**Thank you for the reviews! I hope everyone has a great weekend!**
"Ok, talk. What's up?" Randy asked. "But I only have like ten minutes."
"Randy, Alison and her step-dad Steve were in a car accident. Randy, I'm sorry but Alison didn't make it." Miranda said softly so Shelby wouldn't hear it again.
"Wait a minute, what? That's impossible. She text me yesterday afternoon. What about Shelby? Is she ok?"
"Yes. Shelby is fine. The accident was last night. Cheryl was at the office with Shelby when I got back from lunch. She wanted to talk to you, but I told her you were gone. Cheryl asked if I could take Shelby for awhile because with everything going on she just can't and I told her that was fine. I took the rest of the week off."
"Oh my God" Randy replied bewildered. He couldn't believe that just like that she was gone. What was going to happen with Shelby? "Umm…let me talk to Vince. I'll see what I can do."
"Randy, I've got this. It's ok. You have your doctor's appointment to deal with tomorrow anyways. And I know this sounds harsh, but there's not really anything you can do. I told Shelby we'd go shopping, I'll take her to get stuff for her to have at our house." Miranda said reassuringly.
"I know, but I feel bad." Randy said softly. "I don't want you to think the wrong thing."
"Like what? It's fine. Nobody knew this was going to happen."
"What's going to happen with Shelby?" Randy suddenly asked. "Alison had made an appointment for us to go in so I could legally re-establish my parenting rights. And we were going to make the child support a legal thing so nobody could say anything. I don't have any legal anything right now to her."
Miranda took a deep breath, he was right. Cheryl could take her and at this point there wasn't really a whole lot Randy could do about it. "I'm pretty sure that you and Cheryl will sit down and figure this out like two grown adults."
"We need a new house like pronto if we wind up with custody of Shelby, hell we already do." Randy began to think out loud.
"Randy, relax. For now we'll turn my old office into her bedroom. I don't need much right now. I will hold off on moving stuff and just focus on getting her room squared away." Miranda said calmly. "When you get home we'll try to figure things out."
"Miranda, if we get custody…that's going to change everything." Randy replied. "What are we going to do? How will this work?"
"Randy…take a deep breath. One step at a time, we don't need to worry ourselves right this instant. Let's just take this as it comes. But, did you talk to the police?" She asked.
"Yeah, Nathan got into some shit and they wanted to question me as a possible witness. But I wasn't there and there's proof that I wasn't there so it's all good." Randy replied shaking his head. "Shit, I've gotta go. Look, I'll touchbase with Cheryl so she knows that I know and that we're willing to do whatever is needed. I'll call you in about an hour. Whatever you get for her and her room, put on the credit card I stashed in your glovebox."
Miranda nodded, "You stashed a credit card in my glovebox? Randy, if the car was stolen, that's the worst idea ever."
"Yeah, but I know you wouldn't have accepted it without a fight." He teased.
"Ok, fine. Let me put you on speaker and you can say hi to Shelby real quick." Miranda put the phone on the Bluetooth speaker, "Shelby, say hi to your daddy."
"Daddy?" She squealed.
"Hi Shelby!" Randy said happily. "Are you going shopping ?"
"Daddy! Me sopping." Shelby said as she clapped her hands. "Daddy home?"
"I'll be home in a couple days. But I'll talk to you tonight, ok princess?"
"Daddy pincess." Shelby repeated with a smile.
Miranda burst out laughing, "Yes Shelby, daddy's a princess."
"Ha Ha funny." Randy replied. "Alright ladies, I've gotta run. Love you guys, Bye!"
"Bye Daddy wuv you!" Shelby said waving to the ceiling.
"Love you too stud." Miranda said as she hung up. She couldn't help but smile. Shelby had totally brought out a different side of Randy. And it was great.
Shelby was busy playing with a toy in the backseat and gabbing to herself. Miranda smiled. She quick glanced up towards the ceiling, "Alison, we'll take good care of her. No matter what." Miranda whispered.
They arrived at the mall and Miranda put the credit card in her wallet and got Shelby and her diaper bag out of the car. Except for the quick run her and Randy did to Wal-Mart when they bought the carseats, they hadn't shopped with her before. Miranda was making a quick mental note of things they should get.
