I'll Never Leave You
9 months later, Brenda sat in a hospital bed, her newborn daughter lying on her chest. She smiled at the little baby and carefully engraved all the intricate details of her young daughter in her head. A tear fell from her eye. She looked so much like her daddy and she would never know it; never know him.
Brenda quickly wiped away the tear and turned her attention back to the beautiful little girl resting on her chest, but was interrupted by a soft knock. She turned her head to find a woman she couldn't be happier to see.
"Iris!" Brenda cried. Iris McKay smiled and walked over to the two.
"Isn't she lovely," Iris commented on the little girl. Brenda nodded.
"She is, isn't she." Suddenly the baby's eyes opened and she instantly started to coo away at the stranger staring at her. Brenda smiled.
"That's Grammy Iris," Brenda explained to the little one. Iris too smiled at that.
"Can I hold her?" she asked. Brenda nodded and handed the little girl over to Iris. "She looks a lot alike her father, but she definitely has her mother's beauty."
"A father she'll never know…" Brenda trailed off.
"You can change that. He's just a phone call away." Brenda shook her head.
"Iris, it's not that simple. If he ever came back into our lives, he would be doing it for her, not for me. As much as I love this little girl, I told Dylan not to come back for a reason. I meant what I said and I said what I meant. I imagine he's already moved on anyway."
"That's not what I hear," Iris replied mysteriously.
"The guilt talk won't work this time, Iris."
"Sweetheart, it's not a guilt talk. I just want you to see things clearly. I know things are rough between you and Dylan, but I'm not sure this beautiful little girl should have to be punished for that. She needs a father and you know that and she has one; you just have to find him."
"Find him? You told me you had a number." Iris smiled.
"Of course I do, he's my son and she's my granddaughter. Here's his number at the moment and I won't force you but think about it. For your daughter; for Emma." Brenda flashed Iris a funny look.
"Emma?" Iris nodded.
"It was the name Dylan has fantasized naming his daughter since he was six years old. I guess no matter how hard it's been for him to settle down, he's always wanted to." Brenda smiled at the thought of an adorable little Dylan going around telling people this. Iris was just about to leave after safely placing the baby back into the comfort Of Brenda's arms, when she stopped her.
"Iris, wait." Iris turned around and smiled.
"What is it, dear?" she asked thoughtfully.
"Promise me something."
"Sure, anything." Brenda inhaled deeply then spoke, a slight weakness in her voice.
"Promise me you'll never leave us. Neither me nor…Emma." Iris grinned.
"Emma?" Brenda nodded.
"Emma Elizabeth McKay. I think it suits her." Iris nodded with affection.
"I think so too and I promise you, I'll always be here for you and Em, even if you don't want Dylan here and I promise I won't say a word." Brenda smiled and Iris walked over and hugged her tenderly. "You're the closest thing I've ever had to a daughter and I want it to stay that way." She then kissed the top of Emma's head, ever so gently, and left the room.
Brenda looked at her little sleeping beauty and squinted a little. She hadn't noticed it before, but Emma had blonde hair just as her father had when he was younger. She smiled and gently caressed her daughter's face.
"I'll never leave you, Emme, I promise," she whispered.