"I'm a terrible mother!" Lucy cried.
"No you're not Luce." Mary soothed.
"I have a daughter whose father doesn't even know she exists."
"Robby knows Meg exists." Wilson pointed out.
"He knows I have a daughter! He doesn't know Meg is his!" Lucy cried.
"Luce I didn't understand why you wouldn't tell Robby at first. But I think I understand now, and you are a good person because of it." Mary said quietly. "There's a brand new family that probably wouldn't be there if you had told Robby. Yes Meg will grow up without knowing who her father is. But she's going to have a very selfless mother." Mary' words become strong.
3 years late
"Mommy!" Meg cry floated into the kitchen from the living room.
"Lucy!" David's voice joined Meg's "Meg has a nosebleed again!"
Lucy grabbed a towel and rushed into the living room and scooped up her daughter and placed the towel around her nose. Lucy's heart went out to her tiny daughter as she cried. "It's OK baby. Uncle Matt is going to tell you what's wrong soon and he will get you some medicine."
When Meg's nose finally stopped bleeding Lucy sat Meg down even though the 4-year-old still tried to cling to her. "Mommy has work she has to do. Sam, David can you guys put in a movie. I want her to sit still until Matt calls and tells me what's up."
Lucy's 8-year-old twin brothers nodded and Sam went off to hunt for a movie that Meg liked.
Lucy pulled her hair back into a ponytail and looked at the figures, they weren't making an ounce of sense to her. When the church had decided to open Hope House 3 years earlier Lucy had been asked to run it. Hope House was an organization much like the one Lucy had worked in when she was high school, Habitat for Humanity hadn't been located in Glen Oak and there was a great need for it. All the churches in Glen Oak had helped provide money to start it and they still donated money to pay the people who ran it. It was mostly run my run by volunteers who did the building and what not, but Lucy still had some people employed who got paid.
"Hey Luce, how's the accounting coming?" Ruthy asked rummaging through the refrigerator.
"I hate this stuff. Belinda Young quit, I mean she got into Harvard so she couldn't exactly go there and work for me. But that leaves me shorthanded, I'm supposed to be raising and spending the money she figured now I am doing it all." Lucy said her pencil down and rubbed her temples, suddenly though when a thought struck her she pulled her hands away, "School's almost out Ruth."
"Yeah. I graduate next month, it is April after all." Ruthy pointed out.
"And you are going to college here." Lucy added.
"Yes," Ruthy nodded giving Lucy a look, "Why are we stating the obvious?"
"You're good with numbers."
"Yeah." Ruthy nodded, catching on.
"How would you like to take Belinda's place?" Lucy asked.
"Seriously?" Ruthy asked.
Lucy nodded, "As soon as you graduate you are welcome to a full time job."
"I'd love it!" Ruthy exclaimed.
"Good. Then I will have time again to actually work on the houses." Lucy smiled.
"Matt and Sara are here." Sam said sticking his head in the doorway.
"Thanks." Lucy said jumping up.
"Matt you didn't come all the way over here tell prescribe something for Meg." Lucy said taking a seat in the living room. Lucy glanced at her sister-in-law, Sara looked pale and she had dark circles under her eyes, "Is everything OK Sara? The babies fine isn't it?"
Sara smiled weakly, "One of our doctors it out on vacation so I have had to pull double shifts a lot. And of course being 4 months pregnant doesn't help."
"So Matt what's wrong with Meg?" Lucy asked pulling Meg into her lap, "She had another nose bleed today."
"Something's wrong with Meg, Lucy." Matt said solemnly.
"I know that's why I brought her to you." Lucy said rolling her eyes, "So do you have medicine you can give her?"
"Lucy something is really wrong. Meg had leukemia." Matt sadly.
Lucy sat completely still for 5 minutes and then Matt continued, "I need you to check her into the hospital. So we can start finding something to do for her." Still Lucy didn't moved and Matt broke his doctor bit and wrapped his arms around Lucy and Meg.
