by Sydney Logan
“Did you have a good time tonight?” Sharon asked as they walked out onto the porch.
“I had a great time tonight. Thanks for watching Macy so we could go.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled and patted his shoulder. “Good night, Brody. Take care of our girls.”
“I will. Good night.”
When Brody walked back into the house, he wasn’t surprised that Melody hadn’t returned to the living room. She was with her baby, and that was exactly where she should be. He just wasn’t sure what to do with himself.
Should I sit? Should I go?
He hated to leave without saying goodbye, so he slowly walked down the hallway and peeked into the nursery. Macy was lying peacefully in her crib, and Melody was sitting in the nearby rocking chair, watching her baby sleep.
Brody quietly walked into the nursery and sat down on the floor beside her.
“I shouldn’t have left her,” Melody whispered.
“It was just a few hours, Mel. You’re allowed to have a life.”
“Am I?” she asked softly. “I don’t know how this works.”
“You are. Everything’s fine. She’s not hurt. She’s not sick. She was just fussy.”
“She was sobbing.”
“But she’s okay now.”
With a sigh, Melody walked over to the dresser and turned on the baby monitor. She offered Brody her hand, and she helped him to his feet before they headed to the living room. The two of them sat down on the couch, and Melody immediately reached for her cell.
“Baby monitor app,” she said, showing him the screen.
“Ah.” Brody smiled as he gazed at the little girl. “See? Sleeping like a baby. Literally.”
Melody laughed softly.
“I should call Mom. Thank her for babysitting.”
“I thanked her.”
“Good.” She smiled. “Thank you for tonight. Truly.”
“You’re welcome. I hate that you’re regretting it now.”
“I’m not. Not really. Just feeling guilty, I think.”
“You have to give yourself a break, Mel. She’s going to fuss. She’s going to cry. A lot. You can’t blame yourself every time it happens. As long as she’s not hurt or sick then it’s probably nothing major. Just wait until she’s a toddler and throws tantrums. Talk about breaking your heart and driving you insane all at the same time.”
“You’re quite the baby expert, Dr. Brody.”
“What can I say? I know a little.”
She grinned.
“I’m just . . . so attached to her already. Is that normal?”
“I don’t think anything about this situation is normal, Mel. I just think you fell in love with the little girl the moment you laid eyes on her. Instant goner.”
“That’s only happened one other time in my life.”
Brody smiled and tenderly stroked her cheek.
“Me, too,” he said. “I was eight years old.”
“What a coincidence. Me, too.”
“On the school playground.”
“Some cute, blue-eyed boy kissed my cheek.”
“And then you smacked his face.”
“Well, he should’ve asked first.”
Brody played with a strand of her hair before tucking it behind her ear.
“Can he kiss you now?”
“He’d better.”
Brody slid his hand along the nape of her neck and pulled her close. Melody’s lips molded to his as he wrapped his arms around her. They held each other close . . . kissing, whispering, rediscovering . . . until he finally broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers.
As they struggled to catch their breath, Brody gazed at the woman he’d loved all his life. And he wondered if maybe, just maybe, she still loved him, too.
Chapter 12
“You’ve been seeing an awful lot of Brody.”
“And you love it.”
Sharon smiled at her daughter from across the kitchen table. Breakfast at Melody’s had become a morning ritual. Once her husband was off to work, Sharon came over to play with her granddaughter while Melody did whatever she needed to do around the house.
“I do. I love that you’re happy. And I love this baby so much.” She playfully kissed Macy’s face, causing the little girl to laugh. “Do you want another bite of cereal?”
Melody smiled as she watched the two of them together. Her mom was right. She was happy. Happier than she’d been in a long time. That seemed strange to her, because she hadn’t been unhappy before. But there was no denying that she felt more content than she had in years.
Today marked two months in Meadow Creek. She found it funny how much her life had changed in such a short amount of time. She was a mother now—something she’d never thought she’d be—and judging by Macy’s happy laughter, Melody was doing just fine. She knew she was probably making mistakes, but she loved the baby more than she ever thought possible, and she hoped that overwhelming love made up for all the little mistakes.
Melody was also reconnecting with her parents, and she was falling in love with Brody all over again. She had no idea how much she’d truly missed all of them until now. For too long, she’d buried herself in her songs, trying to fill the void of lost love. She understood that now, and she felt so lucky to have been given a second chance.
That wasn’t to say that she didn’t miss the city. She did. For over a decade, Manhattan had been her home. And she definitely missed the girls in the No Brides Club. They tried to video chat as much as possible, but it just wasn’t the same. Still, Melody couldn’t deny there was something wonderful about living in a small town, surrounded by her family. It made her wonder if she wasn’t ready to make a change. A permanent one.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Sharon said softly.
Melody didn’t dare tell her mother that she was thinking about moving back to Meadow Creek. She hated to give her false hope in case it didn’t work out. And she certainly didn’t want the guilt trip if it didn’t.
“Just thinking about the last few months and how scary and perfect they’ve been.”
