(Sorry I haven't updated in a while! Been busy, but I plan to continue Web of Lies, just got to start typing it up again! Till I have that up and going again, I think I like this new story, read and review? )
I sat down with my cup of tea and listened to the silence that never seems to leave anymore. This big old house use to be filled with a million different things. A million different people doing a million different things. Only three years ago silence was a blessing in this house. But I never honestly wanted it. I loved the crazy hassle of a bunch of kids and family in the house. Now it's just me.
I sat in the silence longing for my old life back. I miss my babies.
It's been a full year since Jake moved out for college. He's going into his sophomore year. In that year, I've spent a total of 37 days sporadically throughout the year with him. Only 37. I sighed. He really doesn't need me around anymore. My baby doesn't need me at all.
Kyra's been on tour with some big rock band, doing concerts randomly wherever they can play. She told me in an email once that 'It's like an addiction. The music flowing all around me and throughout me is more powerful than any drug the world's ever known.' Well, it was a comfort knowing my daughter wasn't doing drugs out on the road.
I sipped my tea sighing again.
Then there's Cheyenne, Van, Elizabeth, and Matt. We do dinner once a week. One week at my house, the next at theirs. Besides that, hardly at all. I work, they work, the kids go to school, and they have their own lives going on. I on the other hand, do not. I'm just a lonely old woman who missed her kids.
I jumped when I heard a soft knock on the front door. I shook my head out of my lonely thoughts and got up to answer it, wondering who could be knocking on my door at 9:30 at night. When I opened the door I was surprised to see a little blonde girl standing there in a little flowered dress, high pigtails tied off with ribbons, holding a ragged teddy bear close to her chest. She was crying from the biggest scared blue eyes I've ever seen. I looked around to see if there was an adult around. Not a soul in sight. She couldn't have been even 4 years old.
"What're you doing out by yourself honey?" I asked bending down so I was at level with her. She sniffled, whipping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"I was scared of the man in the car. He put me in the seat and told me to be quiet. When he went to the gas place I ran away. I don't know where I am." My heart tightened in my chest. She looked so scared. She was kidnapped.
"Were you with your mommy or daddy when the man put you in the seat?" I asked.
"I don't have a daddy and my mommy's sick." She looked up at me like I could save her.
"Where were you when the man picked you up?" I was trying not to scare her anymore. My heart was so loud pounding in my ears. She was kidnapped.
"In the backyard sitting under the slide."
'Why under the slide honey?"
"I go there when I'm sad."
"Why were you sad?" A tear streamed down her cheek.
"My mommy." I sighed, not knowing what to do. I figure calling the police is my best bet.
"Do you want to come inside? I'm going to make a phone call and we'll fix everything okay?" She nodded again. I stood up taking her hand and leading her into the kitchen. She sat down at the table silently. "Are you hungry?"
"Yes." I got out a juice box and some crackers. She took them quietly. "Thank you."
"Your welcome. I'm going to be on the phone for a minute okay?" she nodded. I dialed 911.
"911; what's your emergency?" a woman asked quickly.
"Hi, my name's Reba Hart, a little girl knocked on my front door all alone. She said she was put in a strange man's car and told to be quiet. She got out at a gas station and showed up here. I'm not entirely sure what to do. Do you think you could send someone out?"
"Is the girl injured in any way?" I looked over at her.
"Are you hurt?" I asked her. She looked up at me from her cracker and shook her head no. I realized I didn't even know the girls name. "What's your name honey?"
"Hailey McShorter."
"Thank you. " I said to her. "No she isn't hurt, just rattled. Her name's Hailey McShorter." I gave her my address.
"Help is on the way. Just keep the girl with you till the two officers get there. Just for both Hailey and your protection, try not to go all to near with each other. "
"Oh, okay. I gave her a juice box and crackers, is that okay?" I asked looking over at her nibbling on a cracker."
"That should be fine. Just don't have physical contact."
"Okay." I said before we hung up. I stood there looking at her in wonder. How did I go from a lonely old woman, to a woman with a kidnapped child within 20 minutes?
Xxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
"Hello?" I asked in a distant voice.
"Hey mom, do you think you can watch Matt for me while I run to the grocery store real quick?" she sounded like she was in a hurry.
"I would love to honey but I've kind of got my hands pretty full right now." I said looking at Hailey play with Elizabeth's old dolls.
"What're you doing?" she asked almost annoyed.
"A little girl showed up at my house. The police are on their way over now." I heard her gasp.
"Should we come over?"
"No, it's fine. I've got this under control." I lied. I actually had no idea what was about to happen.
"I'm sending Van over when he gets off work." She stated oblivious to my objection. I sighed. Van would help keep me calm. He has that affect on people.
"You don't have too, let him rest after work." She scoffed into the phone.
