“And you are?”
The woman turned then and slipped her glasses off her face so Char was looking directly into eyes that were identical to baby Amelia’s, when she spoke with complete confidence. “My name is Jessica Silva. I’m here for my daughter.”
Chapter Thirteen
“What the actual…” Stephanie collapsed against the railing, unable to speak between gasping breaths. She dropped her head down in an effort to catch her breath. When Nick had called to tell her he was in town for a quick trip, she’d jumped at the chance to see him, of course. He was one of her best friends and with their crazy schedules, she’d take whatever opportunity she could to catch up with him. But she had not thought that his idea of catching up would be on a running track, sprinting until her lungs were on fire.
“Trouble keeping up?” Nick looked at her with complete seriousness.
“Yes,” she said as she stood straight again. “Of course I’m having trouble keeping up. What the hell has gotten into you? Besides, I thought you were busy working on your dad bod now. How are you even so fit?”
That got a smirk out of him, but only a quick one. “Ready to go again?”
“Nick!”
He looked at her with genuine surprise.
“Talk to me. What has you all fired up like a crazy man?”
Nick bounced on the balls of his feet. “I met with my lawyer earlier.” He shook his head before she could ask for more details. “No. I’m not talking about it.”
Steph understood, as much as anyone could understand. She also knew if he wanted advice, he’d ask for it. And he hadn’t.
“You okay?”
He nodded but then shrugged.
“Mostly okay?”
That got a small smile out of her friend. “I am. Thank you. I know you’re just concerned and I appreciate it, but there’s just nothing more we can do. We’re really doing all we can. The other day, we had our caseworker visit and I think she…well, I…” His mouth widened into a full-fledged smile.
“We?” Steph wiggled her eyebrow. “We as in, Char and Nick?”
“Well, yes…we are doing this together.”
“Oh, I know that look.” Steph pulled one of her legging-clad legs up into a stretch. Her muscles would be screaming after this workout. And the longer she could keep him talking, the less running they’d be doing. “That is the look of a man who is completely smitten with his fake fiancée.”
“What are you…” Nick roughed his hand over his stubble-covered chin. “What does that even look like?”
“You.” Steph switched legs and started to stretch out the other one. “It looks exactly like you. Don’t deny it.”
“Okay.”
She dropped her leg and stared at her friend. “What? Are you serious?”
He shrugged.
“You are smitten with her? I thought it was all casual and easy. No expectations.” She used air quotes with each description.
But Nick simply stared at her and shrugged again. “It was supposed to be, but…” He looked down and shook his head. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Try.”
Nick chuckled. “I think I’m falling in love with her.”
His confession took her breath away. Sure, Steph had always kind of guessed that there was something between them. It was obvious just to look at the two of them that there was a connection of some kind. But love? That was unexpected.
“And what are you going to do about that?”
He gave her a sidelong look and scrubbed a hand through his hair, but before he could answer her, the watch on his wrist rang.
Steph muttered something about how annoying smart watches were and walked a few steps away to stretch her calf on the railing as Nick took the call. She didn’t mean to listen in, but there was no way to avoid it.
“Hey, Char. What’s—”
“She’s here.”
Charlotte’s voice filled the air, and the panic laced in her words made Steph forget all about the calf stretch or the fact that she was trying not to eavesdrop. She turned and listened openly.
“Who’s here?” Nick didn’t bother trying to hide the concern in his voice. “Char? What’s going on?”
“She’s here,” Charlotte said again. “Amelia’s mother.”
Just a few simple words and Steph’s heart sank, just the way she knew Nick’s was as well. But it was her next words that shot fear through her.
“She wants to take the baby.”
The second her words registered in Stephanie’s brain, she made eye contact with Nick, who had the same look on his face that she knew she must, and she sprang into action. It was just a quick sprint to