Page 14 of The Obsession
“I … umm, don’t know.”
“I can watch her inside your place,” she says, nodding towards the house. “It gets lonely living on your own, so it would give me something to do. It’s no bother.”
I stare at Peach for a long moment. She’s still curled against my neighbour’s chest, breathing softly in her sleep. Her tiny fists are relaxed, her face serene for the first time all morning.
I’m all this little girl has, so it would be nice to have someone else in her life, someone experienced, looking out for her.
I dig the heel of my palm into my chest; it feels tight with exhaustion, which is something I can’t seem to shake. “I didn’t think she’d ever settle,” I admit, my voice coming out rough.
“She just needed to be held right,” my neighbour says softly. “Sometimes that’s all it takes. I had no clue when I brought my little Suzy home from the hospital. It was all trial and error for me back then, but with age and experience comes wisdom. This is all new to you, so please don’t beat yourself up about it. It gets easier, I promise.”
My gaze shifts from my niece to her, and suddenly her offer of help no longer feels like pity; it feels like a lifeline.
My shoulders drop as the tension slowly unwinds. For the first time in days, I feel a hint of lightness creeping in.
“Okay, you can watch her while I get some sleep.”
Chapter 6
Dominic
Two and a half years ago …
Since we’ve been cooped up inside for the past two days because of the rain, I figured a walk to the store was in order. The sun’s out, and Lil’ Peach loves to get out and explore, well, as much as a six-month-old can.
Her big brown eyes dart everywhere, soaking up every sound, every colour, every face. She flaps her arms, lets out delighted coos, and grabs at the air with her tiny fists. She’s so damn inquisitive, just like Violet used to be before her world got tainted by all the wrong things. Back when my sister was still that wide-eyed kid who thought life was good and people were kind.
“You ready to go to the shops, baby girl?”
I kiss Peach’s chubby cheek before placing her down in the pram, strapping her in, and propping up the back so she can see. She kicks her feet, all smiles and energy, like this is the best idea I’ve had all day.
I lift my hand and brusquely wave to Mrs B—my neighbour across the street—as I head down the driveway and onto the sidewalk.
“It’s a nice day for a walk,” she calls out, and I nod my head in response. We may have become somewhat friends, but I’m still a man of limited words.
She’s become a godsend over the past five months. It took me a while to completely trust her because that kind of stuff has never come easily to me, but once I realised she had only good intentions, there was no looking back.
She was bang on with the reflux assumption, and now that we know what we’re dealing with, we’ve got it under control. She’s also stepped in to look after my niece whenever I’m called out to a job. She’s willing to take her day or night, which makes it much easier for me.
Mrs B constantly refuses the money I offer her, so I bought her a new car and fitted it with a baby seat. There was nothing wrong with the older model she was driving, but it didn’t have the safety features I’d want for my niece. It was a win-win for both of us. She gets to drive around in comfort, and I can breathe easier knowing Lil’ Peach is safe.
I have an obligation to theFamiglianow, and I’m willing to do whatever’s asked of me; I don’t have a choice. But knowing Peach has a safe place to go while I’m out terrorising the scumbags in our community makes it a hell of a lot easier.
On those darker assignments, I’m given time to regroup … to pull myself together before I walk back through the door. My niece deserves the best parts of me, not the cruel monster I have to become out there. And no matter what I do, or how far I fall, she’s the reason I keep dragging myself back. That’s a side of me I hope she never has to see.
I love her innocence and that she’s untainted by the ugliness of this world. I’m going to do my best to make sure it stays that way, for as long as possible.
Lil’ Peach and I have fallen into an easy rhythm, and she’s thriving. The kid is already rolling over, grabbing ateverything she can reach, and babbling like she’s got something really important to say.
I’m looking forward to all the other milestones, her sitting up on her own, saying her first real words, crawling, pulling herself to her feet, and taking that first terrifying step. She’s become the light cutting through my darkness, and every damn day, I can’t wait to see what she does next.
As for her mother, she’s still being controlled by drugs. Contact was finally made with my sister. It went through Mary because I’m not dealing with that bullshit any more than necessary. I’m not having her come around here and upsetting Peach.
A supervised two-hour visit was set up a few months ago, but my sister showed up high, and that was the end of it. There’s been no more talk of visits since. She’ll have to go through regular drug screening before she gets another chance, and for Lil’ Peach’s sake, I hope she can get her fucking act together.
I want my sister to get clean, but on the flip side, losing this little girl would gut me. She’s the one good thing I have going for me.
I’ll admit it’s hard sometimes—raising a kid on your own isn’t easy—but the rewards are worth every sleepless night, every worry, every damn sacrifice. Hearing her laugh, listening to her baby gibberish, and watching her discover the world is the kind of magic you can’t put a price on.
