"Please, have a cup of tea," she insisted. "We don't have much, but we do have that."
I sat back in my seat as she handed Abby over to me while she made some tea.
A person holding a cup of tea | Source: Unsplash
I still couldn't understand what was going on. I had so many questions—all of them were about William.
Returning home, the need for a confrontation with my stepdad grew urgent.
"Why, William? Why didn't you just tell me? You know I could have helped, or at least, understood," I said when he returned home.
William looked weary but relieved to speak openly, he sat down.
A man sitting on a chair | Source: Pexels
"Ellie, I didn't want to drag you into this before talking to Abby's parents one last time. I wanted to spare you the burden."
"Secrets like this don't protect us, Dad," I said. "What are you planning on doing?"
"I wanted to keep Abby here for the night. When I left you earlier, I went to the bank to move some things around for Vivian and Jerry, Abby's parents."
A person holding a cheque | Source: Pexels
It turned out that William had written a check and delivered it to Abby's parents while I was on my way home with the baby.
Although I had taken Abby back, her mother didn't want to keep her.
"I cannot keep her if I can't provide for her," Vivian said.
So, I ended up bringing her home.
William had told them to use the money to pay off the big debts and to take a moment before making any other decisions about their child.
A man with his hand on his face | Source: Pexels
"I told them that I will do everything in my capacity to keep Abby safe and happy—which will always be with her parents. But I'd be honored to be her godfather if that's what they want."
I made us dinner while William held the baby.
"You're right, Ellie," he said. "I'm sorry. I thought that I was doing the best thing by keeping it from you. But it was only until I knew what was happening long-term. Vivian and I have been through so much since we were kids, I couldn't say no."
A plate of pasta | Source: Pexels
I plated up our pasta and we continued to talk about William's past—about his parents and Vivian and everything else.
All I know is that I'm leaving soon, but for now, I'll care for Abby as if she's my own and that she deserves so much more than the world seems prepared to give her—all until William knows what's happening next.
A smiling baby | Source: Pexels
What would you have done?
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