All I Want For Christmas

Chapter 6 - Is My Little Girl Back

A/N: Hey, everyone! Sorry for the delay! But the good news is I'm back!

Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! I'm so happy that everyone seems to be enjoying the story!

I was going to wait to post this tomorrow, but it's been a really sad day at our house. We had to put our twelve year old Boxer to sleep today. :(

I needed some happy and writing makes me happy. Please review and let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: Not mine...

A few days later...

Hector had brought over the phone to replace Julie's old cell phone that Rachel had confiscated. He'd been able to load all of her old contacts and sync her voice mail.

I knew Rachel was causing problems down in Miami with my attorney, but I didn't grasp the full extent of her rage until Julie came running into the room in tears.

"Julie, what's wrong?" Steph asked.

"My m-mom says if I d-don't come home," she sobbed, "that she'd charge Jason with statutory rape."

"She said what?!" I couldn't believe I was hearing her right.

Julie pulled out her cell phone and called her voice mail. After pressing in the pass code, she put it on speaker.

Rachel's voice filled the room. "If I know anything about your father, he's already replaced your cell phone, so I know you'll get this. You had your fun, and now you're going to come home and have the abortion. Your entire life is ahead of you, and you're not going to just throw away your future. I only want what's best for you."

The message beeped, and the next one began to play. "Julie, I don't care what kind of lies your father has put in your head. You are my daughter. He gave away all rights to you when you were a baby. You can't just run away to Trenton to live with him. Remember that he got you kidnapped and almost killed."

I wanted to strangle Rachel. Yes, I'd signed away my rights. But I'd done what I'd thought was best for Julie at the time. Ron was there, and I was always deployed, so it had made sense.

A young man's voice came over the speaker when the next message began to play. "Hey, sweetheart. I promised I'd call as soon as I could. Guess I didn't get the time right. I'll try back soon. Love you."

I raised my brow, causing Julie to blush.

The next message began to play. "Young lady, you will come home or else."

The following message made my blood boil. "Your refusal to come home and do the right thing has forced my hand. Jason is going to be arrested for statutory rape, and the baby will prove my case against him. You will ruin his life, just like you've ruined yours."

That was it. Rachel had gone too far.

Jason's voice began to talk. "Julie, your mom called and left me a message telling me about the baby. She also said that if you didn't come home and have an abortion, she was going to have me charged and brought back to the US. Sweetheart, don't listen to her. Everything will be okay. Call your dad if you need help. Your mom sounds a little crazed. Don't worry about me. You were sixteen before we made love. Your mother can't touch me. Jules, I know having a baby wasn't what either of us planned right now. Know that I love you and I'll marry you just as soon as I can when I get home. Take care of yourself and our baby."

Steph stood up and wrapped Julie in her arms as I walked out of the room, pulling my cell phone from my hip and dialing Rachel's number.

She answered on the first ring. "Is my wayward daughter finally ready to come home?"

"What in the hell happened to you? You need to take a step back and listen to how you've been talking to our daughter. Every time you open your mouth, you push her a little bit further away. At the rate you're going, you'll be lucky if she ever forgives you."

"Forgives me!" she screeched. "I'm trying to save her. You will send her home. She knows you because of my graciousness. You signed away all rights, and I will have you charged with kidnapping if she isn't back after New Year's. Do the right thing, Carlos, before you're arrested and charged with really kidnapping your daughter."

"You're the one who will be sorry, Rachel. You'll drop this or else. Bennett is already drawing up emancipation papers for Julie if necessary and is in the process of filing emergency custody papers with the courts. I might have thought I was doing the right thing all those years ago, but Julie is sixteen years old and can testify about the stress and threats her own mother is making against her. This will be your last warning, Rachel. Back off and let her stay here."

"I'll see you in court," she seethed before hanging up the phone.

I stood there for a moment before dialing Ron's number, which went to voice mail. "Ron, we need to talk."

Short, sweet, and to the point. He'd know exactly what we needed to discuss, and if he didn't call me back, I'd call Rachel's mom. We'd never been on the best of terms, but after this last conversation, I was beginning to believe Rachel was suffering from some sort of mental illness. It was hard to fathom that the loving, caring mother I'd known for seventeen years had become the true monster I'd witnessed in the last few days.

I walked back to the girls, and Julie rushed over to me. "Dad, I'm so sorry. I never meant to cause you so much trouble. Jason and I never meant to get pregnant."

"I know you didn't intend for this to happen. Don't worry about your mom. Either Ron will handle her or Bennett will. We may have to go to Miami if we have to take your mom to court. Bennett said he'd push for a video conference with the family court."

Julie nodded that she understood. "I appreciate your help. Thank you for taking me in."

Steph smiled at Julie. "Sweetie, like we've always told you... You were welcome anytime."

Now the part of the conversation Julie wouldn't like. "About that marriage proposal..."

TBC...

A/N: I know this one is short, but it was the perfect place to end it.

The good news is the other chapter is ready to go. So just let me know if you want me to wait till next week to post or if you want it...oh, say tomorrow?

:)