve done all your background and criminal checks, so you’re all set.” She sounds like she’s flipping through papers. “As I said, a uniformed officer will meet you at your home tomorrow. We’ll have someone from our department with them to do a check on the property, then Baby Charlotte and all her paperwork will be left with you. If you have any further questions you can contact the public administrator and they’ll be happy to answer them for you. Thank you so much and have a great day.”

I hear the click of the line and then the floor comes out from under me as the room tilts sideways. Before I know what’s happening the world goes black.

* * *

It’s been a week since the county brought Charlotte to my house. In that week I haven’t slept, I’ve hardly eaten, and I can’t remember the last time I showered.

At first, I called all my lawyers and I even called the district attorney. But they all said the same thing. The will was iron clad and the only way I could get out of it was to give the baby up for adoption. But the day they showed up with her and I laid eyes on that sweet chubby face, I was done for. There was no way I was going to give her to some stranger. That baby was mine now. She looked just like my mother.

The first night she only stopped crying when I patted her back. So, she slept on my chest in the living room, which meant I didn’t sleep. I had to google how to feed her and then how to change a diaper, and though I’ve gotten better the last couple of days, it’s clear I need some help.

I have no one to turn to, no one to ask for advice. This is what happens when you isolate yourself from the world and focus only on your career. That’s why I’ve decided to finally sell the company and move away from the city. The first time I carried Charlotte to the grocery store, we passed a drug dealer. I kept thinking about how innocent she is and how she can’t be raised around that. I never paid any attention to it before, but now that I have a baby, I’m hyper-aware of my surroundings. I have a baby. Will that thought ever become real?

My phone rings and it’s my realtor. I told her that I wanted an old farmhouse in the country with a lot of land. A nice quiet place with a big yard and a nice community. It’s amazing what having deep pockets can get you and how fast it can all happen. She tells me the contract is final and the movers will be here in the morning. When I hang up I go over to the makeshift crib I put together for Charlotte and watch her sleep.

“I might not be good at a lot of this baby stuff, but I’m doing my best,” I tell her as I pat her back.

She makes a cooing sound of contentment and I wonder how I have become so completely head over heels so quickly. I knew the moment I saw her that I was done for. I haven’t even stepped foot in my office since. It’s like I’ve been waiting my whole life for her to find me. And now that she has, we’re going on an adventure.

Chapter 3

Robin

“Ma, like this?” I ask, pinching the side of the pie crust.

“That’s perfect, honey,” she tells me as she goes back to chopping vegetables.

There’s been an impromptu family dinner set for tonight. Normally they are every Sunday, but Kent called saying he had news he wanted to share. Of course Ma said we’d do it over dinner because everything is done around food. How she’s so skinny is beyond me. It’s a good thing she had so many boys, so someone is putting away all the food she makes.

I smile over at her as she hums and chops. She’s happiest when she’s cooking. She’s the reason why I want kids so badly. She’s always doting on us and running around taking care of everyone. Even my dad is the same way. My brothers drive me crazy, but watching us as a whole is something else and it’s what I want for myself.

“Can you get that?” Ma asks when there’s a knock at the front door. I know it’s not anyone we know because they would have just come right in.

“Sure,” I say and go open the door. I freeze when I see Franky standing there smiling.