Chapter 14 - THE BIRTH
Weeks later, my pregnancy reached the point where the doctors felt it was safer to deliver the baby.
I was terrified.
The operating room was bright.
Doctors moved around me.
A nurse held my hand.
“You're doing great.”
I closed my eyes.
Then I heard it.
A cry.
Small.
Furious.
Alive.
My entire world stopped.
“Is the baby okay?”
The doctor smiled.
“Your baby is beautiful.”
I started crying.
Not the silent tears I had shed in the garage.
These were different.
They were tears of relief.
My daughter was placed beside me.
I touched her tiny hand.
“You made it.”
She curled her fingers around mine.
For the first time, I wasn't thinking about David.
Or Richard.
Or the house.
Or the money.
I was thinking about the future.
Then Detective Morris entered.
She smiled.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
She hesitated.
“There's one thing you should know.”
“What?”
“Richard has agreed to cooperate.”
I stared at her.
“Why?”
“He says the network is much larger than we knew.”
My happiness faded slightly.
“How much larger?”
She looked toward my daughter.
“Large enough that your father's ledger may only be the beginning.”
I looked down at my baby.
I had spent my entire pregnancy fighting to keep her alive.
May you like
Now I had another fight ahead.
But this time, I wouldn't be fighting alone.
