Deceptively calm

"Okay, I don’t want any problems. Please give me my daughter, and we can forget that this ever happened, while you go back into hiding or something. Look, I forgive you for all that you did to me.” I tell Charlotte, my voice wavering so badly, but there is nothing that I can do about it, or about anything.

“Ava, isn’t it? She’s a very beautiful baby. She takes after my mother’s side in the looks aspect. My mother was a very beautiful woman, although I can’t say the same about my birth father.”

“Yes. She looks just like you and Charles when you were babies. I saw your family pictures.”

“You did?” Charlotte asks, sounding genuinely surprised.

“Yes. Charles showed me.”

“Cool, cool.” She says, still rocking Ava as slowly as though she has all the time in the world. To say I’m confused is an understatement, but I’m starting to relax a teeny tiny fraction.

“Please give me Ava, and we’ll both be on our way,” I tell her, wondering what the meaning of all this is. She doesn't seem to be in a h