"Are you sure you are OK here?" Matt asked kissing Sara.
Sara nodded, "Yes. I'll tell your parents everything."
"Luce you need to fill all of these out." Matt said handing Lucy a clipboard and pen. Lucy hadn't said a word to anyone on the way over. Meg wasn't completely sure what was going on and she kept looking back and forth between her mother and uncle.
"How's Meg doing?" Annie asked 2 days later when an exhausted Lucy walked into the kitchen after dinner.
"Not good. They start her on chemotherapy tomorrow Mom. Meg's only 4 and she has to go through chemotherapy." Lucy collapsed onto a barstool burying her face in her hands. "Why my baby? Why would God make her so sick when she was born and put her through more when she is older?"
Annie wrapped her arms around Lucy; "God does things for many reasons Lucy. We don't know them right now. But Meg getting sick is for a reason. Robby called today he told me to tell you that he is very sorry about Meg."
Lucy shook her head, "Why'd he call."
"Joy's pregnant again." Annie said her words quietly, she knew that finding out that Robby would be having his 4th most likely healthy child would not help Lucy's spirits.
"Didn't Joy just have a boy earlier this year?"
"Yes." Annie replied, "Stephan was born in August, this baby is due in November."
"Wonderful." Lucy said bitterly, "I'm not hungry, I'm going to get some sleep. The nurse that is on Meg's route said that she doesn't have to work tomorrow and she offered to stay with night with Meg. And Meg adores her."
"What's wrong with Luce?" Mary asked wandering into the kitchen as Lucy raced up the stairs.
"I told her about Robby and Joy having another baby." Annie sighed, "Sometimes I think Lucy has really strong feelings for Robby."
Mary was silent for a moment and then said, "We're going to go Mom. Wilson's taking Alicia to the car, she fell asleep watching the movie with Sam. And I'm not feeling so great." Annie hugged Mary and kissed her, "At 2 Alicia is less trouble than this baby." Mary said rubbing her stomach.
"I'll go get Billy, he's up in David's room, they are playing video games."
Simon looked around in the dark and pulled out his key her prayed that his family hadn't changed the locks. Inserting his key he found that it worked in the front door he quietly pushed open the door and picked up both handles. Simon gently set both carriers on the coffee table, Simon glanced around the living room. He half expected to see no sign that he ever existed, after he had disappeared out of the Colonel and Grandma Ruth's house a year ago he figured his family had abandoned him. But his pictures were mixed in with pictures of his brother's and sisters, and the families they now had, that he had never met.
Sighing he tucked an envelope into each bundle and as quietly as he had come he stole out of the bedroom.
"Mom!" Sam exclaimed running up the stairs.
"Dad!" David added following his brother.
"Mom!"
"Dad!"
Annie stuck her head out of the bedroom door a robe quickly wrapped around her body, "What is it you two? Don't wake the whole house up! It's 5:30 in the morning."
Sam and David both grabbed one of their mother's hands and drug her after them. Before they entered the living room Annie exclaimed, "If this has anything to do with TV you two are grounded until further notice."
"It's not." David promised sliding open the door.
"Look!" Sam pointed at the baby carriers.
"What in the world?" Annie asked rushing over.
"They were here when we got up to watch cartoons." Sam said watching one of the babies.
"David go up and get your father immediately." Annie ordered as she grabbed around for the letters.
"Annie what's going on?" Eric asked appearing in the living room moments later, followed by Ruthy.
Annie didn't reply but handed Eric one of the letters, "Read it out loud Dad." Ruthy urged.