"He'll freak if he finds out you needed him and he wasn't told about it." Before I could respond there was a knock on the door.
"I gotta go Cheyenne, they're here." I said closing my phone. I opened the door to see two police officers. "Hi, you must be the officers the woman sent."
"Yes ma'am, so where's this little girl?" Hailey looked up at us from across the room.
"Right over here. She's playing with my granddaughter's toys." I led them over to her.
"You must be Hailey." A tall, thin, buff, dark haired officer said crouching down by her. "Can I ask you a few questions?" she looked over at me.
"Can I Mrs. Hart?" she asked me softly. Both officers looked at me. The standing officer who was rather large and balding narrowed his eyes at me.
"Of course, these are the men I told you we were gonna talk to too make everything better." She looked at the dark haired officer a little less nervously.
"Okay." She said holding her teddy bear close. She looked up at me again. "Can she stay with me?" she asked him. He looked over at me.
"Why exactly do you want her with you right now?" he asked her in a smooth voice.
"Because she's nice to me. Nobody else was nice to me. She even gave me grape juice and crackers." He smiled, showing straight white teeth.
"Well okay then. Can I talk to you over here and my friend Jackson talks to Mrs. Hart just over there?" he asked pointing into the living room. She was sitting on the step of the dining room. She looked at me worried like.
"I'll be right over here Hailey. I'll make sure you can see me okay?" she nodded reluctantly.
"Okay." He said with a smile at her. "My name's Officer Scott, and that guy right there is Officer Jackson." He said pointing at the fat bald guy.
"We'll be right over here okay?" Jackson said to Hailey. She nodded. We walked into the living room, I sat in front of the dividing counter on the little basket bench thing. He stood in front of me, clear view of both me and Hailey.
"So would you please explain how this girl came into your hands?" he asked crossing his arms. I sighed telling him the story.
"She just showed up on your doorstep and knocked on your door out of all the people on this street?" he asked accusingly. I narrowed my eyes trying not to snap at him.
"She went to a few houses all down the street. No one would open their doors or if they did, they turned her away."
"Why didn't you do the same?" I was taken aback.
"She's a child. She can't even be 4 years old. I was just suppose to turn her away into God knows what kinda danger when she could be safe with me until someone can help her? What kinda person would do that?" he studied my face as I sat in horror and disgust.
"Sick people ma'am. Like you said yourself, a bunch of people turned her back out into this sick world. Just trying to decipher which you are." He smiled. "You're the first decent person I've had call in, in quite a while." I smiled.
"So what's going to happen to her?" I asked looking over there again. Officer Scott was on his walky talky and his laptop.
"Hard to tell. We'll find out here shortly." He said looking at his partner.
"Mrs. H?" Van said busting through the door. Officer Scott was quick to take him down with a swift flip over his shoulder. Van hit the ground hard.
"Van!" I said running to his side.
"You know him?" Scott asked. I scoffed helping Van to sit up.
"He's my son-in-law." I helped Van to the couch where he sat heavily.
"Why did you flip me?"
"Investigation going on. I didn't know if you were a threat." Scott said.
"Well, you shouldn't have barged in." I said lightly slapping Van's shoulder.
"Cheyenne said you needed me here right away." I rolled my eyes.
"Who's Cheyenne?"
"My daughter. She wanted me to watch my grandkids for a little bit but I didn't think that would be a good idea given the situation." I said explaining myself to the Officers.
"Good idea." Jackson said.
We sat on the couches getting ready to discuss what would happen to Hailey now. Scott told us that her mother had passed away the morning before from cancer, her dad died in a car accident 2 years ago, and she had no living relatives.
"Can I sit with you Mrs. Hart?" she asked standing beside the couch. I looked over at the officers.
"Given the circumstances, I think that'd be just fine." Scott said. Jackson nodded in agreement. They were sitting across from each other in the chairs on both sides of the couch where Van and I sat.
"Sure honey." I said picking her up onto the couch. She curled up against me. I smiled. It felt odd having a strange girl so close to me.
"She's too young to make a living decision and the local adoption center is all full. I called in, they aren't taking anymore kids. They just can't afford it." I looked down at the sleepy little girl. Her stomach growled.
"Did you eat anything besides just crackers today?" I asked her in a quiet voice.
"No. The man in the car told me was gonna give me food if I was quiet and didn't move. But he scared me." I looked over at the officers.
"Can I go make her something to eat real quick? She hasn't eaten today."
"Of course. I'll come with you and discuss this." Scott said standing. I stood but Hailey grabbed my hand. It felt odd. Why was she so attached to me?
"Please don't leave me." She said with pleading eyes. It broke my heart looking at her, knowing what she's about to be going through.
"Well, do you want to come with us?" she nodded standing on the couch. I picked her up and we headed into the kitchen.
