Chapter 19

                                    

                                          
Faith POV (two months later): 
I stare at the lyrics in front of me, trying to come up with another verse. I shut my eyes as her cries upstairs gut me. I look over toward Scott as he reads his emails, ignoring her screaming. I look at the stairs, wishing I could run up and hold her. 
"Can I please just –" I start, before Scott rolls his eyes, keeping his head in his laptop. 
"She'll cry it out. She's fine." He asserts, as I wince. I continue to watch the stairs, hoping she calms down. "Keep writing, Faith." Scott orders, as I reluctantly turn my head back to the lyrics. I continue to scribble down lyrics, humming to myself to tune out her screams, but she's only getting louder. 
"Scott..." I let out, before he slams his laptop shut and marches upstairs. I listen closely, wishing he'd let me near her. He comes back downstairs with her in his arms, carrying her toward me. 
"She's hungry." He releases, handing her to me. The only time I can touch her in when she needs fed. He's afraid that if I have her, I could take off with her, so he holds her hostage. He swears that's not the case and that he just wants me to focus on my career. I start toward her nursery, before Scott steps in my path. "You can do it down here." He orders, as I reluctantly sit down on the couch. I pull down the collar of my shirt, feeling her latch immediately. It feels strange holding her, since I can only do it a few times a day for a couple minutes at a time. She wraps her hand around my finger, holding it tightly as she eats. I watch her brown eyes drift up toward me, seeming to look at me like a stranger. The feeling is nauseating. Does she even know who I am? 
"Hey, baby girl..." I whisper sweetly to her, hoping my voice will sound familiar to her. She continues to stare at me, as I feel my eyes well up. "Scott..." I let out, watching him look up at me. "Do you think I could hold her for a while?" I ask, as he sighs. 
"Faith, you have to write today." He replies, looking back down at his laptop. 
"I know, but I could write while holding her." I try to convince as he stares at me. He pinches the bridge of his nose, before lowering his hand. 
"Babe, I told you this before. You have to focus on this album so we can stay on schedule. Grace will still be here once the album is done." He says, walking over and taking her from my arms. I fix my shirt, watching her look over his shoulder at me as he takes her upstairs. 

Byron glances over at me as he looks over the lyrics of what I'm supposed to sing today. He taps his pen against his knee before sighing. 
"So, no Scott today?" He asks as I shake my head and look down at my knees. 
"Our sitter was sick, so he had to stay and watch Gracie." I say, while he nods, seeming off. He watches me carefully, eager to say something that he can't find the nerve to say. 
"Faith, you've been off for the last six months. Is there something going on at home, or..." He stops himself as I stare at him. I feel my lip shake, as I fight my own impulse. I shake my head, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "Is he hurting you?" He asks, as I shrug, honestly not sure. 
"He won't let me near her." I confess, feeling my hands tremble. I look down at my lap, as large teardrops crash onto my legs. "He took my phone and my keys so, I'm captive, I..." I admit, as he looks at me in shock. 
"Honey, we can call someone and get this sorted out if you want to leave." Byron begins as I shake my head. 
"I can't leave." I reply, watching a disheartened expression fall upon. "He'll take custody and I can't lose her... He'll destroy everything if I..." I release frantically, before covering my mouth. Byron leans back in his chair, soaking in everything for a moment.