Eric cleared his throat and began "Dead Mom and Dad, I know it's been awhile since you heard from me. And I'm sorry for any and all pain I have put you through. I can't really explain that part in a letter. You are probably wondering why these babies are sitting on your living room table, and if everything went as planned I was able to sneak in with the same key I used when I lived there leave the babies and sneak off. You are probably thinking I am a terrible father for leaving my children at anyone's house, even if it is my parents. But I want to explain something to you, my life has gone done hill since I left the colonel and Grandma Ruth's. I married a woman named Carrie, more out of a stoned stupor than anything else, and for the first time in a long time I have taken the time to write this when I am not in one. Carrie gave birth to these twins on April 1st making them 2 weeks old to the day. Both were born with a marijuana addiction, they were working the horrible parts of that out when Carrie and I got nervous and disappeared out of the hospital. Carrie thinks I am taking the twins to an adoption agency, even though we have a drug addiction now doesn't mean we don't know what's right for our children. Although I fear that my leaving them here has more to do with me carrying then Carrie wanting them to be left at an adoption agency. I couldn't take them there, I don't know what would happen to them then. Now that I have children to take care of I am divorcing Carrie and I am going to get some help. I don't want you to have to take care of them for their whole lives I just need you to watch them for me while I help myself get straightened out. I love you, and I am unbelievably sorry for everything I have done. I hope that in time you can forgive me. Simon. PS their names are Jessica Kelsey and Jonathan Edward, enclosed you will find their birth certificates."
"Oh Simon." Annie whispered. "You have come up with the worst timing ever."
Ruthy stood gaping finally regaining her composure she asked, "Are we going to keep her?"
"I don't think we have much of a choice, Ruthy." Annie replied.
"They are twins, like us." Sam said peering over the edge of the blanket at Jonathan.
The screaming started when Ruthy walked in the living, all ready dressed in a pair of jeans and a pink mock turtleneck. "Who's babies?" Ruthy asked.
"Simon's." Eric replied still stunned.
Lucy arched an eyebrow but picked up Jessica who was waking her brother up. Settling Jessica in one crook of her arms she managed to scoop Jonathan up. "You babies are probably starving, aren't you?"
"Lucy right, who knows how long they have been here." Eric said grabbing his keys. "I'll make a quick run to the store and get bottles, formula, and diapers."
"Hold up Dad." Lucy said quickly, "I still have Meg's baby bottles, just get formula and diapers for right now. We can get other baby necessities later."
When Eric returned 15 minutes later Annie was waiting by the front door, "They are still screaming?" Eric asked.
"Yeah." Annie nodded, "But Eric, I think this may be a blessing in disguise, Lucy hasn't had time to worry about Meg. Ruthy snuck out a minute ago and she's gonna go to the hospital to spend some time with Meg, so that she's not alone."
2 months later
"How are you feeling baby?" Lucy asked walking into Meg's room.
"Good!" Meg said, "Look what I colored for the babies!"
"That's a very pretty picture." Lucy said.
"Put it in your purse." Meg ordered and Lucy tucked the picture safely there.
"Hey you two." Matt said coming into the hospital room.
"Uncle Dr. Matt!" Meg giggled.
"Did Aunt Mary teach you that?" Lucy asked smiling.
"Yup." Meg giggled again, but suddenly Meg turned solemn, "They took blood today Mommy, when Aunt Mary, and Uncle Wilson were here."
"What? Why?" Lucy asked looking nervously at Matt.
"I didn't cry at all Mommy! Nurse Beth even gave me a sticker!" Meg showed her rose sticker proudly.
"Matt why did they take blood again?" Lucy asked again, "Is something wrong."
"Nope, nothing is wrong." Matt said cheerfully.
"Then what's going on?" Lucy snapped.
"I want Meg out of here!" Matt boomed, "Tomorrow."
Lucy shrieked and jumped up, "Oh thank God. She's OK right Matt?" Lucy asked when she threw her arms around Matt's neck.
"Her blood work show's no signs of leukemia in her blood at all." Matt grinned.
"I'm going home?" Meg asked from her seat on her hospital bed.
"Yes baby you are. First thing tomorrow morning."
"But what about my friends here?" Meg asked tearfully, "I'm going to miss them!"
"But baby you won't feel sick anymore." Lucy said.
"I know, but I'm still going to miss everybody here!" Meg cried.
"When you come to visit me at work you can visit everyone here." Matt interrupted.
