Free Songbird (A Sinclair Story #1) by Jaymin Eve Page B

back was a huge Dodge Ram truck with a plow on the front, which
she assumed was Charles’. Nathan was a head taller than the uniformed officer
he was chatting with. Glancing up, he locked eyes with her, and the brief smile
he sent her way was reassuring. Charles was away from the main group, speaking
with others in uniform. Emergency services. She recognized the EMT symbol on
their shirts.
    Stepping
carefully along the cleared path, Melodee was glad the ground seemed to be
salted; she would hate to slip with Jewel in her arms.
    “Hello,
ma’am,” the younger of the two officers near Nathan greeted her. “We just have
a few questions about the accident.”
    Melodee
nodded her consent. Might as well get them out of the way.
    “So
I understand you were in the car of…” He looked down at his note pad. “Douglas
Barrant. We found him deceased at the scene. Can you tell me what happened?”
    Melodee
tried to block out the images that threatened her mind again: lifeless eyes,
the stillness of death. Nathan reached out then and took her hand. The warmth
and comfort was so foreign that it shocked her back into focus and she was able
to regain composure.
    “Doug
was heading out here to Nathan’s place. He was driving pretty fast, and then
suddenly a car was coming at us, out of control and already on its roof. I
wrenched the wheel but we still clipped the edge and went over the embankment.
I checked the other car, but the driver was deceased. We rescued Jew … the baby
from the other car, but the storm was too bad to get the bodies out.”
    “The
woman is still unidentified at the moment, her car was unregistered and she had
no identification,” the officer said. “We will check out the missing people
reports back at the station.”
    An
older woman, thin, with dark brown hair, walked over to the group. She held a
clipboard and tablet computer in her hands.
    “Hello,
my name is Denise Ronin from Child Protective Services.”
    Melodee’s
heart sank. Nathan pulled her closer to his side, his bulk providing warmth.
    “I
was called in when the officers realized there was a baby capsule shell in the
car.” She smiled brightly at Jewel. “I’m so glad to see that she is doing well
after the accident, but we need to have emergency check her over to be sure.”
    Nathan
drew the woman’s attention. “If you don’t know who the girl is, then you are
going to have no idea of the baby’s family. What will happen in the meantime?”
    Denise
seemed to blush as she caught Nathan’s direct gaze. Melodee was glad to see she
wasn’t the only one thrown off by his magnetism and good looks.
    “Well,
we arrange for temporary care until we find her family,” Denise finally said.
    Nathan
didn’t hesitate. “Melodee and I would like to look after her until you find her
family. She knows us and it’s much better than moving her all around.”
    Denise
looked surprised, her brows rising as she glanced at the way Nathan held my
hand.
    “I’m
sorry Mr…”
    “Sinclair.”
    She
opened her mouth, closing it again before clearing her throat.
    “As
in Nathan Sinclair, basketball center and son of Senator Sinclair?” Her voice
was breathy.
    Nathan
sighed. “Yes, that’s my father. I can get him on the line to verify my identity
if you require.”
    She
shook her head rapidly. “No, no, no need to bother your father. I’m sure it’s
fine for me to leave the child temporarily in the custody of you and your
girlfriend.   I’ll just need a copy of
your identification, and I will have to make a few phone calls.”
    Melodee
opened her mouth to correct the woman on the girlfriend comment, but Nathan
squeezed her hand and shook his head slightly.
    “I’ll
just get my documents,” he said, leading Melodee from the group.
    “Why
did you let her believe we were a couple?” she asked when they were out of
earshot.
    “CPS
believe children function better within a family, especially if the couple are
in a happy, settled relationship.