The Detective's 8 lb, 10 oz Surprise by Meg Maxwell Read Free Book Online Page A

her belly. You come first. I won’t do anything that will jeopardize your future or happiness.
    When Timmy started fussing, Clementine gently picked him up from the carrier. Clementine often babysat for folks around town and she held Timmy like a pro. “Someone left this tiny baby on a detective’s desk in an empty police station,” she muttered. “Who does that? Why not leave him with a relative?”
    â€œClementine, you really can’t judge when you don’t have all the facts,” Gram said, sipping her coffee. “There has to be a good reason the baby’s mother left him with Detective Slater.”
    Georgia adored her grandmother, who always did the right thing or the fair thing, depending on the situation. She was so grateful for Essie Hurley. Last night, when she’d let her grandmother know that she’d be staying at Detective Slater’s house for the week as a live-in sitter, Essie only told her that sounded like a win-win for all parties. If she had anything else to say on the subject, she’d kept silent and would wait until she was asked.
    â€œLeft him on his desk ,” Clementine reminded them. “And given what Georgia said about the timing—that he’d gone out for fifteen minutes to pick up lunch—obviously the mother waited until he was gone to leave Timmy. She didn’t want to be caught. She wants to be anonymous. Why? Because she’s trouble.”
    â€œOr in trouble,” Annabel said.
    â€œI just hate the way babies and kids are at the mercy of adults who don’t give a fig or put themselves in bad situations,” Clementine said, cradling Timmy close.
    Georgia walked over to Clementine and put a hand on her sister’s shoulder. Charlaine and Clinton Hurley had rescued Clementine from a bad foster situation when she was just eight years old and were able to adopt her when her birth mother severed her parental rights. That day had been both the best and the worst of Clementine’s life, Clementine had once said, knowing her birth mother had walked away for good when she was eight, but allowing her to find a permanent home with the Hurleys, to have two older sisters who adored her. Clementine didn’t talk often about her birth mother, who’d been a drug addict back then and who’d relapsed several times since. Her birth mother lived right in town in a small apartment above the library but crossed the street when she saw Clementine or any of the Hurleys coming.
    â€œYou know, Clem,” Georgia said softly, “you could say the same thing about me. I ended up in a bad situation with my former boss. Was it my fault for falling for him? For not seeing signs? Or was he a master manipulator? I think I’m pretty smart and levelheaded, and even I fell prey. It can happen to anyone. I wish that wasn’t true, but it is.”
    Tears pooled in Clementine’s eyes. “I didn’t mean—” She looked down at Timmy and kissed the top of his head, covered in a soft knit yellow hat. “I’m sorry. I know you’re right. I’m just...angry about how things work sometimes, how things are.”
    â€œWell, that’s both good and bad,” Essie said. “Good if you do something positive with your anger. Bad if you let it seep inside your bones. Capisce? ”
    Even Clementine had to smile. “Capisce.” She glanced at Georgia. “Are you really home for good? Not going back to Houston?”
    Georgia shook her head. “No way. I’m home for good.”
    â€œI’m very glad to hear you say that,” Essie said. “Because with Hattie gone to help care for her granddaughters, we’ve sorely needed a baker and I’m overjoyed you’ve agreed. I do okay and I make a mean biscuit, but no one bakes a chocolate layer cake like you, Georgia.”
    Georgia smiled, the compliment from her grandmother nestling in her heart. “I’m just glad