With just a month of living under her belt, Lia had no problem holding anyone's attention and getting them wrapped around her little finger. Wide blue-grey eyes that were a little darker than they were at birth and slick, dark hair, she rested in her daddy's arms as he played with her adorably tiny fingers while her mommy slept in the bed right next to them. For the first few weeks at home, no one but the kids got any sleep in the house. Lia woke up multiple times throughout the night. But over the past week, she had turned over a new leaf. She let her parents get a little more sleep and only woke up once of twice. She loved to be held; Beth blamed Rio for that. She mostly only cried when she wanted to eat and she loved to eat. Rio wouldn't admit it, but he was kind of happy to not have to share Beth's boobs when she decided to exclusively express milk for Lia instead of continuing to breastfeed. Out of habit, Beth didn't sleep for long stretches at a time. She opened her eyes and smiled, taking in a sight she truly believed she would never grow tired of.
"Did you wake her up?" Beth asked. Because she knew he did that sometimes no matter how much he denied it.
"I swear I didn't." he answered, looking at Beth sneakily and laughing. "I didn't."
Beth rolled her eyes and put her face close to Lia's head and inhaled.
"You're the best smelling baby ever." she said and she meant it. Beth loved the smell of babies, but none ever smelled as amazing as her own. "You can handle her while I take a shower?"
"Yeah, I got her." Rio answered.
"Where's her other sock?"
"It fell somewhere, but we were too lazy to pick it up. Right, Lia?" Rio replied, not taking his eyes off of the precious face of the little one in his arms.
Beth walked around the bed and spotted the sock halfway under Rio's side.
"There's no telling how many socks are under here."
She got on her knees and moved the sham and saw a black bag that she was sure wasn't always there.
"What's this bag?" she asked, grabbing the sock and standing up.
The look on Rio's face confused her. He kind of looked just as surprised as she did, then he looked like wheels were turning in his head. He didn't answer her right away, only looked at her like she would just forget her question and go take her shower. But she didn't of course.
He swallowed. "Some cash from Big Mike. I ain't doing nothing but giving it somebody else."
"Rio, I don't care what you're doing with it. I care that you have it. It's like everything I've said just went in one ear and-"
There was a knock on the bedroom door.
"What is it?" she asked, trying not to get an attitude with whichever kid was knocking.
Jane peeked in and her eyes went straight to the baby.
"Since Lia's awake, can she come downstairs and play with us?"
"We're busy right now, honey." Beth answered before Rio gave his own answer.
"Yeah. Let's go play." Rio said, getting up and grabbing the sock from Beth's hand before leaving out.
You would think there's no way to avoid someone in the same house, taking care of the same baby, but Rio made a way. He knew if at least one of the children were around, Beth wouldn't bring up the bag of fake cash. That plan fell through when it was time for the kids to go to bed. After tucking the kids in, Beth got into bed and started feeding Lia. She just knew if she ignored Rio long enough, he'd come to bed. And she was right. He could never stay away from her too long.
"You want me to burp her?" he asked, sitting on the bed.
"Nope. I would like to talk about the bag under the bed though. Does it have anything to do with the man who was banging on my door a month ago?"
"All he wanted was for me to get that cash for him. Now all I have to do is give it to him. Nothing else."
Beth shook her head. "You don't get it. I spent 20 years with an asshole who didn't care about what I thought. I'm not doing that again."
"When you wanted to take care of your family, you robbed a grocery store and a hell of a lot more. You don't get to judge me no more."
He didn't mean to hurt her feelings, but he did.
"I never judged you. If I did, we wouldn't be sitting here right now." she said, taking the bottle out of Lia's mouth and laying her on her shoulder.
"Let me burp her." He usually didn't have to ask or demand, but tonight was different.
"No. I got it."
She started patting Lia's back, trying her best to focus on the adorable cooing instead of the anger she was feeling towards Rio. She thought about how when she used to beg him to go legit, she would threaten to keep Lia away from him. She remembered how broken he always looked when she did that. She knew it was wrong and she felt horrible about doing it each and every time. But here she was, doing it again. She finished burping Lia and held her out to Rio.
"That's so fucked up." he said, taking Lia and resting her on his chest as he leaned back against the headboard. It's like he was thinking the same thing as Beth. "I'm not Dean and you can't talk bullshit to me for how he treated you. Or act like Lia's just yours."
She sighed. "I know. I'm sorry. I just really don't want to be in that situation again or have to depend on someone to make the right choices."
"No matter what, y'all are my top priority. I wouldn't do anything I thought would put you in danger. Come here." He moved Lia to the right side of his chest, making room for Beth to lay her head on the left side.
"I do trust you, Rio, and I don't judge you for anything. Do what you have to do, but please just be honest with me. Always tell me the truth."
Beth lifted her head from Rio's chest when there was a knock on the bedroom door before Emma peeked in.
"I had a bad dream."
"Me and Lia will come sit with you until you fall asleep." Rio offered, making Emma smile.
"That's exactly what she wants when she comes in here and says that." Beth said.
"She's spoiled just like you and this one. And the truth? There's a real big payout for me getting him this cash. But it's a one time thing."
She grabbed his hand and gave him a kiss before he walked out of the room. She remembered what that itch for more money felt like once she started her brief stint in the game and if he wanted to scratch that itch, so be it.
