Page 72 of No Offense

Molly wasn’t certain what to do. On the one hand, it didn’t seem right for her to intrude on this family reunion.

But on the other, if this wasn’t what Tabitha wanted—and last night Molly had kicked John out because she’d been sure it wasn’t—then maybe she should stay. Someone needed to look out for the girl, no matter how misguided she seemed.

“Tabby, darling.” Mrs. Brighton hurried forward to give her daughter a hug and kiss.

Tabitha didn’t respond. She seemed frozen in shock. The baby, meanwhile, had fallen asleep at her breast.

“Oh, what a little sweetheart,” Mrs. Brighton said, and swept a gentle finger over Cosette’s forehead while at the same time tugging at Tabitha’s hospital gown so that her chest was covered.

“Mom,” Tabitha said, finally seeming to find her voice. “Dad. What are you doing here? How did—how did you find me?”

“Well, the sheriff called us, sweetheart,” Mrs. Brighton said. She moved to sit down in the chair Molly had vacated. “He was very concerned for you. And the baby, of course.”

Tabitha looked stonily from her mother to her father.

“I don’t understand why. We’re fine.”

Cecile the nurse lifted her iPad—clipboards seemed to be a thing of the past—and said, “Why don’t I take the baby back to the nursery?”

“That won’t be necessary.” Tabitha’s voice was cold. “These people are leaving.”

“Now, Tabby.” Mr. Brighton had the patient voice of a man used to dealing with irrational customers and hormonal women. Molly wondered what he did for a living. “Let’s be rational. It’s not just you anymore. You’ve got the baby to think of.”

“Iamthinking of her.” Tabitha wrapped her arms more tightly around Cosette. “The last people in the world I want around her are you.”

“And on that note—” Cecile reached for the baby. “Why don’t I take little Cosette down the hall so you all can talk and she can sleep undisturbed?”

Tabitha gave the nurse her daughter—but not without saying, cuttingly, “All right. But just remember, I’m the only one allowed to take her from this hospital. Don’t letthemdo it.”

“Tabitha!” Mr. and Mrs. Brighton looked shocked. Even the nurse looked mildly offended.

“Around here we only allow babies to go home with their parents,” she said to Tabitha. She shot the Brightons a stern look as she wheeled Cosette, in her bassinette, from the room. “Theirlegalparents, the ones on their birth certificate.”

“Now, see here,” Mr. Brighton began, but Mrs. Brighton put a hand on his arm and shook her head.Not now, dear.

This reunion was going exactly the way Molly had feared it would, which was why she’d warned John against it in the first place. She felt obligated to jump in. “Maybe I could be of some help here.”

“And who are you?” Mr. Brighton demanded, his patience beginning to wear thin.

“I’m Molly Montgomery, the island’s children’s media specialist—”

“She’s the lady who found me,” Tabitha interrupted. “She found Cosette, too. If it weren’t for her, neither of us would even be alive.”

“Oh.” Mr. and Mrs. Brighton looked at Molly with renewed interest. Molly ducked her head modestly.

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” she said.

“No, it’s true.” Tabitha was doing up her hospital gown now that Cosette was gone. “She’s been really nice to me. Everyone here has, even though I don’t necessarily deserve it.”

“Oh, well—” Molly had been about to assure Tabitha that of course she deserved it when she remembered what she and her fellow Sunshine Kids had done to the media room in the new library. She pressed her lips together and said nothing.

“Can we just talk sensibly here for a minute?” Mr. Brighton said. “Of course we’re very grateful to you, Ms. Montgomery, for helping our daughter and granddaughter. But what exactly is your plan, Tabby? You have a child of your own now. How do you intend to support her? Where do you plan to live? Don’t you think it’s time you gave up on all this ‘living off the land’ foolishness and came home?”

“Yes, darling, do.” Mrs. Brighton reached out to squeeze her daughter’s hand. “Daddy and I would love to have you and—Cosette, is it?”

“Thank you for the invitation,” Tabitha said stiffly. “Really, thank you. But I already have a place to live, and that is with the father of my child.”

Tabitha then launched into her speech about how she and Dylan and baby Cosette were going to sail around the world together, just as soon as Dylan could get a boat.