Tempting Perfection

“We’ll be great. I told Garrick he cannot be a baby hog.”

Inside this rather stuffy man, there was a mushy center where kids were concerned. Some of his rigidity had melted away when he held the baby, and I couldn’t wait to see him become a dad, too.

I kissed Dylan one last time, and we made our way to the car at a slower pace than usual. Really, really slow.

Kurt helped me into the car, and I buckled myself in with my good hand.

“How are you feeling?”

“Sore. But it’s getting better.”

When we pulled out onto the main road, he said, “Try to rest on the way there if you can.”

It didn’t take long before I closed my eyes.

* * *

When we pulled up to the jail a little over thirty minutes later, Cameron stood waiting on the steps with Monica by his side. Adriane was inside this building. Alive. My parents were there, too, but I had no interest in seeing them. They’d been useless in the investigation, not saying a word.

“Hey, sis. How’s it going?” Cameron gave me a hug, but it was stiff and nervous and not like him at all.

I held onto him for a little bit longer. “I got to nurse Dylan three times this morning.”

“That’s wonderful.” Monica grabbed Cameron’s hand, and that seemed to help some. “Monica and I were hoping to stop by tomorrow if you’re up for visitors.”

“Yes, we’d love that.”

With a little pressure on my back, Kurt urged me to keep going. We were on a schedule if I wanted to be back in time to nurse Dylan. I looked around as we entered the jail. The place was clean yet dingy at the same time. After checking in and going through security, one of the tall, lanky guards brought us to a room. “We’ll be recording the conversation in the next room and be able to see everything. Are you sure you still want to go in there alone? Adriane Wade has been secured.”

Nodding, Cameron and I said together, “Yes, we’re sure.” Monica and Kurt went into the observation room, where they’d be able to hear our conversation. This was something Cameron and I needed to do alone.

Adriane sat handcuffed to the table and chair. Her frame was thinner than I remembered, and her hair was still long like mine. As she watched me, her brown eyes were flatter than they’d been when I lived at home. It was like any love or humanity had vanished.

She spat, “What are you doing here?”

Calmly, I took a seat. Cameron gathered himself and sat down, as well.

After a second, I responded, “You’re my sister, and I wanted to see you. I thought you’d killed yourself. I just don’t understand.”

She snorted. “You mean gloat like you always did.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

In a mocking voice, she singsonged, “Sawyer, the princess, who always did everything perfect. You even took Mattie from me. She loved you more.”

“She loved you, her mother, more than anything. We were close, yes. But I could never replace you.”

She rolled her eyes.

I was going to try one more time, but then I was done. “Why did you do this, Adriane?”

“You don’t get it, do you?”

“No!”

She gave

me an evil smile. “Then you never will. But your baby belongs to me. You owe it to me.”