Chapter 5

"Can you tell me what happened, Mrs. Williams?" Amelia asked as she examined the child.

"His mother dropped him off late last night and this morning I saw the bruises. I asked him how he got the bruises, and all he would do was shrug his shoulders." Mrs. Williams answered.

"Ok. Joey, can you show me the bruises your grandma saw?" Amelia asked.

Joey nodded his head and lifted up his shirt. There were bruises all over his stomach and back. Amelia was horrified at what she saw. After taking a good hard look, she had Joey put his shirt down and Amelia looked at the grandmother.

"You know I have to report this." Amelia stated.

"I know. That's why I brought him here and asked them to call you." Mrs. Williams responded. "I'm scared for the child."

"I know you are. Let's get this taken care of right away so you can take him home." Amelia stated before walking out of the room for a moment.

It was about a half hour later that they were making the official report to the police. Mrs. Williams was cleared and she was able to take him home. The police gave her a copy of the report and told her that she didn't have to give the child back to the mother under these circumstances. Mrs. Williams nodded her head and they were soon on their way home.

Once everything was taken care of, Amelia grabbed her bags and headed out to her car. She was done for the day and just wanted to head home. She called John on her way home and told him that she would be more than happy to join them for dinner. John was thrilled about it and told her to come over to the house around 3. Amelia looked at the time and it was already going on 1:30pm.

Amelia walked into her house and headed straight for the master bathroom. She took a nice long hot shower to help her relax and take the stress of the day away. The longer she let the water hit her body the more she thought about taking some much needed time off to relax and be herself.

Amelia picked out a cute little dress and slipped into it and a pair of casual heels. She did her hair and makeup before walking out the door and driving over to John's house. She walked up the walkway and knocked on the door as she didn't want to wake Isabella if she was sleeping. Carol answered the door and let Amelia in.

"Is Isabella ok?" Amelia asked as she could hear her crying.

"I honestly don't know. She's been crying for about an hour now." Carol answered.

"Is John with her?" Amelia asked.

"Yes. He's tried everything to get her to calm down." Carol answered. "Can you help him?"

"I can try." Amelia responded as she headed upstairs and into John's room where was walking the floor with his daughter. "What's going on?"

"She won't stop crying. I've fed her, changed her, burped her and she still cries." John stated.

"Let me see her." Amelia responded as she took the baby from John.

Amelia rocked Isabella back and forth and talked to her as she examined her. Everything looked be just fine. Amelia started humming a lullaby from when she was a baby and soon Isabella quieted down and drifted off to sleep. John just watched in amazement that someone could get a screaming infant to quiet down so easily.

"How did you do that?" John asked.

"It just came to me. I've been humming that song for as long as I can remember." Amelia answered as she laid Isabella in the crib. "Let her sleep. She will be just fine."

Amelia started to walk away and John stopped her. He pulled her close to him and smiled before claiming her lips in a kiss. Amelia's body started to melt as they kissed. She was starting to fall for the single father and it was obvious that he was falling for her.

"John, is everything.." Carol started to ask as she walked into the room and saw John and Amelia kissing.

Later that evening at dinner, Isabella was quietly sleeping in her car seat. While John, his parents and Amelia ate, they talked and John's parents shared stories of John from when he was a kid with his brothers. Amelia found the stories cute and rather entertaining, John found them slightly embarrassing.

After dinner, John's parents headed to John's house while John and Amelia stopped off at her house so she could grab a few things. Once they were back at John's house, Amelia brought her stuff into the garage and left it there for the time being. Isabella was starting to wake up and Carol walked into the room and picked up her granddaughter.

"John, make her a bottle and I will feed her. Amelia, come sit with me." Carol stated.

"Ok." Amelia responded as she followed Carol into the living room.

"How long have you known John?" Carol asked.

"Three days." Amelia answered.

"Ok. Do you have any children?" Carol asked.

"No. But I love children. I'm a pediatrician and I work at the Children's Hospital here in Tampa." Amelia answered.

"Oh well, that's great." Carol responded.

"Carol, I know that I've only known John and Isabella for a few days, but I really care about them and want them to be happy." Amelia stated.

"Please don't break his heart like Cassandra did. It's not good for him or for Isabella." Carol responded.

"I have no intentions of breaking his heart." Amelia stated as John walked into the room.

"Amelia, can we talk in the kitchen?" John asked.

"Sure." Amelia answered as she followed him to the kitchen.

"Go get your stuff and take it up to my room." John stated.

"Ok." Amelia responded.

"Also, while my parents are here, I would like to take you out on a real date." John stated.

"I would love that." Amelia responded with a smile.