Take the Chance (Top Shelf Romance #9) - Brittainy Cherry Page 0,168

watched her for a moment, my smile fading, my heart aching. What was happening at the hearing? Surely, a judge wouldn’t just rip a child from the man who’d been taking care of her as his own just because the grandparents had more money. There had to be some rule or law that protected Sawyer.

“There is, and he and Jackson know about it,” I murmured.

But worry laced the blood in my veins and wouldn’t leave. I sat down with Livvie on the floor and played blocks with her, then read her a story. When she began to yawn and rub her eyes, I put her down for a nap in her little room and left the door open a crack.

The house felt quiet. Waiting. Outside, thunder boomed distantly, ominously. As if something terrible were on the horizon, rolling this way.

“Oh stop. It’s just weather.”

I paced around a bit, shaking out my stiff arms from yesterday’s spa work. I couldn’t afford to miss any more shifts, I was glad I took the day off to babysit for Sawyer. It wasn’t the same as being with him, but taking care of Livvie made me feel good about myself in a way I hadn’t felt in a while.

And maybe, after all is said and done, the three of us...

I shut that thought up quick. In my experience, holding on too tightly to something I wanted was the surest way to lose it.

I wandered around Sawyer’s living area, taking him in through his degrees and awards; his messy desk covered in his study materials he worked so hard on. I missed him. He wasn’t really gone, but I missed him anyway.

And you still have to tell him…

“I should’ve told him at the beginning,” I muttered, my fingers trailing over his pen lying on a stack of notebooks.

But if I had told him, maybe nothing would have happened between us. The Small Something we had was better than Nothing, wasn’t it?

I could practically see Max roll his eyes at that one.

“I know, I know, I’m supposed to be working on being honest and responsible,” I said. “On that note.”

I plopped on the couch and fished my phone out of my purse, to make the call I’d been putting off for days. I opened my contacts and scrolled down to the H’s.

Home.

I breathed out and hit ‘call.’

My mother picked up on the second ring. “Montgomery residence, Gina speaking.” Her Queens accent was pronounced, so it came out ‘Geen-er speakin’.’

“Hi, Mom, it’s me.”

“Hello, baby, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

I flinched at her standard opener. “Everything is fine. Really good, in fact. Did Carla tell you I got a spot with a dance troupe? I didn’t even have a planned routine, I just winged it and got in.”

“She didn’t mention it, but that’s wonderful, honey. But how’s the spa job? You keeping up over there? You need money?”

“What? No, I’m fine.”

“Keeping your nose clean?”

“Yes.”

“Good girl.”

“So listen, Ma,” I said, my own accent coming back as if she were drawing it out of me from across the country. “The dance show isn’t a huge deal. It’s in a small space in the city, but they just gave me a solo, and I’d love for you guys to see it.”

“I don’t know, Dar,” Mom said. “That’s a lot of travel for a show that’s what? An hour?”

Thirty minutes. I thought. She’s right. This was a dumb idea. But persistence had paid off for me before, and hearing my mom’s voice awakened in me how much I missed her.

“Not to mention, Grandma Bea’s hip is acting up,” she said. “She can’t travel so good anymore.”

“I know, Ma, but I haven’t danced at all in four years. And anyway, the show would only be one part of it. You could come visit me, and see where I live—in this really cool, old Victorian house. And I could show you around San Francisco. It’s such a beautiful city.”

“When is this show?”

“Next weekend.”

“Oh honey, I can’t wrangle your father into something like that in a week.”

I nodded, trying to ignore the relief in her voice.

“You know how he is,” she said. “Work, work, work.”

I knew how he was. My dad owned a successful auto body shop. He made good money and could take time off whenever he needed to. Or wanted to.

“No, you’re right,” I said softly. “It’s a huge expense to fly all this way, and the show isn’t a big deal. Next time.”

“Absolutely.”

“Give Daddy a kiss for me,” I said.

“I will, baby.