Shattered 1 of 4

Chapter 9 Kim Burgess

Adam's dad finally arrived at the hospital, I take this has a chance to go and get some things for the baby who still doesn't have a name.

Somehow, I convinced Adam's doctor not to discharge him until the baby would be discharged. I'm so worried about him, and I was afraid if he left the hospital without the baby he may not come back for the baby.

My heart is all over the place, I've had feelings for Adam for a long time and being so close to him these last few days has been hard. I feel guilty, like I moving in on him or something but it's not him I'm here for, it's that baby he needs me. Adam isn't capable of taking care of him right now, and there isn't anyone else to do it.

That sweet little baby, he needs me and I won't fail him. Adam's told me about Wendy and how she had no one, she was the only child and both her parents had died when she was in college.

I pick up just enough clothes to get me through a few weeks with him, Jay and Erin had dropped off some many that the 21st had collected for Adam and I use that to buy some of the clothes. I've already bought a car seat and some of the other items Adam would need, he's going to be furious with me I'm sure when he realizes the amount of money I've spent.

I stop at the grocery store and pick up diapers and formula, I also buy some groceries for Adam.

I pick up a baby name book, Adam still hasn't come up with a name. I'm starting to think he'll forever be known as 'baby boy Ruzek' the nurses had even started calling him 'BB'.

As I load up the car my cell phone starts ringing, "hello?"

I can hear my mother's familiar sigh "Kim, where are you I've been trying to get a hold of you for days" I roll my eyes, she has such a flair for the dramatic.

"A friend of mine, is in the hospital, I've been with him" I tell her.

"Is he okay?"

"He will be, but his wife was killed in the accident and the doctors were able to save their baby" I regret telling her this almost immediately.

I can hear her suck her teeth, she's annoyed it's her tell "honey, you can't save the world you know, you don't need to be playing house with someone else's baby" sometimes she can be so cruel. That's her famous line 'you can't save the world Kimmy' is what she told me when I became a police officer. She'd much rather I live off the trust fund like my brothers do, that no child of her's should be a public servant.

I buckle my seat belt, "mom, I have to go" she starts to lecture me "seriously mom, I'm hanging up" and I do it. My parents are interesting people, my father from old money and my mother embracing the role of 'rich wife' a little too much. I'm the youngest, my two brothers Dan Junior and Philip are the typical trust fund snobs and I swear my mother wants me to join them. They may be comfortable living off my father's money, but I'm not and haven't touched a penny from that trust fund. Sure, it would be nice to not have to budget my money, but this way I'm doing it all on my own. I'm sure one day that money will come in handy but not for a long time.

I drop the groceries off at Adam's house, it's sad walking in knowing how much has changed. As I bring the bags in, I realize just how bad Adam's marriage was not a single picture of the two of them in the house. The nursery the only room where pictures are hanging on the wall, Adam and Wendy not even together in the pictures just single shots of them at different events.

I check the dresser to see if Wendy had purchased any clothes, she had I find a few little girl outfits but nothing for a little boy. I sit in the rocking chair for a few minutes and try to wrap my mind around all of this, that how just one person's lack of judgement altered so many lives. Wendy is gone, Adam is left in a sea of guilt and fear, a beautiful little baby is left without a mother, a father who is afraid of him and me.

Where do I fit in all of this? I would be lying if I said I wasn't in love with Adam, Trudy Platt having already called me out on that weeks ago.

That baby has stolen my heart, I don't think I can walk away from him, but what about Adam?

Am I a horrible person for wanting to be with him?