After the brief confrontation with Ricky, I stayed in bed for the rest of the night after I got Jordan asleep for the night. My mom tried to talk about it, but what was there really to talk about? I had made my decision. Ricky would do nothing but hurt the life I have built for my daughter and myself. I knew one day down the road, Jordan would ask questions to which I had no answers. But I'd cross that bridge when I came to it. And if one day I tell her that her father didn't want to be around before she was born and he thought of her only as an obligation not as his daughter, then she'd understand that she had a good life without him. It was the right decision… right? I mean, this is what will keep her safe…

At six-thirty the next morning, Jordan's cries pierced the silence that hung in the air. Sleepily, Amy sat up rubbing her eyes harshly. Pulling herself to her feet, she walked over and stared down at her daughter through the dim light that the moon provided through the window.

"Good morning, Sweetie." She cooed as a smile spread across her lips. Jordan's cried slowed to soft whimpers as Amy picked her up. "Did you sleep well?" Pain burned her eyes as she turned on the bedside light. Jordan, also, squeezed her eyes tight and shifted to bury her head into her mother's stomach. "I don't like the light this early either."

After changing her, she slipped on her robe and carried her daughter downstairs. The smell of coffee overwhelmed the room as she walked through the living room to the kitchen. Just as she suspected, Anne sleepily stood at the coffee pot impatiently waiting for it to finish its cycle.

"Good morning, Mom."

"Good morning."

"What are you doing up so early on a Saturday?"

Anne just shrugged and made her cup of coffee. Amy grabbed a bottle out of the fridge and plopped down on the kitchen chair cradling her baby close.

"So Ricky…?" Anne asked casually as she sat across from her daughter.

"Ricky what?" Amy returned not looking up from her daughter's face. She really did look like her father. She had his dark hair and brown eyes, but her mother's nose and lips. But there was something about her that made Amy always see Ricky.

"He came by yesterday. What did he want?" Amy just shrugged. "What does he want, Amy?" Anne repeated more sternly.

"He wanted to talk." Amy replied softly.

"And…?"

"And I said I didn't want to talk."

"Amy, he wants in her life."

"Well, I don't want him in her life."

"Do you really want to keep her father out of her life?"

"I've been doing fine without him for five months. And I made it through the pregnancy without him too."

"That's not what I mean, and you know it."

She was silent for a long time before speaking again. "What if he hurts her, Mom?"

"When I got pregnant with you, I was young. Your father was young. Neither of us knew who we would be when we got older. But if I hadn't taken that chance to let him in, you wouldn't know him. Ashley wouldn't be here…" She sighed. "What I'm trying to say, sometimes life you end up with is worth the risks you have to take."

Sighing, she looked back down at Jordan, who had peacefully drifted off to sleep. Her eyes were relaxed in the closed position, and her mouth was slightly relaxed as her body laid limp in her mother's arms. Amy glanced up at her and shook her head.

"And sometimes it's not." She whispered before standing up and carrying Jordan out.

--

"See you later, Amy." Anne called to her daughter. Amy glanced up from her giggling baby as she rolled from her back to her stomach and back again to see Anne and Ashley standing at the door.

"Where are you going?" She shifted back to look at them.

"Ashley has a dentist appointment."

"Oh, I'll see you later then."

They waved and left as Amy picked Jordan up and plopped down on the couch. Jordan smiled as drool slipped over her bottom lip onto her chin. Her small fingers grasped little chucks fistfuls of Amy's shirt. Giggling, she leaned over and planted a small kiss on her forehead.

"Are you hungry?" She asked. "I am. I think we should get some lunch, what do you think?" Walking into the kitchen, she shifted Jordan onto her hip as she opened the fridge. Grabbing a bottle, cheese, mayo, and turkey, she set them on the counter and kicked the door shut. Carefully with the baby on her hip, she moved around the kitchen making herself a sandwich. When it was finally finished, she settled into the couch in the living room with Jordan resting in her lap. She popped the bottle into her mouth as she tore the corners off her sandwich and ate them. Just as she switched on the TV, the door bell rang. Inwardly groaning, she debated her options of getting up and answering it or ignoring it. But as it rang again she remembered her mother mentioning a package coming. Letting out a sigh, she lifted Jordan into her arms and walked towards the door. But it wasn't until she opened the door, she realized the guy at the door wasn't a delivery man.

I thought I had everything figured out. Ricky wasn't going to be a part of Jordan's life. He was going to do nothing but hinder my ability to make her life as happy as possible. Then why while I stood in front of him cradling our daughter in my arms did everything I had just decided feel so wrong?