"Shelby, can you hold my hand?" Miranda said holding hers out.
Shelby smiled and took her hand.
"First thing, a stroller." Miranda said out loud. They walked in and Miranda let Shelby pick out her favorite one. Then they began their shopping excursion.
Miranda stopped in the food court and got Shelby some French fries, apple slices and milk to munch on as they shopped.
Miranda first did the essentials as Shelby was occupied with her snacks. They picked out an awesome stroller and an umbrella stroller. Along with bedding and pillows and a cute rug. Then she also picked out a dresser and a toddler bed. She also grabbed a monitor. She knew Shelby was older, but it was still nice to be able to keep an ear open. Then they headed to clothes. Miranda picked out a few outfits, socks, diapers and wipes.
Miranda called and asked her dad if he could pick up the furniture items with his truck and set them up at the house, and he was more than happy to.
From there they headed to the toy store. Shelby shrieked with excitement. Miranda was texting Randy about everything so he could have a say also. They had decided to dedicate part of the den to toys, so they picked out some fun stuff and some learning stuff. They also picked out a play kitchen with play food.
Shelby was toddling nicely next to Miranda. She found a very cute doll and grabbed it off the shelf. "Pwese?" She asked.
Miranda smiled, "Ok, you can get your dolly."
"YAY! Tank you." She said hugging Miranda tightly. She clung to that dolly through the rest of the store.
After the toy store, Miranda got her back in the stroller, did a quick run to the car to load up the bags they had accumulated already and they headed back in. They went to a couple other stores for a few things Randy wanted and by the time Shelby was getting antsy Miranda was exhausted.
By the time they got to the grocery store, Shelby was sleeping in her carseat. Miranda sighed, she hated to wake her up, but they needed groceries. So she took out the umbrella stroller and put Shelby in it with her blankie and her new dolly.
Miranda thought she had done the right thing until she got into the grocery store and realized that with the stroller she needed another set of hands for a cart. She sighed to herself. She finally settled on pushing the stroller and pulling the cart behind her.
By the time she got through the store and to the check outs, Miranda was frustrated and tired. How did mom's know how to do all of this stuff? She paid for the groceries and was thankful the store had drive-up available.
They loaded up the back seat and the front seat with the groceries since the trunk was full of all of the mall goodies and finally they were on their way home.
They pulled into the driveway and Miranda's parents were already there waiting for her. Shelby sat up, "Mommy home?"
Miranda's shoulders sunk, she didn't know what to say or how to respond. "Look, we're at daddy's house!" She said with excitement.
"YAY! Daddy house." Shelby repeated happily.
Miranda could see that Shelby had her second wind…just as Miranda was ready for a nap.
Miranda's mom got out and smiled, "Hi Shelby! How was shopping?"
Miranda looked at her, "Shelby was a very good girl. But now Miranda needs a nap."
Both her parents laughed, "Welcome to parenthood, there is no such thing as sleep anymore." Her dad added.
"Mom, will you take Shelby inside while I bring this stuff in?" Miranda asked as she handed her keys over.
"No problem. C'mon Shelby. Grandpa is going to put your room together."
Miranda was SO thankful to have her parents there to help. Parenting was a whole lot different then she had imagined. It wasn't as easy as it looked. But when Shelby smiled or giggled, it made it all worth it.
Her phone chimed, it was another text from Randy, "How's it going?" he asked.
Miranda text back, "I'm exhausted. Shelby just woke up and is playing with my mom. Dad's putting the furniture together. We finished grocery shopping and house shopping."
"Awesome. I just finished filming my promo. Now I'm headed to the airport so I can see the doc tonight and I'll be flying home as soon as I can afterwards."
Miranda smiled, "Very nice. Keep me posted. I'll send pics."
"Alright babe, I love you. Thank you for being there, I really appreciate everything you're doing." Randy text back.
"I love you too. And you're welcome." She replied.
Then she quickly finished bring everything in, put the groceries away, and plopped down on the couch. Not a few minutes later, she was fast asleep.
**Sorry it's a bit short. I'll try to post one more chapter tonight. Please read and review!**