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a/n this is a multichapter sequel to "For Better or Worse." This chapter takes place a few days before the events of "For Better or Worse, with the next chapter picking up the day after. You don't have to read "For Better or Worse," to understand this story, although, I'd like it if you would read it! Please enjoy.
Homecoming
She carefully tucked in the light yellow sheets and stood back to see the affect on the rest of the room. The windows were sparkling clean thanks to all of her scrubbing. The hardwood floors gleamed. The shelves along the walls awaited their new guests. The yellow paint matched the sheets and the cushion on the rocking chair. A plain, unstained dresser occupied another corner of the room.
She looked around, imagining what the room would look like now that her daughter was coming home. She'd told them all that her baby girl hadn't gone for good, but they refused to listen. He was the only one that believed her. He'd gone away and found the girl, rescued her from the one that had stolen her away.
She went to the dresser and picked out the outfit her little girl would wear on her first day back home. It had been little Sarah's favorite dress, yellow with a white lace collar.
Where are the shoes? She looked around frantically for the shoes that matched the outfit.
Rage had her clawing through the clothes, throwing them out on to the floor as she searched for the right pair of shoes. She had to find them or… Her hand touched something hard in the bottom drawer. There, she pulled out the white shoe with little yellow daisies adorning the strap across the top. They still gleamed as though they'd never been worn. She caressed them as if they were her little girl. The anger in her chest abated just a little. She had to learn to keep her temper under control now that Sarah was coming back.
She took the outfit, and the shoes, to the crib and placed them there where she could put them on Sarah as soon as her sweet baby girl returned home. She looked around again. She'd made a mess again. It had to be in pristine order for her baby, nothing less would do.
There, she thought ten minutes later. Now only one thing remained to be done. She hurried out of the room, down a hallway with walls painted a light lavender color, to a stairway that went upstairs to a walk-in attic.
At the end of the dusty, musty, room under the steeply pitched roof, she found a trunk. The small, oak container boasted the name Sarah, carved into its surface. She took a small key from the front pocket of her light blue, frilly apron and turned it in the lock. The inside of the small trunk held more clothes belonging to Sarah, a baby rattle, her Christening blanket and one last special item.
She carefully unpacked the trunk until she reached the wrapped package at the bottom. She pushed aside the wrappings and removed the box. It gleamed as though just polished. The smell of the cedar wood brought tears to her eyes. She ran a loving hand over the surface of the rosewood inlay. The hand carved rose on the top reminded her of the flowers her beloved David brought her the day she'd given birth. She choked back a sob and opened the box. The small ballerina dressed in pure white tutu, leotard began to spin, and music tinkled softly into the musty air as sunlight made dust motes dance around her. She listened, as tears fell onto her apron and hand. Then, she shook her head and stood up. All the grief and loss would soon be over.
She took the music box down to Sarah's room and put in on top of the dresser where it had always belonged. Sarah would be so happy to hear her favorite song again.
csinycsinycsinycsinycsiny
"Shut up!" He shouted back at the crying baby. "We'll be there soon. Then you'll be her problem!"
He turned on the radio, unable to listen to the little brat cry anymore. He'd come close to killing the 'little ball of sunshine' more than once, but that wouldn't do for his plans. Hard rock music poured out of the radio, drowning out the wails of the child. He tapped his fingers to the beat of the music, careful to keep his eyes on the road and his speed down. It wouldn't do for some nosy cop to pull them over.
"The game isn't finished yet." He shouted over the music. "I'm going to show your daddy the true meaning of pain baby girl. When I'm done with him, he'll be begging me to kill him."
He laughed as the small, blond girl with her mother's eyes cried in the back seat. He turned up the radio even more as his exit finally came up on the right. He left the freeway and turned right onto a state road.
Half an hour later, the little brat had gone to sleep. He pulled into the driveway in front of the large, two story home.
"Home sweet home," He said getting out of the car.
The woman hurried out of her house. "Where is she?"
"In the backseat. Hurry up, will you? I have things to do back in New York."
"I can't believe you found her." She said as she opened the door to the back of the car. "Oh Shane… It really is her. Thank you so much." She picked up the sleeping child and cuddled her to her chest.
"Trust me when I say, giving her to you makes me happier than you can possibly imagine."
"How can I ever thank you?"
He smiled, "Just remember what I told you. If anyone comes around looking for Lucy Messer, hide the girl. Don't let her been seen. If you know what's good for you."
"You think the people that took her away will come back." Fear clouded her blue eyes.
"Yes… They'll send cops and maybe FBI. It won't be for awhile though, I have a plan to distract them from trying to take her back."
"Are you sure," Tears joined the fear in her eyes as she hugged the sleeping child close to her heart.
"Don't worry about it. I promise I'll take care of it." Shane assured her as he returned to the car. "I can't tell you how happy it makes me to that you have Sarah back for good."