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laughed about some thing and Candy passed it back to the driver.
    An aching started in Erin’s stomach. Everything felt crazy and out of control.
    Adoption wasn’t supposed to be like this, was it? Hadn’t they only been following their pastor’s advice, adopting a child who wasn’t wanted? So how had everything become sor did? This is so dirty, God, so wrong. What’re we supposed to do? Please… please show us.
    Dave must’ve been satisfied with his count because he stuffed %
    the cash back into the envelope and said something that drove a knife through what was left of Erin’s sanity.
    “You still want the baby, right?”
    “Listen.” Sam clenched his teeth and made a sharp inhale through his nose.
    “Don’t mess with us.”
    “Ooooh.” Dave chuckled and looked over his shoulder at his friends, as if they might understand something funny had just happened. With his mouth open it was easier to see just how many teeth he was missing. He looked back at Sam, held out his hand, palm down, and gave it a series of dramatic shakes. “You scare me, man.”
    “I’m serious.” Sam sat a little straighter. “We did what you asked. Now get Candy home and take care of her.” He started the engine. “We’ll see you at the hospital.”
    Dave cocked his head, the smile suddenly gone. “I asked you a question, man. You still want the baby or not?”
    Erin couldn’t make out her husband’s expression, but she 29
    could see by the tension in his posture how close he was to losing control.
    Please, God…
    Sam turned slightly so he was facing the man. “If we didn’t want the baby, we wouldn’t be here.”
    “Okay.” Dave’s expression eased and he chuckled again. “Stay by the phone.” He winked as he took a few steps backward. “I’ll be calling.”
    And in that instant, Erin felt her hopes crash against the rocks of reality and splinter into a million pieces. The bribes were not over, and they were quite simply out of money.
    When Dave was gone, Sam turned to her. The knowing in his face told her that he, too, was aware of the situation they were in. If Dave asked for more money, they would have just one choice.
    Call the attorney and tell him the truth, even if they lost the baby daughter in the process.
    Most of the time, Candy could care less what people thought of She had a roof over her head and a loaf of bread in the refrigerator. Couldn’t ask for more than that. The kids stayed with her mother most of the time, and when it was her turn, so what if
    they didn’t eat much? Big deal. A lot of kids had it worse. Besides, she was never cut out to be a mother.
    She was a druggie, a floozy, the sort of trash that never lived in one place more than a few months. But at least she wasn’t uppity like the couple in the van. At least she knew her place in life, and this late in the game she wasn’t looking to change, didn’t waste time on what-ifs and might-haves or a batch of regrets the way some of her friends did. If people didn’t like her then bully for them.
    But as the car she was riding in sped out of the parking lot, she felt a nudge of remorse. Second thoughts, maybe, or a gasp of air 30
    REUNION
    from. a conscience long dead. The plan was pretty nasty, could probably land them in jail if they weren’t careful.
    Actually it wasn’t her plan; it was Dave’s. And it was a good one. Kids were nothing but brats and hard work. She’d learned that after she popped the first one out. The plan didn’t come about until she told Dave how much loot she’d raked in from the rich couple. All for having a kid and giving it away.
    Dave’s eyes had grown narrow, and a thin smile had worked its way into his cheeks. “I think we just hit the jackpot, Candy.”
    “The jackpot?” Candy wasn’t doing hard drugs, not since she found out about the kid. Just some bourbon and weed here and there. She took a drag from a joint and frowned at him. “What jackpot?”
    “They want the kid, right?” He’d sat