"Do you like grilled cheese?" she smiled at me nodding. I smiled setting her down on the counter. "Sit still okay, I don't want you falling." She nodded as I got the things I needed ready.
"You're good with kids." Scott said watching me with a smile as he sat at the counter. I smiled back as I buttered the bread for the sandwich.
"I've had my fair share of experience with kids. I have 3 of my own. My oldest got pregnant in her senior year of high school, so then Van moved in," I said pointing towards the living room with the butter knife. "Then there's my grandkids." He smiled, looking from me to Hailey. He was quiet for a minute before he looked up at me again.
"Does your husband help with all that very much?" I laughed.
"I've been divorced for nearly 10 years now." His eyebrow rose.
"I never would've guessed that." I turned around, keeping one hand on Hailey's leg as I put the grilled cheese in the pan with a sizzle.
"Well, I am. Just how things work sometimes." I said turning back around. He was watching me. "What?"
"Not many people see things the way you do. Kinda refreshing knowing there's still a few human beings out there." I laughed, he smiled.
"Well thanks." We held each other's eyes for a long minute without a word. His crystal blue eyes were beautiful.
"Can I flip my cheese?" Hailey asked looking up at me. I smiled looking down at her.
"I don't think you're big enough to darlin'." Her face fell some. "But you can help me flip it if you'd like. I have a hard time flipping it all on my own." I said raising my eyebrows at her. Her face lit up.
"Can I?" I laughed.
"It'd really help me if you would!" Scott pulled the other chair from the counter over so she could help me flip the sandwich. After that was done and it cooled down enough, she sat at the table eating. She must've been so hungry, she ate 3 grilled cheese sandwiches. I talked to Scott about where she'd end up going.
"Well, we have no where for her to go currently. She'll probably have to stay at the station with the night officers. We have bunkers in the back she could use but they smell like man and it's not a cozy place." My eyes went wide.
"She's going to have to stay THERE? Around a bunch of Men! Much less ones she doesn't even know!" I bit my tongue, "Not saying I don't trust the police force, just that she's a scared toddler. It's not exactly right." He sighed.
"I know. But what else is she going to do? Child services can't take her for another week or more because she's not in immediate danger."
"A couple weeks?" I let out a burst of air and leaned on the counter. I felt sick at the thought of Hailey being tossed around like an old doll. Whether I knew her personally or not; she's a child.
"There's nothing else we can do. Laws prohibit a lot." I closed my eyes and stuck my chin up thinking. Letting out a big breath slowly though my nose. Van came in the room.
"How's she doing?" Van asked about Hailey. Scott started talking to him as I was lost in thought. There has to be a way to give this little girl a stable environment to grow up in. If only she could just stay here with me….. My eyes flew open.
"What if she stays here with me?" Scott looked at me confused.
"I don't think she can legally." Jackson came walking into the room.
"What about if just until you find her a stable home she stays here?" they both exchanged a look.
"The only way that could happen would be if she was placed in the foster child system and you in the foster parents." I stood up straight.
"How do I get put in the system? How does she?"
"Why are you so persistent about it?"
"She's a child, she needs help, I'm a mother. It's instinct or as I call it; mothers intuition." They exchanged another look.
"Are you sure about this Mrs. H? This is huge. You don't even know this girl." I locked my eyes on him.
"How could I not be serious? She's a helpless child Van." He sighed looking at me worn out. He works too hard.
"If this is what you really want, then I'm behind you on it Mrs. H." I gave a half smile.
"Thanks Van." I looked over at the officers. "Well? Can I be her foster parent?"
"You're sure this is what you want?" I nodded with a serious expression.
"I've never been so sure about anything." I have to save this little girl. Even if it's only for a few weeks. I have too. I can just feel it.
"I'll go make some calls." Jackson said leaving the room. I sighed in relief. Van pulled me into a hug. I held on tight to him.
"Mrs. Hart," Hailey said from the table. I pulled away from the comfort of Van's hug to sit at the table by her.
"You can call me Reba if you'd like." I said with a little smile. She smiled back.
"Okay Reba. I'm all done." She said picking up her plate. I laughed.
"You have such good manners!" she smiled proudly. "I'll take your plate Hun. Do you want some desert?" I asked walking over to place her empty plate in the sink.
"Yes please." She said excitedly. I smiled bigger. I haven't smiled like this since God knows when.
"How's about a cookie?" She nodded. I gave her a chocolate chip cookie and she grabbed my wrist. She set it on the table and stood up to wrap her arms around my waist. She held onto me tightly.
"Thank you Reba." She said into my shirt. I smiled and swallowed the lump in my throat as I hugged her back.
"Your welcome."
Van had gone home a few hours before. Jackson was still pacing in front of the window on the porch talking to countless people. I sat on the couch holding Hailey as she slept under a blanket holding her teddy bear tightly to her. I sat talking to Scott in a whispered voice. He was actually quite the charmer.
