Chapter Twenty

Georgie sat holding the baby in her arms on Robin's couch. Tears rolled down her eyes.

I can't keep this secret forever. You deserve better than this.

Her cell phone rang.

"Hi."

"The cops just left my house." Lulu said

In a panicked voice Georgie asked, "What did you tell them?"

"I played dumb. I'm good at working people. You are not. So what happens when Mac questions you about that damn picnic basket?"

"I'll convince him it's not the same one."

"Sure. Cause you are great at lying."

"I can do it, Lulu. What choice do I have now? I can't tell him."

"No, you can't."

Knock. Knock.

"Got to go." Georgie said "Just keep quiet. You can do that, right?"

"I have up till now, haven't I?"

"Bye." Georgie hung up. She stood and placed the baby in the crib.

She looked through the peek hole and then flung the door open.

"What are you doing here?" Georgie asked

Maxie pushed her way inside.

"You nearly killed mom and dad when you left." Georgie said

"I missed you, too, sis." Maxie staggered to the crib. She reached down and stroked the baby's hair.

"Don't touch her! You're drunk."

Maxie turned and scowled at her sister. "I need a little drink now and then to cope with...hmmm, should I list it all? Jesse, Lucky, Kyle, my sins, my past, you, mom, dad, life, EVERYTHING, OKAY? "

The baby wailed.

"Mom and dad can not see you like this. You need to get into a program, Maxie."

"A program?" She laughed. Her eyes darted to the baby. "There's no program to make up for what I have done."

"You aren't the only one who has screwed up. We all do. I have too."

"Not like me," Maxie argued

"It isn't a contest to see who is more screwed up!" Georgie spat at her. She took a breath and said, "That baby is the newest member of our family and she is reason enough for both of us to fix our lives."

Georgie walked over and picked up the child.

Maxie ran her hand through her hair. She walked over to the kitchen area. When she reached for a glass her hand shook. She focused all her attention on pouring a glass of water and drinking it.

Georgie asked, "Where have you been all these months? Were you still in town hiding? Seeing Lucky?"

"He dumped me for his precious Elizabeth."

"So where did you go?"

"To New York with Kyle Radcliffe."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes. And it was... hell on earth. What about you? You and Dillon still blissfully happy."

"Far from it. When I transferred to Harvard-"

"Harvard? Figures."

"Dillon and I grew apart. And since I have been back...this little one is all I can think about. " Georgie looked down at the baby who was now calm in her arms.

"All I think about is what a mess this all is." Maxie said.

Georgie looked up. Their eyes met and held.

Maxie said, "I saw the picnic basket in the paper."

"Dad will know that it is ours." Georgie said

"He probably already does."

"So?"

Maxie set down her drink and walked over to Georgie. She stroked the baby's hair. A tear fell from Maxie's eye.

"Don't cry." Georgie said but the tears were already forming in her eyes too. "I just don't know how to make this right."

Later that night, Patrick said to Robin. "You pop the popcorn and I will rewind the tape in the Nanny Cam."

"I'm not watching that. I installed it for when a Nanny we don't know babysits not my own cousin."

"Aren't you curious?"

"I trust Georgie." Robin walked to the kitchen and poured two glasses of wine.

"I'm watching it." said Patrick as he got the tape ready to view.

"Why?"

"Because I'm not taking any chances with Angel Baby. I want to be sure she is getting the best care possible. I care about that little girl."

"I know you care." Robin said softly " She knows you care. We both love you."

His eyes met hers. He smiled and looked down. "I'm still watching it."

When the tape came on he watched for a few moments, then fast forwarded until Maxie came on.

"Isn't that your missing cousin?" he asked

Robin, carrying her glass of red wine, walked closer. "Yes, it is. Mac will be thrilled she is back."

Patrick turned up the volume. They listened to the whole conversation.

When they heard one girl say, "No one can know this is my baby." Robin dropped her glass.

Red wine spread across the floor, rolling over the shards of glass.

Patrick said, "Damn her. I can't believe she abandoned her baby."

Robin breathed out " I'm raising my cousin's child."