Chapter 5: No Place for a Child
Clara quickly closed the wooden door behind him.
She did not want the nosy neighbors to hear his booming voice.
"It is home, Max."
She stated defensively while avoiding his piercing gaze.
She carried Lily over to a small, worn-out sofa in the corner.
She gently laid the sleeping little girl down on the cushions.
She pulled a thin, faded blanket over Lily's shivering shoulders.
Max watched her tender movements with a heavy, aching heart.
The freezing temperature in the room was completely unacceptable.
He walked over to the cheap space heater resting on the floor.
He plugged it into the wall outlet and turned the dial to maximum.
The metal coils slowly began to glow a dull orange.
It offered very little real warmth against the drafty, rattling windows.
"This is not a home, Clara."
Max said softly, running a frustrated hand through his dark hair.
"It is freezing, unsafe, and completely unsuitable for a sick child."
Clara turned to face him with a sudden flash of protective anger.
"We were doing just fine before you showed up tonight."
She lied boldly, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.
"I have a job, and I take good care of her."
Max took a slow, deliberate step closer to her.
His towering presence made the small room feel even more suffocating.
"You were sobbing at a pharmacy counter because you could not afford basic antibiotics."
He pointed out ruthlessly but entirely without malice.
Clara flinched violently as the harsh truth hit her.
She looked down at the badly scuffed linoleum floor.
Tears threatened to spill from her tired eyes once again.
"Why did you run away from me, Clara?"
Max asked, his voice dropping to a raw, desperate whisper.
"Five years ago, you just vanished without a single word."
Clara swallowed the painful lump forming in her throat.
She glanced nervously toward the sofa where Lily was resting.
"I had my reasons."
She replied vaguely, her voice trembling under the weight of her secret.
Max followed her anxious gaze to the little girl.
He studied the familiar shape of Lily's peaceful face.
He looked closely at her wavy hair and delicate features.
A terrifying, life-altering realization finally clicked perfectly into place.
He looked back at Clara, his dark eyes wide with shock and betrayal.
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"Is she mine?"
Max demanded, his voice cracking with overwhelming emotion.