"What's your profession? You're nothing bad are you, not saying I think you're a hooker or something." He said in a rush, trying to defend his words. I gasped and playfully slapped his arm.
"I'm a realtor thank you very much." He laughed.
"I can see that."
"What makes you say that?" I asked, adjusting the sleeping girl.
"You just seem like a high powered woman. Hell bent and determined." I raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I don't really come across like that do I?" he nodded.
"You're not like most women, or, people for that matter." I just stared at him blankly. What was I suppose to say? "What made you that way? Or were you just born that way?" he looked like he was seriously asking me. I looked at the wall and thought.
"I think I've always been this way. But certain things made my skin a little bit thicker along the way." I looked down at Hailey. "Certain things test just how thick it really is."
"Pretty damn thick if you ask me." I looked up at him. "Pardon my French." I smiled.
"Well thanks." Just then Jackson came walking back through the front door.
"I've got some good news and some bad news." He said coming to stand on the other side of the coffee table in front of us. "Which do you want to hear first?" they both looked at me.
"Bad." Always best to hear bad news before good news.
"Given the situation, Child Services won't take the girl." My stomach sank. I felt sick.
"Why? Isn't that their job to protect children?" my voice cracked a little and I felt my throat tighten.
"Well, unless her foster parent screws up big time, they aren't going to do much besides pop in to check on her."
"But she doesn't have-"my eyes went wide and my jaw dropped. "Foster parent?" Jackson smiled.
"As soon as she signs the papers, yes ma'am." I broke out in a happy laugh, tears clouding my eyes as I pulled her to me. She didn't wake up.
"Congratulations Mrs. Hart. I think Hailey's going t be very happy with you." My smile held firm to my lips.
"I sure hope so. How long will I be her Foster Mother?" they exchanged a look.
"It could be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. It all depends."
"Depends?" Jackson sighed sitting on the arm of the chair.
"On who tries to adopt her. There might not be anyone who even comes by to see her for a few months. It could be longer. But if it's over a year and a half, they'll find her another foster."
"Why find her another?" I asked in a panic. I didn't want her bouncing around.
"Attachment. If she gets too attached to you it could cause some issues with adoption. But you can request to be her only foster until adoption when you sign. Some people do that."
"But you've got to keep in mind, she's 4 years old. She might never get adopted. That's at least 14 years." I looked at the coffee table as I thought long and hard. I'm too old to be a mama again. But I can't just let this little girl go. She needs stability so much.
I thought about when I was a kid. One of me and Lori Anne's best friends, Miranda Fisher was a foster child. Nobody wanted to keep her for too long. She didn't know which way was up. She never found stability in her life. The day she turned 18 her fosters threw her out. She lived with me and my family trying to finish high school. She just barely did. And the day after graduation I saw her once and barely heard from her. She traveled out west and sent a letter once or twice. I could never write her back, she didn't have an address, never stayed in the same place twice. She ended up in jail just outside of Tulsa. I went to see her there. She looked a mess. Not even the same person. And just a few short years ago she was beaten to death by her boyfriend trying to protect her little baby. He killed them both.
"Mrs. Hart?" Scott said nudging my arm. I shook my head out of those horrible thoughts. No way would I ever change that happening to someone else. I couldn't help my old friend, but I damn sure would help Hailey.
"I'm sorry. Got lost in thought."
"Are you sure this is what you want to do? Once you sign, it'll take time to go back and undo this." Scott was studying my face.
"I'm 100% positive." I said staring him in the eye. He held my eyes for a long moment trying to read my thoughts. "A few things in my past won't let me turn her away." His face didn't change. "Friend from school."
"What was the name?" he was being all police officer on me.
"Not from around here, I grew up in Oklahoma." He raised an eyebrow.
"You'd be surprised who I know."
"Her name was Miranda Fisher." His eyebrows went up.
"You were friends with Miranda Fisher?" I nodded. "Well, this all makes more sense now."
"What do you mean? Did you know her?" he bit the inside of his cheek.
"She was my sister." My jaw dropped. What're the chances?
"She didn't have any family."
"I was her older half brother. They separated us. She never knew about me and I couldn't find her." I put my hand on his arm to comfort him out of a personal habit.
"I'm so sorry." He shrugged, realizing he was getting to personal.
"Can't change the past." He stood up and took a manila folder from Jackson. "Ready to sign?"
"Yes." I set Hailey on the couch and sat forward so I could sign on the table. After I signed they got ready to leave.
"We'll be popping back in here often to check on her." Jackson said at the door.
"We'll be here." I said leaning on the door with a half smile.
"Take care of her." Scott said to me. I could see all he meant in his eyes. Do for Hailey what was never done for Miranda.
"I promise." He nodded before walking out the door. I stood there and watched them leave, wondering where exactly my life was heading now.