Arden took a slow breath and put on her cool, expressionless mask. "Travis wouldn't want to be involved in a situation that could lead to heartbreak in the future."
Tonya's expression grew suddenly shrewd. "I'm willing to sign over guardianship to him. I'm willing to put her up for adoption. All legal-like."
Arden's eyes narrowed. Tonya wasn't as dumb as she looked. She wanted something. Arden waited.
"'Course, it'd be so much easier for Bryce and me to move to Memphis if we had a place to live. But things are kind of tight right now."
"How much do you want?" Arden asked, cutting to the chase.
"Ten thousand."
"Jesus Christ!"
"What?" Tonya asked. "You're rich, ain't you? Don't you want Travis to be happy?"
"I'm small-town rich, Tonya. And besides, it's my parents who are rich, not me."
Tonya shrugged. "I guess I can take her with me. 'Least then I'll get the EBT money and the tax credit."
Arden took another deep breath. She squeezed her eyes shut and exhaled slowly. "I'm uncomfortable with the way this is going down. What if you change your mind and then go telling people that I tried to buy your baby from you? Wouldn't I get into trouble for that?"
"It ain't gonna be like that," Tonya said. "We'll work it out so the two are unrelated. I can't take care of the baby, so I'm putting her up for adoption. And you are helping a friend out by giving her some cash so she can get away from her boyfriend who hits her all the time."
Arden wished she hadn't bought back Travis's car, now. She could get ten grand, for sure. But she'd already borrowed from her parents for the car. This, she would have to take from her savings. And it would definitely make a dent. Furthermore, she knew that until the adoption went through, she had no way of assuring that Tonya wouldn't come asking for more money.
Then again, Tonya was offering up her biggest bargaining chip for one lump sum. If she went through with adopting the baby to Travis, she would never be able to come begging again. And for that, her price was a little on the low side. Probably because she had no concept of money. After all, she'd sold Travis's car for five thousand when she could have gotten so much more.
Still. Best to make her think that she was making an unreasonable request. "I can give you five," Arden said.
Tonya's eyes narrowed. "I want ten. I think you can swing it. You'll do anything for that bastard."
Arden smiled. She was right. She'd cash out completely and live in poverty if that was what it took to make Travis happy. "You don't see a dime of it until after papers are signed in front of lawyers."
"I get a grand now. Then Travis gets guardianship. Then you give me the rest. Sound good?"
Arden couldn't believe this was happening. She feared it was some kind of trap. What kind of mother would trade her baby for life with a man she'd just met and ten thousand dollars? "Emily stays with us now. Today."
Tonya shrugged. "Fine with me. I don't got anywhere to put her anyway. Sleeping out of my car."
"How soon will this happen?"
"I'll alert my social worker first thing Monday morning. How soon can you get me my cash?"
Arden swallowed. Could this really be happening. "Stay here with Emily. I'll be back with it in fifteen minutes." The bank was close by.
Tonya shrugged. "Sounds good."
Arden left and came back, half-expecting Tonya to be long gone. But she was sitting on front step smoking a cigarette with the door ajar so she could listen to Emily. Arden coolly handed her the envelope of cash. Tonya's eyes went wide. She took it and thumbed through the stack of hundred dollar bills.
She stood and held out her hand to Arden. Arden shook it, hoping she didn't just doom herself to burn in hell for all eternity. The whole situation was bizarre. Wrong, even. But what could be wrong about Emily having a home with people who loved her and wanted the best for her?
Tonya didn't even look at Emily again. She flicked her cigarette to the ground and then got in her car and drove away.
Travis drove his pickup to Arden's apartment. She had called him and told him to come over right away. Her voice was calm, but he still felt he should hurry. He was thrilled when he arrived and Emily was placed into his arms.
"We're babysitting for the weekend," Arden said. And that was all she said. He beamed. He would make the most of it. Enjoy every second with this little girl. And hopefully her life would be filled with many small moments with him so that she would know there was someone in this world who loved her more than anything.
When Monday came around, Emily was asleep in the bassinet next to his bed. Travis got up and dressed for work. Then when Emily woke up, he put a onesie on her and some socks and took her out into the warm, Spring air. She could hang out with him at work since it was just for the morning.