Meg thought for a minute and then nodded.
"No you're not Luce." Mary soothed.
"I have a daughter whose father doesn't even know she exists."
"Robby knows Meg exists." Wilson pointed out.
"He knows I have a daughter! He doesn't know Meg is his!" Lucy cried.
"Luce I didn't understand why you wouldn't tell Robby at first. But I think I understand now, and you are a good person because of it." Mary said quietly. "There's a brand new family that probably wouldn't be there if you had told Robby. Yes Meg will grow up without knowing who her father is. But she's going to have a very selfless mother." Mary' words become strong.
3 years late
"Mommy!" Meg cry floated into the kitchen from the living room.
"Lucy!" David's voice joined Meg's "Meg has a nosebleed again!"
Lucy grabbed a towel and rushed into the living room and scooped up her daughter and placed the towel around her nose. Lucy's heart went out to her tiny daughter as she cried. "It's OK baby. Uncle Matt is going to tell you what's wrong soon and he will get you some medicine."
When Meg's nose finally stopped bleeding Lucy sat Meg down even though the 4-year-old still tried to cling to her. "Mommy has work she has to do. Sam, David can you guys put in a movie. I want her to sit still until Matt calls and tells me what's up."
Lucy's 8-year-old twin brothers nodded and Sam went off to hunt for a movie that Meg liked.
Lucy pulled her hair back into a ponytail and looked at the figures, they weren't making an ounce of sense to her. When the church had decided to open Hope House 3 years earlier Lucy had been asked to run it. Hope House was an organization much like the one Lucy had worked in when she was high school, Habitat for Humanity hadn't been located in Glen Oak and there was a great need for it. All the churches in Glen Oak had helped provide money to start it and they still donated money to pay the people who ran it. It was mostly run my run by volunteers who did the building and what not, but Lucy still had some people employed who got paid.
"Hey Luce, how's the accounting coming?" Ruthy asked rummaging through the refrigerator.
"I hate this stuff. Belinda Young quit, I mean she got into Harvard so she couldn't exactly go there and work for me. But that leaves me shorthanded, I'm supposed to be raising and spending the money she figured now I am doing it all." Lucy said her pencil down and rubbed her temples, suddenly though when a thought struck her she pulled her hands away, "School's almost out Ruth."
"Yeah. I graduate next month, it is April after all." Ruthy pointed out.
"And you are going to college here." Lucy added.
"Yes," Ruthy nodded giving Lucy a look, "Why are we stating the obvious?"
"You're good with numbers."
"Yeah." Ruthy nodded, catching on.
"How would you like to take Belinda's place?" Lucy asked.
"Seriously?" Ruthy asked.
Lucy nodded, "As soon as you graduate you are welcome to a full time job."
"I'd love it!" Ruthy exclaimed.
"Good. Then I will have time again to actually work on the houses." Lucy smiled.
"Matt and Sara are here." Sam said sticking his head in the doorway.
"Thanks." Lucy said jumping up.
"Matt you didn't come all the way over here tell prescribe something for Meg." Lucy said taking a seat in the living room. Lucy glanced at her sister-in-law, Sara looked pale and she had dark circles under her eyes, "Is everything OK Sara? The babies fine isn't it?"
Sara smiled weakly, "One of our doctors it out on vacation so I have had to pull double shifts a lot. And of course being 4 months pregnant doesn't help."
"So Matt what's wrong with Meg?" Lucy asked pulling Meg into her lap, "She had another nose bleed today."
"Something's wrong with Meg, Lucy." Matt said solemnly.
"I know that's why I brought her to you." Lucy said rolling her eyes, "So do you have medicine you can give her?"
"Lucy something is really wrong. Meg had leukemia." Matt sadly.
Lucy sat completely still for 5 minutes and then Matt continued, "I need you to check her into the hospital. So we can start finding something to do for her." Still Lucy didn't moved and Matt broke his doctor bit and wrapped his arms around Lucy and Meg.
"Are you sure you are OK here?" Matt asked kissing Sara.
