Change of Heart (Fostering Love 2)

“The fuck?” Alex blurted, sitting straight up in bed. “Is someone at your door?”

We hopped out of bed in a hurry and stumbled down the stairs as the pounding continued. Nothing good came from someone knocking at your front door at nearly four in the morning. Alex stopped behind me as I unbolted the locks and swung the door open.

My jaw didn’t even have time to drop before Ani’s small frame pushed past me, Arielle’s car seat hanging from her arm.

“Ani?” I asked dumbly, swinging the door shut behind her.

“You can’t just do this!” she said shrilly, spinning to face me with her back to Alex.

Her face was pale, and dark circles shadowed her eyes as she railed at me. Her jaw was clenched tight but her lips were trembling.

“Baby, what’s—”

“You can’t just keep saying you love me when you’re the one who left!” she shouted, making Arielle jerk awake with a startled cry. “And now the baby’s awake!”

She rocked the car seat a little, trying to calm Arielle down, but it wasn’t having any effect on the screaming baby girl.

Then Ani began to cry, too. Big, body-shaking sobs as she tenderly shushed Arielle.

“Why don’t I take Arie?” Alex asked, reminding me that he was still in the room. He reached out and took the car seat from Ani and walked away into the kitchen.

“I couldn’t sleep!” Ani sobbed as soon as Alex and Arie were gone. “I just laid there and laid there and thought about you all alone, and I couldn’t fucking sleep.”

“Anita,” I whispered, taking a step toward her.

“Why do I even care?” she asked, her eyes wide. “You left me! You made your choice.”

“I was an idiot.”

“You were honest.”

“Maybe at the time—”

“No.” She shook her head, her entire body shaking. “You were clear that you don’t want kids, and yet I still keep coming back. She’s the most important thing, but I still keep waiting for you.”

“You’re exhausted, baby,” I said gently, moving toward her even as she put her hands out to stop me.

“Everything is so messed up,” she whispered as her body sank against mine. “And I’m so tired.”

“Come here,” I murmured into her hair, reaching down to sweep up her legs so I could carry her into the living room.

She was still weeping quietly as I sat down on my couch, cuddling her to my chest. Her face rested against my throat, and I could feel her hot breath against my skin as she hiccupped and sighed.

I rubbed up and down her back with one hand as the other pulled her even closer, holding her tight as she shuddered.

After less than five minutes, Ani’s body went limp against mine, proving just how exhausted she was. I didn’t move though. I could hear Alex murmuring to Arielle in the kitchen as I laid my head on the back of the couch, holding Ani securely while she slept.

“Hey, I’m gonna run out to Ani’s rig and get the diaper bag,” Alex said quietly, carrying a wide-awake and happy Arielle into the living room.

“All right,” I whispered. “Just put Arie next to me. She doesn’t need to be outside in the cold.”

“Good call,” Alex agreed, laying Arielle next to my thigh so I could rest a hand on her little belly. She wasn’t rolling from her back to her front yet, but I wasn’t going to take any chances.

“Hey, baby girl,” I said quietly as she kicked at me. “What are you doing wide awake?”

Her hands went to her mouth, and she made a loud sucking noise as her little tongue came out to lick at her fingers.

“It’s a good thing you’re not really touching anything yet,” I teased, smiling as she kicked excitedly at the sound of my voice. “Otherwise those hands in your mouth would be pretty disgusting.”

“Good thing Ani had her shit together enough to bring the bag,” Alex said, rushing back in the front door.

“She was tired,” I said, looking over the back of the couch at him. “She wasn’t stupid.”

“True,” he replied with a chuckle. “I’m going to change Arielle and make her a bottle. Hopefully she’ll sleep after that.”

“Where the hell are we going to put her?”

“Can’t I just buckle her back in her car seat?” Alex asked, picking Arie back up off the couch.

“Oh, sure,” I agreed with a nod, giving Ani’s back a soft rub when she muttered something in her sleep.

“You should probably bring her to bed,” Alex said kindly, watching Ani as her knees pulled even tighter to her chest.

“You sure you’re good with the baby?” I asked, standing up with Ani in my arms.

“Yeah, piece of cake.”

I nodded and carried Ani upstairs to my room. The blankets were already pulled down so I didn’t bother with a light as I climbed onto the bed and pulled the sheets and comforter up around us. As soon as Ani was on her back, she rolled toward me, her hands searching and finding my skin before she relaxed again.