Chapter 4 - Blood Does Not Ask Permission
Cole presented a marriage certificate, photographs of himself with Tessa, and medical documents indicating that he was Sunny’s legal father.
He claimed Tessa had disappeared two days earlier with their newborn daughter.
According to Cole, Tessa had suffered an emotional crisis after giving birth. He said he had searched hospitals and contacted police before receiving an anonymous message informing him that the child was at Riverside.
Bear did not believe a word.
Neither did Claire.
Cole spoke about Tessa as though describing a defective employee. He expressed concern, but no grief. He asked detailed questions about custody procedures before asking whether the baby was healthy.
Most disturbing of all, Sunny began crying the moment Cole touched her blanket.
Bear immediately took her back.
Cole turned toward Denise.
“This man is interfering with my child.”
“This man held her for twelve hours while you were nowhere to be found,” Claire said.
The lawyer accompanying Cole stepped forward.
“My client is the legal parent. Unless the hospital has evidence of abuse or a court order, you cannot deny him access.”
Denise raised one hand.
“Until child protective services completes its emergency review, no one is removing the infant.”
Cole glanced at Bear.
“You always did enjoy pretending to be a hero.”
Bear’s hands curled into fists.
Claire moved between them.
Bear remembered the old assault conviction inside Denise’s file. He remembered that one moment of anger could cost him Sunny forever.
He forced his hands open.
“Where is Tessa?” he asked.
Cole’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
“I told you. She disappeared.”
“When did you last see her?”
“Tuesday night.”
“What was she wearing?”
Cole hesitated.
Bear noticed.
A husband whose wife had vanished should know what she was wearing.
“Where did she go?” Bear demanded.
Cole turned to his lawyer.
“I will not be questioned by a convicted criminal.”
He walked away from the NICU corridor, promising to return with a custody order.
That evening, Bear submitted to a home inspection.
Denise expected to find a filthy clubhouse filled with motorcycle parts and strangers.
Instead, Bear lived in a quiet two-story house with polished floors, a vegetable garden, and a locked workshop behind the garage.
Tessa’s childhood room remained untouched upstairs.
Denise stood in the doorway, taking in the astronomy posters and carefully made bed.
“You kept this for three years?”
“I kept it because I wanted her to know she still had a home.”
On the dresser sat thirty-six unopened birthday and holiday cards.
Bear had written one each month after she disappeared.
Beside them rested a wooden crib still sealed inside its shipping box.
Denise pointed to it.
“When did you buy that?”
“Today.”
“You don’t know whether the court will place the baby with you.”
“No.”
“Then why buy a crib?”
“Because she’ll need one somewhere. If she doesn’t come here, I’ll donate it.”
Denise closed her notebook.
For the first time, her expression softened.
“Mr. Ransom, blood alone does not make someone a safe guardian.”
“I know.”
“But blood also does not ask permission before making us responsible for one another.”
May you like
Bear looked toward Tessa’s empty room.
“I failed my daughter when she needed me. I won’t fail her child.”