“They really have.” Sharon wiped Macy’s face and lifted her out of the high chair. “I think it’s time to get this little girl cleaned up. Anything in particular you want her to wear today?”
Melody grinned. “No, Mom. Just look in the dresser and choose from one of the thousands of outfits you’ve bought lately.”
“Your mommy likes to exaggerate,” Sharon said as she toted the baby down the hallway. “Maybe hundreds of outfits. But definitely not thousands.”
Melody laughed and cleared the table. She’d just started loading the dishwasher when someone knocked on the door.
“Bet that’s Brody!” her mom yelled from the nursery.
“Brody has a job! Remember?”
Melody laughed as she opened the door, but when she spotted the stranger on her porch, her laughter quickly faded.
“Can I help you?”
The man was tall and lanky. His jeans were ripped at the knees and his shirt looked like he’d slept in it. For about a month.
“Who are you?” he asked rudely.
“Who are you?” Melody fired back.
“I’m Dillon.”
“Okay . . . what do you want?”
“I want my kid.”
Paralyzing fear ripped through her, nearly causing her knees to buckle. She grabbed onto the door for support.
“What . . . who are you?”
Suddenly, Melody heard her mother gasp behind her.
“Dillon Roberts, what are you doing here?”
Melody turned to her mom. “You know this guy?”
Sharon nodded. “Dillon, you get off this property right now or I’ll call the cops!”
“No problem. Just as soon as I get my kid.”
Melody’s head was spinning. His kid?
Sharon turned and stormed down the hallway. When she returned, she was carrying a rifle. Melody had no idea where it came from,
and right now, she didn’t care.
“You gave up the rights to your daughter the day you left my niece in the hospital. That baby was two hours old. Two hours! And you left! Never to be seen or heard from again. You are not her father. You are her sperm donor, and you are NOT needed. Now get off my daughter’s property.”
Dillon sneered. “It’s not her property. And you wouldn’t shoot me. God fearing woman like you wouldn’t have the guts to pull the trigger.”
Without missing a beat, Sharon raised the gun and pointed it right at his head.
“I will absolutely shoot you and talk to Jesus about it later.”
Melody watched the blood drain from his face as he slowly stepped off the porch.
“That’s it,” Sharon said. “Now go, and don’t ever come back.”
Dillon cursed under his breath as he ran toward his pickup. Slamming the door, he revved the engine and squealed tires as he raced out of the driveway and down the road.
Melody took a deep breath and prayed for her heart to stop pounding.
“WHO was that? And WHERE did you get a gun?”
Sharon slammed the door, locking it behind her.
“The nerve of that boy showing up out of the blue. Been gone since the day she was born, and now he thinks he can just waltz back into that baby’s life? I should’ve shot him.”
Tears trickled down Melody’s cheek. “Mom?”
Her mother stopped ranting and gazed at her terrified daughter. With a sigh, she propped the rifle beside the door and took her daughter’s hand.
“Melody, it’s okay. Just breathe.”
“That . . .that was Macy’s father. Her biological father.”
“Yes.”
“He wants her.”
“He can’t have her.”
“But can he? Can he take her away from me?”
Gasping for air, Melody clutched her stomach as her mom gently led her to the couch.
“Sit down before you pass out. He can’t have her, Melody. She’s yours. Legally. You have a court order that says so.”
“But he’s her father. What if that means something? What if that matters?”
“We’ll call Troy and make sure it doesn’t.” Sharon placed her hands on her daughter’s face. “Nobody is going to take Macy away from you. Do you hear me? I won’t let them.”
Melody wanted to believe her. She wanted to trust the words that were coming out of her mother’s mouth. But the fear threatened to suffocate her. She’d lost one baby. She couldn’t lose another. She knew she’d never survive it.
“Why is there a gun in this house?” Melody said softly.
“This is the South, Melody. Everybody has a gun.”
“I don’t. At least, I didn’t think I did.”
“Well, you do,” Sharon said with a sigh. “Your dad insisted Trish have protection in the house. It’s just a hunting rifle, but it serves its purpose. I knew it was in the hallway closet. Top shelf.”
Melody wasn’t sure how she felt about having a gun in the house, but at that moment, she was thankful.
I may need shooting lessons . . . in case he comes back.
“Go check on the baby,” Sharon said. “I’ll call Troy and see what we need to do.”
Nodding numbly, Melody headed to the nursey. Macy was still fast asleep, all snuggled up with the stuffed giraffe that Kinsley and the girls had sent last week. For the first time in months, she wished she was back in Manhattan.
In a city of more than a million people, Dillon would never find them there.
Her mind raced with questions. Where has he been? Does he have a job? A home? A lawyer? Could he sue for custody? Could he win?
Quiet sobs wracked Melody’s body as she crumbled onto the floor. Careful not to wake the baby, she allowed herself to cry until she was all cried out. Then, she wiped her eyes, climbed to her feet, and squared her shoulders.
And she thought about her mother.
Melody had forgotten how scary Mama Bear could be. She’d only seen her twice.
