She started to cry.
“He told me he wasn’t married. He told me his name was Benjamin, and that he traveled for work. I only found out three months ago, when I saw a photo of the two of you at a charity event.”
“No…”
“Whose baby is that?”
“That’s when I found your blog, Sarah. That’s when I read about how much you wanted her.”
She held the baby out toward me, and my arms lifted on their own.
“I didn’t come here to take anything from you,” Maya whispered. “I came here to give her to you. I can’t provide for her, but you can.”
The baby’s tiny hand curled around my finger.
Something inside me shattered and healed at the same time.
Then I heard the back gate creak.
“I can’t provide for her.”
Ben’s voice called out through the dark.
“Sarah? Honey, where’d you run off to?”
I steadied the baby against my chest and tilted my head toward Maya.
“Get up. Slowly. Follow me through the side gate.”
She slid out of the truck bed on shaking legs.
Nobody saw us slip through the back door.
“Follow me.”
I set the baby down in the laundry basket on the kitchen island.
Maya stood behind me, one hand braced against the counter.
Ben walked in two minutes later.
He froze when he saw her.
“Sarah, what is this?”
“You tell me, Ben.”
“Sarah, what is this?”
He forced a laugh.
“Honey, I have no idea who this woman—”
“Then why was she in your truck?”
Ben’s jaw tightened.
“She must’ve broken in.”
Maya stepped forward.
“He’s lying, Sarah.”
“She must’ve broken in.”
“Ma’am, I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but you need to leave,” Ben said.
“I have a name,” Maya said quietly. “You used to whisper it.”
Ben’s face went pale.
I turned to face him fully.
“Ben. Look at me. Whose child is that?”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I have a name. You used to whisper it.”
“Sarah, sit down. Please. Let me explain before you jump to anything.”
“Whose. Child.”
