Because of the Accident (Book 1)

Chapter 14

As I stood there in the dim light of my living room, the weight of my problems bearing down on me, I realized how much I needed a break. My phone call with the law firm, the threat of being sued for the car accident, and the fact that I didn't have the money for a lawyer had left me paralyzed with worry. I'd been standing in the same spot for the last 30 minutes, staring at nothing, my mind racing. How was I going to pay for a lawyer? How was I going to get out of this?

A sharp cry pierced through my fog of thoughts. I shook my head and rushed into Miracle's room. She was wailing in her crib, her little arms flailing. I picked her up, holding her close to my chest, gently rocking her back and forth. "It's okay, little Miracle. Daddy's here for you," I whispered, kissing her soft forehead. Gradually, her cries softened until she drifted back to sleep in my arms. I sighed, feeling an odd sense of peace as I laid her back down.

For a brief moment, as I watched her sleep, I thought about Lia. She had been so good with Miracle. Her smile, the way she made Miracle giggle—it all felt like a lifetime ago. I sighed deeply, a knot forming in my stomach, and kicked the edge of the table in frustration. "Ouch!" I yelped, grabbing my foot. Everything hurt, and I couldn't seem to escape the pain.

I needed to clear my head. The stress was mounting, and as much as I wanted to be the perfect dad, I felt like I was unraveling. A drink might help calm my nerves, but I couldn't exactly take Miracle to a bar. That was out of the question. I picked her up gently, her small head resting against my chest, and realized there was only one person I could turn to for help right now—Miranda.

With a sigh, I grabbed the car keys. It wasn't ideal, but I needed a few hours to myself. Miranda had always been there for me, despite everything. She could watch Miracle for a little while. I just hoped she wouldn't ask too many questions.

A few minutes later, we pulled up to Miranda's house. It was pushing past 8 p.m., so I silently prayed she wasn't already in bed or, worse, in one of those weird Netflix binges where you ignore everything outside of your couch. I rang the doorbell, shifting awkwardly on the porch, and after a moment, the door creaked open.

There stood Miranda, looking like she'd just rolled out of a nap — hair sticking out every which way and eyes still squinty from sleep. She blinked at me, half yawning. "Floyd? What's going on? It's late," she mumbled, stepping aside to let us in.

I carefully set Miracle's car seat down just inside the door, my heart heavy with uncertainty. "I need you to watch her for a few hours. I have... some things I need to take care of," I said, avoiding her gaze, the weight of my choices hanging between us.

Miranda raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting from concern to suspicion. "At this hour? What kind of things?"

I hesitated, the truth tangled in my throat. I didn't want to lie, but the thought of admitting I was heading to a bar felt like admitting defeat. "I need to meet with some lawyers about the case," I lied, my eyes glued to the floor, a million thoughts racing through my mind.

Miranda crossed her arms, a small smirk creeping onto her lips. "So, you've managed to pay for a lawyer already?"

Her comment caught me off guard, jolting me from my thoughts. "Wait, how did you know I needed money for a lawyer?" I asked, looking up, my confusion evident.

She bit her lip, trying to suppress her amusement. "I may have... taken care of that for you," she said softly, her eyes darting away as if she was afraid of my reaction.

My jaw dropped. "You... you paid for my lawyer?" I stammered, disbelief washing over me like a wave. "But why?"

Her expression softened, sincerity shining through. "I want justice for my daughter," she said quietly. "And for you to have a fair shot, you need proper representation."