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Sasha almost dropped her coffee.
Libby faltered, eyes widening in recognition before her gaze darted around the otherwise empty room.
“My mom said there’s hot chocolate here.”
“There is.” Sasha stepped aside and pointed. “It’s that button. How’s Molly?”
“They’re taking her for her scan. Mom’s allowed to go with her because she’s...” She shrugged.
“Pushy?” Sasha joked.
“Heh. Sometimes.” Libby set the cup, then pushed the button. “She sent me here probably knowing you were here, so yeah. I guess.”
“You didn’t want to see me?” Sasha tried not to let that destroy her.
“I don’t know.” Libby picked up the full cup, tried to sip and flinched because it was too hot.
“Milk? To cool it?” Sasha suggested, pointing to the refrigerator.
Libby shook her head and set it aside, then looked to the door.
Oh, God. I have to be the adult, don’t I?
It wasn’t easy when she felt as though she had regressed back to the teenager she’d been the last time she saw her daughter.
“I know Pat—I mean, your mom...” Ouch. “I know your mom has explained as much as she knows about why I let her adopt you, but you can ask me anything you want. I won’t be upset.”
“Why didn’t you come see me?” She folded her arms defensively. “Mom said that you could have.”
Oof. Start with an easy one, why didn’t she?
“I was afraid to,” she answered simply. “I was sad and thought it would hurt too much, and that I might put you and your mom at risk, legally, from my stepfather. Mostly, I didn’t feel good about myself and really believed you were better off not knowing me.”
Libby wrinkled her nose. “Does that mean you’ll stay away after this?”
“I don’t want to. Molly and I will always be friends.” She couldn’t imagine her life without her now. “I’ll talk to your mom regularly, too. I’d like to see more of you if you’re okay with that.”
“Could I see the baby sometimes?”
“Yes! Absolutely! I would love that so much.” She was gushing and tried to rein it in. “I know you’re angry with me, but—”
“I’m not angry with you. I mean, I am,” Libby clarified with a scowl. “I’m disappointed that you didn’t want to see me before now. I’m mad at Mom for hiding that I’m rich. Molly didn’t tell me she was pregnant and even Gio lied to me about their engagement. He said I could be a bridesmaid and everything. Rafael seems like the only person I can trust around here, but maybe he was lying to me, too.”
“About what? Did you talk to him?” she asked with astonishment.
“We played cards yesterday while we were waiting for Moll to wake up. I asked him if you guys are getting a divorce. He said he didn’t want that, but that he didn’t want to lie to me in case it didn’t work out. He said everyone had been lying to him, too, so he understands where I’m coming from. I said it would be really unfair to the baby and also to Molly if you guys got divorced, considering everything Molly is going through.”
“Yeah. I know.” Sasha rubbed the ache in her sternum and bit back asking her to repeat herself. He said he didn’t want a divorce? Are you sure?
“I kind of get why Molly wanted to be your surrogate,” Libby said in a tone that was reluctantly forgiving. “And I don’t really blame you for leaving me with a grown-up you trusted, instead of raising me yourself. I’m going to start high school next year, and I wouldn’t want to stop my life to raise a baby. I babysit sometimes and you have to pay attention the whole time. I’d rather travel and go to concerts and become a doctor, which takes a lot of effort and dedication.”
“It does. Wow. Are you interested in medicine because of what your mom does?”
“Uh-huh. I read her textbooks sometimes. She said Moll will probably have to deliver by surgery, which sounds gross when you read about it, but it saves both the mom and the baby, which is pretty amazing.”
It was terrifying, actually, but Sasha couldn’t help a rush of pride at Libby’s ambition. She probably didn’t need to hear this, but she said it anyway.
“I bet you’ll make a great doctor.”