The first time was when a six-year old Melody was being bullied by an older girl on the bus. And she witnessed it again as a teenager, when the clinic nurse told Melody she was going to Hell for being an unwed mother. By the time Sharon Mitchell was done with them, the kid was expelled, and the nurse was unemployed.
Melody wanted to be that kind of mother. Take charge. No fear. Scratch the eyes off the face of anyone who tried to harm her child.
And if that didn’t work, there was always the Smith and Wesson on the top shelf of the closet.
* * *
“I’ll kill him.”
Melody rolled her eyes. After talking to Troy on the phone, she’d called Brody to tell him about her surprise visitor. Naturally, he cancelled his afternoon appointments and came right over. Once he made sure that Melody and the baby were okay, Brody started pacing the floor.
“You’re not gonna kill him. And anyway, Mom almost beat you to it.”
He smirked. “I wish I’d seen that.”
“It was something to see.”
Macy giggled from her playpen, completely oblivious to the drama. Brody reached down for her, and she eagerly climbed into his arms. Melody smiled when they joined her on the couch.
“She loves you,” Melody said, playing with a lock of the little girl’s hair.
Brody sighed and hugged the baby close.
“Tell me again what Troy said. Every little detail.”
“He said Dillon Roberts is a total deadbeat, and we have nothing to worry about.”
“But you’re still worried.”
Melody didn’t deny it.
“He is her biological father. That worries me, yes.”
“Trish gave you custody for a reason.”
“I know.”
“She was very clear.”
“And Troy says a family judge—if a judge becomes necessary—will understand that.”
With a quiet sigh, Brody buried his nose in Macy’s hair.
“I don’t think he could even afford a lawyer,” he said.
“That’s what I’m hoping.”
“That’s why he’s back, you know. It’s not for Macy. It’s for this house and Trish’s life insurance.”
Melody nodded. “That’s what Troy thinks, too.”
“Okay, so what are we supposed to do?”
“We’re supposed to try not to worry.”
“Right.”
Melody did feel better after talking to the lawyer. She was still terrified, of course, but she was choosing to trust her lawyer as much as she could and focus on keeping her daughter happy and safe.
Tired of being held, Macy climbed out of Brody’s lap and nestled herself between the two of them before reaching for the nearest cell phone. Melody scrolled until she found one of the baby’s favorite videos. Once the little girl was occupied, Brody reached for Melody’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. The two of them watched in quiet amazement as Macy babbled along with the silly song on the screen.
“It always amazes me how much she looks like you and your mom.”
“I know.”
“Do you ever wonder . . .” his voice trailed off, and he shook his head. “Nevermind.”
She smiled softly, knowing exactly what he was thinking.
“I do wonder, Brody. All the time.”
His eyes filled with emotion. “Really?”
“I didn’t used to. It hurt too much, wondering what our baby might’ve looked like. Was it a boy? A girl? Did she have my hair and your eyes or vice versa? I think about it a lot these days. Especially when we’re sitting here like this . . . in this little house, with a baby snuggled between us. I just don’t know if it’s as wonderful as it seems or . . .”
“If it’s the universe’s idea of a cruel joke,” he said softly.
She nodded.
“What if it’s something else entirely?” Brody asked, lacing his fingers through hers.
“Like what?”
; “Like a second chance.”
Melody’s eyes filled with tears as she allowed her heart to consider that possibility.
“I love you, Mel. You have to know that.”
A tear trickled down her cheek.
“I’m here,” he said tenderly. “I’m right here, and I love you. And I love Macy. I’m not going to let anything happen to either of you. It’s important to me that you know that.”
Not trusting herself to speak, she simply nodded and wiped away her tears. She loved him, too. Always had. Always would. Melody knew she should tell him. She’d written enough love songs to know that guys like to hear that, too. But before she had the chance, there was a knock on the door, making them both jump.
“Stay here,” he said.
Melody nodded and wrapped her arms around the baby as Brody slowly opened the door. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was just a delivery guy.
“Another package from Manhattan,” Brody said, smiling. “And we’re getting you a door with a peep hole.”
She laughed. “Do you hear that, Macy? More gifts from your aunts! They are determined to spoil you rotten before they even get to meet you.”
Brody sat down on the couch and helped open the box. It was filled with stuffed animals, board books, and baby clothes. Macy tossed the phone aside and grabbed one of the books, immediately sticking it in her mouth.
“I think she likes it,” Brody said.
Melody laughed. “Well, she likes eating it, at least.”
The baby crawled down the cushions and onto the floor.
“Speaking of eating,” Brody said, pulling Melody close. “Why don’t you let me take my two favorite girls out to dinner?”
Melody wrapped her arms around his neck. “Are we really your favorite girls?”
“You’ve always been my favorite girl. Now I have two. Hope you don’t mind.”
Melody kissed him sweetly.
“Don’t mind at all,” she said. “And by the way . . .”
“Yeah?”
“I love you, too.”
The smile on his face melted her heart, and when he kissed her, it was easy to forget the emotional roller coaster the day had been. Melody was still terrified of what the future might bring, but for tonight, her daughter was safe.
And they were loved.
