The Baby Package by Sarah J. Brooks

Author:Sarah J. Brooks [Brooks, Sarah J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-13T18:30:00+00:00

***

Saying good-bye to Izzy was harder than it had ever been before. She had wrapped her arms around me in the biggest of bear hugs, but at least she hadn’t cried as Lilli and I said our good-byes. Perhaps she knew that things were different now, and that I would be making a much better effort at being the father she needed me to be. I hoped so.

“Wow, I’m so tired,” Lilli said as we climbed the steps to the plane and found a comfy spot on the large leather couch.

“You did great, thanks for coming.”

“I didn’t really do anything. Basically, I got to hang out with you two and have fun, so it was a great weekend.”

“Yeah, it was pretty damn good. She’s normally not that excited to see me. I’m worried that Ashley being gone is going to take away that level of happiness from her.”

“How long is Ashley going to be gone for?” Lilli asked with genuine concern on her face.

“I think she’s going to have to do five years. It was her third DUI, and Florida has mandatory sentencing. I’m not saying anything, though; I don’t want it to seem like I want her to go away because I genuinely don’t. It isn’t what is best for Izzy.”

“Wow, I really don’t think Mrs. and Mr. Edwards know she might be going to jail that long.”

“No, I’m not even sure Ashley knows it. I tried to hire her a lawyer, but she refused his services. Instead, she’s using the one her parents got her, and he’s good enough. But I was just trying to help out.”

“Maybe we should have gone to see her?” Lilli asked.

“And introduce her to my pretend wife? Oh, no! She’d see right through this whole thing. She’s known me for over ten years.”

“Well, I guess we can just wait and see how everything turns out. Maybe she’ll hear about how well your visit went and say Izzy can come stay with you?”

“Maybe,” I said, but I knew she wouldn’t.

Ashley held onto Izzy as if she was the prize between the two of us. Ashley got thousands of dollars each month in child support, and that was what kept her in the lifestyle that had allowed her to continue drinking and using drugs. The idea that I’d be taking care of Izzy and no more child support would be coming her way was not going to go over with Ashley very well. But that was only until the realization of her legal battles started to settle in. I needed to just sit back and wait until that was evident to her, and then I hoped Ashley would agree to the arrangement without a big legal battle. If I had to fight for Izzy, I’d do it in a second, but that wasn’t going to be pretty and would surely ruin the already strained relationship between me and Ashley.

“You look much more relaxed for the flight home,” I noticed as Lilli leaned onto my shoulder.

“It’s exhaustion.

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