Sara nodded, "Yes. I'll tell your parents everything."
"Luce you need to fill all of these out." Matt said handing Lucy a clipboard and pen. Lucy hadn't said a word to anyone on the way over. Meg wasn't completely sure what was going on and she kept looking back and forth between her mother and uncle.
"How's Meg doing?" Annie asked 2 days later when an exhausted Lucy walked into the kitchen after dinner.
"Not good. They start her on chemotherapy tomorrow Mom. Meg's only 4 and she has to go through chemotherapy." Lucy collapsed onto a barstool burying her face in her hands. "Why my baby? Why would God make her so sick when she was born and put her through more when she is older?"
Annie wrapped her arms around Lucy; "God does things for many reasons Lucy. We don't know them right now. But Meg getting sick is for a reason. Robby called today he told me to tell you that he is very sorry about Meg."
Lucy shook her head, "Why'd he call."
"Joy's pregnant again." Annie said her words quietly, she knew that finding out that Robby would be having his 4th most likely healthy child would not help Lucy's spirits.
"Didn't Joy just have a boy earlier this year?"
"Yes." Annie replied, "Stephan was born in August, this baby is due in November."
"Wonderful." Lucy said bitterly, "I'm not hungry, I'm going to get some sleep. The nurse that is on Meg's route said that she doesn't have to work tomorrow and she offered to stay with night with Meg. And Meg adores her."
"What's wrong with Luce?" Mary asked wandering into the kitchen as Lucy raced up the stairs.
"I told her about Robby and Joy having another baby." Annie sighed, "Sometimes I think Lucy has really strong feelings for Robby."
Mary was silent for a moment and then said, "We're going to go Mom. Wilson's taking Alicia to the car, she fell asleep watching the movie with Sam. And I'm not feeling so great." Annie hugged Mary and kissed her, "At 2 Alicia is less trouble than this baby." Mary said rubbing her stomach.
"I'll go get Billy, he's up in David's room, they are playing video games."
Simon looked around in the dark and pulled out his key her prayed that his family hadn't changed the locks. Inserting his key he found that it worked in the front door he quietly pushed open the door and picked up both handles. Simon gently set both carriers on the coffee table, Simon glanced around the living room. He half expected to see no sign that he ever existed, after he had disappeared out of the Colonel and Grandma Ruth's house a year ago he figured his family had abandoned him. But his pictures were mixed in with pictures of his brother's and sisters, and the families they now had, that he had never met.
Sighing he tucked an envelope into each bundle and as quietly as he had come he stole out of the bedroom.
"Mom!" Sam exclaimed running up the stairs.
"Dad!" David added following his brother.
"Mom!"
"Dad!"
Annie stuck her head out of the bedroom door a robe quickly wrapped around her body, "What is it you two? Don't wake the whole house up! It's 5:30 in the morning."
Sam and David both grabbed one of their mother's hands and drug her after them. Before they entered the living room Annie exclaimed, "If this has anything to do with TV you two are grounded until further notice."
"It's not." David promised sliding open the door.
"Look!" Sam pointed at the baby carriers.
"What in the world?" Annie asked rushing over.
"They were here when we got up to watch cartoons." Sam said watching one of the babies.
"David go up and get your father immediately." Annie ordered as she grabbed around for the letters.
"Annie what's going on?" Eric asked appearing in the living room moments later, followed by Ruthy.
Annie didn't reply but handed Eric one of the letters, "Read it out loud Dad." Ruthy urged.
