Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
The tightness in my chest eased a bit when I heard that John offered to be with me. My decision to give up this baby for adoption hadn’t made him hate me. I feared so much he would think I was no better than our mother, who hadn’t given two shits about taking care of us.
“I’m okay. I’ll text him when we get off the phone,” I assured Jonah. “I’ll see you in a bit?”
“You got it, baby.”
We ended the call, and I texted John.
I’m okay. Thank you for offering to come with us. -Montana
Immediately, three little dots popped up on the screen, indicating he was already texting me back.
If you need me, I’m there, little sis. No questions asked. -John
Jonah cupped my face in his hands and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. “I want you to breathe. Blaze and I will be paying attention to you, and we’ll know when to step in. If you need a moment away from it, we’ll know.”
Blaze cupped the side of my neck, and using his thumb, he turned my face to his, his blue eyes boring into mine. “You’ve got this, sweetheart.”
I jerkily nodded my head and let them help me down from the truck. Both of them grabbed one of my hands, and together, the three of us walked up to the front door. We were led to a conference-style room, and Jonah and Blaze took a seat on either side of me while we waited on Mrs. Martin—the head of the agency—and the potential family to come in.
I began to bounce my knee, and Blaze silently laid a hand over it, squeezing to the point it hurt.
I relaxed.
The doors opened, and I latched onto Jonah’s hand, my nails biting into his skin. He just wrapped his hand around mine, not even flinching, though I knew my grip had to hurt.
A blonde woman with perfect hair and expensive-looking clothes stepped into the room, her make-up done to perfection. A man in a suit walked in behind her, and he pulled her chair out for her across from me, waiting until she was seated before he took his own.
“Blaze Jackson?” the man asked, getting to his feet again and holding his hand out.
Blaze didn’t stand, but he did clasp his hand. “Mr. Montgomery, pleasure to see you again.”
I looked between them in confusion. Blaze looked over at me. “I run security for his home and office here in town,” Blaze explained.
I nodded in understanding, forcing a smile to my lips. Mrs. Martin stepped into the room next and smiled warmly at all of us as she took her seat.
“Montana, this is Madeline Montgomery and her husband, Blake Montgomery,” Mrs. Martin introduced. “Madeline, Blake, this is Montana Geary, and her boyfriends, Jonah Reeves and Blaze Jackson.”
Blake smiled. “Blaze and I actually already know each other.” He looked at me. “Thank you for giving us the time today, Montana. We’re not new to adoption. I, unfortunately, cannot give my wife the kids she wants.”
His wife rested her hand on his. “You give me plenty, Blake,” she said softly.
He pressed a kiss to her temple before looking back at me. “We have adopted a three-year-old little girl, an eleven-year-old boy, and a sixteen-year-old girl. We’d like to have the opportunity to raise a child from birth.”
“And your child would give us that opportunity,” Madeline spoke up.
I swallowed thickly. “It doesn’t matter to you that the gender of the baby is unknown?” I asked.
Madeline shook her head with a smile. “We love the idea of a surprise,” she assured me. “And it is your body and your choice.”
I sucked in a deep breath, trying to keep my anxiety under wraps. “There are chances the child could grow up to have depression,” Blaze warned them. “Is that something you two are prepared to deal with?”
They both nodded. “I actually suffer from depression,” Madeline explained. “I go to therapy once every two weeks, and I am on medication for it. We’re both well aware of depression, its signs and symptoms, as well as ways to help make it easier to live with.”
That made me relax. They really were prepared, much more than I was.
“Is there, um, a file I can look through for you two?” I asked. My hands began to shake. Jonah clasped them and pulled me to him, holding me. This meeting was quickly becoming too much for me to deal with.
“I think she’s had enough,” Jonah spoke up. “It would be easier if she could look through your files at home where she’s comfortable.”
“Of course!” Madeline exclaimed. “Oh, hun, I’m so sorry. We didn’t mean to overwhelm you.”
I just shook my head, afraid if I opened my mouth, I’d burst into tears. Blaze gripped the back of my neck, digging his fingers in to ground me as Jonah tightened his arms around me.