Melissa walked into the living room and sat down as if it were her house, perched on the edge of the couch.
She kept fiddling with her necklace. There were no tears and no apologies from her.
“I didn’t come to take her tonight,” she said. “I just… I need to talk.”
Megan’s voice cracked.
“Why are you doing this?”
Melissa took a deep breath and looked us both in the eye.
“I need money,” she said.
The room went dead silent.
“Look, I’m not ready to be a mom,” she went on. “But I know I have rights. I can get her back.
Unless…”
“Unless what?” I asked, my voice low.
Melissa looked up at me then, and her voice was flat.
“Unless you’re willing to pay me to walk away.”
Megan let out a sound I had never heard come from her before. It was something between a gasp and a scream. She backed away, her hand flying to her chest.
“You’re talking about our daughter,” she said, her voice trembling.
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