Chapter 12 - THE NURSERY
I went to the apartment.
Against everyone’s preference.
But with Rebecca.
And building security.
Dominic stood in Leo’s nursery surrounded by boxes.
Tiny clothes.
Blankets.
Diapers.
The wooden name sign above the crib.
LEO.
He turned when I entered.
For one second, neither of us spoke.
Then he said, “You look tired.”
I almost smiled at the absurdity.
“I had surgery six days ago.”
His eyes dropped toward my abdomen.
Something like shame crossed his face.
Gone instantly.
“I’m taking my son’s things.”
“No.”
“He’ll need them when he stays with me.”
“Court orders say neither of us removes substantial property without agreement.”
“This is baby clothing.”
“That you didn’t buy.”
His jaw tightened.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Enjoying what?”
“Having your father behind you.”
I looked around the room.
“You still don’t understand.”
“Oh, I understand perfectly. Suddenly General Daddy shows up and everybody jumps.”
“My father didn’t freeze your accounts.”
“He made one call.”
“My attorney filed documents. A judge signed orders.”
“Because of your name.”
“No. Because of your signatures.”
That hit.
Dominic looked toward Rebecca.
“This is private.”
“No,” she said. “It stopped being private when you pledged assets belonging to my client.”
“I didn’t forge anything.”
“Paige says you directed her.”
His face changed.
“Paige is weak.”
I stared at him.
“Your sister committed fraud for you and your response is that she’s weak?”
“She knew what she was doing.”
“So did you.”
He stepped toward me.
Security shifted immediately.
Dominic stopped.
Then his expression softened.
“Audrey.”
I hated how familiar my name sounded in his mouth.
“We had good years.”
“Yes.”
“We loved each other.”
“I loved you.”
“You think that just disappears?”
“No.”
That surprised him.
“It doesn’t disappear,” I said. “That’s what makes this hurt.”
His face shifted.
For the first time, he looked human.
Not innocent.
Human.
“I was drowning,” he whispered.
“You could’ve told me.”
“I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because you would’ve looked at me differently.”
“So you stole from me instead?”
“I was going to put it back.”
I laughed through tears.
“Everybody says that.”
“The company was weeks from turning around.”
“And Natalie?”
He looked away.
“And the other woman?”
His head snapped back.
I saw the answer before he spoke.
“There wasn’t—”
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
For once, he obeyed.
I walked toward the crib.
“You left me on a sidewalk because your mother wanted lunch.”
His face tightened.
“That was stupid.”
“No. Forgetting flowers is stupid. What you did required choices.”
“Audrey—”
“You took my vehicle. You dropped my bag at my feet knowing I couldn’t bend. You told a nurse to stop being dramatic.”
“I was stressed.”
“So was I.”
“I know.”
“No. You don’t.”
I looked at him.
“I had been cut open to deliver your son.”
He looked down.
“And you gave me twelve dollars.”
Silence.
His eyes finally filled.
“I’m sorry.”
I believed he meant it.
That was almost worse.
Because remorse did not rewrite character.
“I know,” I said.
He lifted his head.
“Then maybe—”
“No.”
The hope disappeared.
“You can be sorry and still lose me.”
I walked out.
Behind me, Dominic said, “Audrey.”
I stopped.
“There’s something you don’t know about your father.”
I slowly turned.
He reached into one of the boxes.
And pulled out a sealed envelope bearing my father’s name.
May you like
“I found this in your mother’s files years ago.”
---