Eric cleared his throat and began "Dead Mom and Dad, I know it's been awhile since you heard from me. And I'm sorry for any and all pain I have put you through. I can't really explain that part in a letter. You are probably wondering why these babies are sitting on your living room table, and if everything went as planned I was able to sneak in with the same key I used when I lived there leave the babies and sneak off. You are probably thinking I am a terrible father for leaving my children at anyone's house, even if it is my parents. But I want to explain something to you, my life has gone done hill since I left the colonel and Grandma Ruth's. I married a woman named Carrie, more out of a stoned stupor than anything else, and for the first time in a long time I have taken the time to write this when I am not in one. Carrie gave birth to these twins on April 1st making them 2 weeks old to the day. Both were born with a marijuana addiction, they were working the horrible parts of that out when Carrie and I got nervous and disappeared out of the hospital. Carrie thinks I am taking the twins to an adoption agency, even though we have a drug addiction now doesn't mean we don't know what's right for our children. Although I fear that my leaving them here has more to do with me carrying then Carrie wanting them to be left at an adoption agency. I couldn't take them there, I don't know what would happen to them then. Now that I have children to take care of I am divorcing Carrie and I am going to get some help. I don't want you to have to take care of them for their whole lives I just need you to watch them for me while I help myself get straightened out. I love you, and I am unbelievably sorry for everything I have done. I hope that in time you can forgive me. Simon. PS their names are Jessica Kelsey and Jonathan Edward, enclosed you will find their birth certificates."
"Oh Simon." Annie whispered. "You have come up with the worst timing ever."
Ruthy stood gaping finally regaining her composure she asked, "Are we going to keep her?"
"I don't think we have much of a choice, Ruthy." Annie replied.
"They are twins, like us." Sam said peering over the edge of the blanket at Jonathan.
The screaming started when Ruthy walked in the living, all ready dressed in a pair of jeans and a pink mock turtleneck. "Who's babies?" Ruthy asked.
"Simon's." Eric replied still stunned.
Lucy arched an eyebrow but picked up Jessica who was waking her brother up. Settling Jessica in one crook of her arms she managed to scoop Jonathan up. "You babies are probably starving, aren't you?"
"Lucy right, who knows how long they have been here." Eric said grabbing his keys. "I'll make a quick run to the store and get bottles, formula, and diapers."
"Hold up Dad." Lucy said quickly, "I still have Meg's baby bottles, just get formula and diapers for right now. We can get other baby necessities later."
When Eric returned 15 minutes later Annie was waiting by the front door, "They are still screaming?" Eric asked.
"Yeah." Annie nodded, "But Eric, I think this may be a blessing in disguise, Lucy hasn't had time to worry about Meg. Ruthy snuck out a minute ago and she's gonna go to the hospital to spend some time with Meg, so that she's not alone."
2 months later
"How are you feeling baby?" Lucy asked walking into Meg's room.
"Good!" Meg said, "Look what I colored for the babies!"
"That's a very pretty picture." Lucy said.
"Put it in your purse." Meg ordered and Lucy tucked the picture safely there.
"Hey you two." Matt said coming into the hospital room.
"Uncle Dr. Matt!" Meg giggled.
"Did Aunt Mary teach you that?" Lucy asked smiling.
"Yup." Meg giggled again, but suddenly Meg turned solemn, "They took blood today Mommy, when Aunt Mary, and Uncle Wilson were here."
"What? Why?" Lucy asked looking nervously at Matt.
"I didn't cry at all Mommy! Nurse Beth even gave me a sticker!" Meg showed her rose sticker proudly.
"Matt why did they take blood again?" Lucy asked again, "Is something wrong."
"Nope, nothing is wrong." Matt said cheerfully.
"Then what's going on?" Lucy snapped.
"I want Meg out of here!" Matt boomed, "Tomorrow."
Lucy shrieked and jumped up, "Oh thank God. She's OK right Matt?" Lucy asked when she threw her arms around Matt's neck.
"Her blood work show's no signs of leukemia in her blood at all." Matt grinned.
"I'm going home?" Meg asked from her seat on her hospital bed.
"Yes baby you are. First thing tomorrow morning."
"But what about my friends here?" Meg asked tearfully, "I'm going to miss them!"
"But baby you won't feel sick anymore." Lucy said.
"I know, but I'm still going to miss everybody here!" Meg cried.
"When you come to visit me at work you can visit everyone here." Matt interrupted.
Meg thought for a minute and then nodded.