I sat down and nursed a baby I had never seen before. His tiny fingers clutched my sweater like he trusted me completely. Tears streamed down my face as he drank.
Afterward, I wrapped him in one of Ones’s blankets. He fell asleep instantly.
Peggy rested her hand on my shoulder.
“He’s beautiful. But we need to call the police.”
I knew she was right. Still, my heart felt torn in two.
The officers arrived quickly. I packed diapers, wipes, and bottles of my milk and begged them to keep him warm. They promised they would.
When the door closed, I collapsed into tears, and Peggy held me like I was the one who needed saving.
The next day passed in a blur. I fed Ones and stared into space, wondering if the baby was safe.
That evening, my phone rang. Unknown number.
“Is this Cate?”
“Yes.”
