“You are heading over there again?” Cole asked as he dried the stack of washed glasses from the busy shift. Since Lilly arrived, Lacey had been visiting Brooke’s apartment every night. She didn’t mean for it to become routine, but Brooke sent daily pictures of the baby and pleaded with her for company.

She is by herself. After their baby was born, her useless boyfriend never showed up again. She responded, “I can’t leave her like that,” as she took the tray of glasses and placed them beneath the wooden table. Images flickered through her mind—memories of standing in the hallway as a child, hearing her father yell at her family, the fear tingling on her skin as she wondered if he would come home. For so long, she remembered wishing someone would show up and help them, or at least stay beside them through the hard parts. Having her own version of an abusive dad, she didn’t want the newborn’s life to start on such a sour note. Reuben had ducked responsibility, and she hated him for it. She couldn’t punch him in the face herself, so being with Brooke and her child was the next best thing.

“You’re a good person,” Cole responded. “After all the chaos you two handled, I don’t know that I could manage it.” He took the last stack of cups and added them to the ones Lacey had put away. He held Lacey’s gaze for a moment after he spoke. She could tell that he wanted to say more but didn’t.

“Thank you. Everything is cleaned up at the tables, and the place is organized,” she told him as she dried off her hands. She grabbed her purse and headed for the door, saying goodnight on the way out.

Midnight in the city never got old. Lacey loved being part of New York nightlife and hanging out with the usuals each evening. She walked the usual route to her ex’s home, only stopping at her favorite deli to pick up snacks and a dinner for herself after a long shift.

“Thank you, Frank,” she told the counter person after purchasing all the items for the night.

“You got it, Lace. Be safe!” He smiled as he bagged up her things and handed them over. These brief encounters made the new routine beyond her own home feel even more valuable. Outside of nights with Brooke and the baby, Lacey’s community grew, and she loved that. Months of solitude in her apartment seemed to dissolve with each passing day.

Reaching Brooke’s home, Lacey was ready for quiet time. The bar shift had been especially taxing, so she looked forward to relaxing with Brooke, as they stared at the newborn girl and gushed over her cuteness. Despite the end of their romantic relationship, their deep friendship and shared history made it all appealing. Much like her late sister, Lacey felt safe around Brooke regardless of the turmoil.

Taking the stairs one flight at a time, she stopped in her tracks when she heard a male voice from behind the door of her ex’s apartment.

“No way,” she mumbled under her breath, not wanting to make noise so she could hear what was going on. Had Reuben come back after all this time? Lacey was stunned at the sounds coming from behind the door. Her fists balled around the handles of the bags she carried. Her heart rate sped up, and she listened to the interaction from the other side of the structure.

“Lilly’s our child! You don’t need any outside help!” Reuben barked at his girlfriend.

“Where have you been for six weeks, huh? You know where SHE’S been? With us,” Brooke screamed back. She heard Lilly crying in the background, which was enough to make her bang on the door and make herself known.

A loud huff escaped Reuben’s lips because he knew Lacey was on the other side of the door. “What the hell do you want?” he said as soon as Brooke moved to answer the door. Lacey glared at the tall male, unmindful of what came out of his mouth.

“You need to leave,” she said in a calm tone. “You want custody? Then, do it through a lawyer and not screaming at her while your six-week-old sobs in the background.” Her body moved between Brooke and Reuben, breaking his access to her former lover.

“You think I’m afraid of YOU?” he snapped back with a sarcastic laugh. “Not even a little. You don’t get to tell me to leave. If Brooke wants me gone, she can tell me,” he bit back.

Brooke stepped between Lacey and Reuben. “Leave,” she said in a shaky tone. Reuben shook his head in disbelief as he moved toward the door. “I will be back,” he promised, but it came across more like a threat.

The baby’s cries still bellowed, and the distress snapped them both back into the moment. The new Mom ran to Lilly, picked her up, and comforted her as Lacey watched. Still in shock from everything that had taken place, she walked over to Brooke and placed a gentle hand on her back to offer quiet comfort until Lilly had calmed down.

Once the child stopped crying, Brooke stood over her crib for a moment before her own composure broke. Her body instinctively moved into Lacey’s arms to be held. “I hate him,” she sobbed into her shirt.

All she could do was hold the weeping woman in her arms. “I know, but you won’t be alone in this,” she promised. The words only earned more sobs. Lacey held her in silence, wanting nothing more than to protect her from the horrible situation. A swirl of doubt and determination pressed down on her chest. To Lacey, the future looked uncertain, but she tried to cling to the hope that by staying close, she might help lift Brooke out of the darkness, even just a little. She didn’t know how she’d help, but she knew she’d be there every step of the way.

Editor: Lucy Cafiero