Page 137 of Flow

“Knox Bradford?” He practically shouts my cousin’s name.

Knox is still joking around, but he stops, turning to face the man. “That’s me?”

“Mr. Bradford, on behalf of the estate of Jules Allen, I’m here to present you with your daughter.” The man slaps a folded piece of paper against my cousin’s arm, and silence falls on the group.

The nurse or social worker or whatever she is steps forward, shoving the bundle of what I now realize is more than blankets into my sweaty cousin’s arms.

“The what is who?” Knox’s blue eyes widen, and he looks at the bundle he’s now holding.

My brow tightens, and I look from him to Dove, who is now clutching my bicep in both her hands.

“I am officially presenting you, her legal guardian, with her birth certificate and all necessary legal documents. Congratulations.”

The man in the ill-fitted suit and the woman who couldbe a nun for all I know make a hasty retreat to the top of the stairs leading to the exit.

“Her what?” Knox’s voice is loud and he looks from the people running away to the people standing in front of him. “What just happened? I don’t know who this is.”

I go to his side slowly, and Dove takes his other side. We pull the blanket away to see a little girl who looks closer to two. A chubby arm and leg stick out as she struggles to sit up, and when she blinks at us, there’s no denying she has the Bradford blue eyes.

She struggles more, until Knox adjusts her to sitting on his arm. Soft, dark curls are around her ears, and when she smiles, she has little teeth.

“Oh my goodness!” Dove exhales a happy coo.

Knox looks like he’s swallowed a goldfish, and then the baby girl pats her hand against his arm.

“Ba-ba!” she coos, and my cousin’s eyes meet mine.

“Maverick…”

I try to be encouraging, but I’m not sure what to do. “Don’t worry. Your mom loves babies… We all do.”

But he only says what we’re all thinking. “What the fuck?”