AN: OK, since you guys asked, I am reposting everything I've written so far for two reasons—1) because I had to remove them temporarily for reasons I'd rather not explain, and 2) because I finally figured out how to upload it with formatting intact. Thanks for your patience here, stories will (hopefully) be updated once a week, on Mondays.
Save The Last Dance
Chapter TwoFive months after Sara discovered her pregnancy, she received a phone call that turned her world upside down.
"Miss Sara Pezzini?"
"Yes?"
"For the record, could you please state your full name?"
"Sara Magdalene Pezzini. Why?"
"This is the insurance company your father invested in. James Pezzini had a policy with us. Would you be able to come down to our office to receive your money?"
"Yes, yes, of course. When?"
"When can you be here?"
"How about in an hour?"
"See you then, Miss Pezzini."
********
Sara tugged nervously on her jacket, trying to pull it further down over her swollen belly. She was eight months along, and her stomach had grown to unbelievable proportions. She waited impatiently for them to call her up. When they did, she was directed to the first office on the left. She entered and waited for the man at the desk to end his phone conversation.
"Hello! How can I help you?"
"Uh, Sara Pezzini. You called me--"
"Ah, yes, James Pezzini's daughter. Would you like to sit down?" He was eyeing her belly as if it were a time bomb set to go off at any moment.
"Don't worry, I'm not due for another month. Now what is this all about?"
Visibly relaxing, he stood to shut the door, then returned to his desk. "You are the only living member of his immediate family, yes?"
"Mm-hm."
"You are then the recipient of his $250,000 life insurance policy."
Sara's jaw dropped.
********
With the money, Sara bought a larger apartment, a loft with plenty of room for her and the baby. She also bought a Buell motorcycle for transportation. She then went to a baby supply store and bought everything she'd need for her child--crib, changing table, high chair, bassinet, bouncy seat, bottles, diapers, undershirts, clothing, blankets, toys, burp rags, everything she knew a baby would need and more. By the time she was just a week away from her due date, the nursery was ready. Finally, she put in an application to "Cop School," as she called it. Once the baby was born and she'd had some time to adjust, Sara would be attending a college just five minutes from where she lived. Everything seemed to be falling into place for once, and Sara was happy.
********
"Push, Sara!"
"You push, damn it!"
"Come on! I see the head! One more! There you go!"
Sara gave one last mighty effort, and felt her child slide from her body. Gasping, she looked down at the doctor as a lusty cry filled the room.
"It's a girl, Sara."
Tears began to course down her cheeks as the doctor handed her daughter. Cradling the tiny babe, Sara thanked God for this moment. She had a daughter, a beautiful daughter! Pulling the blanket back a little, Sara saw that the baby had thick tufts of dark hair, the same shade as her own. Her eyes were the undecided blue of a newborn, but Sara could swear she saw a hint of green in there somewhere.
She went home the next day, little Michelle held tightly to her breast. She walked carefully up to the nursery and laid her sleeping daughter in the brand new crib. She stared down at the sleeping girl for a long time before her growling stomach reminded her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast. She went down to fix something for herself, listening hard for any sounds from her baby. She ate in record time, rushing back up to watch her little one again. For hours she sat there, observing this perfect little being she'd carried within her for nine long months. She was finally here, and Sara didn't know what to do with herself. She had examined her daughter carefully, taking in the ten perfect fingers and ten perfect toes. She'd never thought she could get so soft about something, but here she was, an old—young?—softy when it came to her baby. Joe Siri came to visit a few times, and Sara sensed that he was both greatly surprised and slightly dismayed at her early pregnancy, but he was wonderful with Michelle the first time he met her. The infant giggled whenever the usually gruff man would make a funny face at her. He was also immensely pleased that she'd decided to go to college to become a homicide detective. It was gruesome work, but he knew Sara had it in her to do it, just like her father had.
When Sara first left her daughter in daycare so that she could go to college, she was fretful and overprotective. But, as the year wore on, she relaxed slightly. She aced her way through her classes and entered into the 11th Precinct. Her partner was one Danny Woo, a man who took being assigned a rookie—and a woman, no less!—as a major blow to his "manliness". He was patient, however, and she soon wormed her way into his friendship, what with her quirky sense of humor, her always-present sarcasm, and her treat-me-like-all-the-other-guys-here attitude. She was rough and tough and could take a hit with the best of them. He began watching her work out, and was a little surprised at her agility and strength. He walked up to her one day as she beat the stuffing out of a punching bag. She didn't realize he was there until her gloved fist connected with the side of his head, and he doubled over for a moment.
"Oh, geez, I'm sorry!" she cried, immediately kneeling down as he shook his head to clear it. She saw his face and relaxed. "Oh, it's you." He shot her a dirty look as they both straightened. He held the bag for her as she began attacking it with a volley of strong jabs that made him waver a little. After ten minutes of this, she finally stopped, sweaty and exhausted. She glanced down at her watch and started. "Oh, God, I'm gonna be late!" Within two breaths, she'd stripped off her gloves, stored her equipment, and was gone.
He blinked, shook his head, and left.
********
Sara raced out to her Buell, barely restraining herself from speeding as she headed for the daycare center. Five minutes later, she roared into the parking lot and jumped off the bike, running inside. She lifted her daughter from the floor, hugging her tightly. The toddler touched her face, then cried, "Mama!"
"Yes, baby." Turning to the center's manager, she said, "Sorry I'm late. I stayed after to work out for a few minutes in the gym."
"Quite all right, quite all right. We love having Michelle around. Just don't make it a habit." She grinned at the young mother. Sara carried Michelle out to the bike, pulled out the baby seat she stored in one of the small saddlebags, and strapped her in. She put on the tiny helmet she had gotten for her, then slipped her own back on and revved the engine. She looked back at her baby girl and saw that she was giggling and clapping her hands gleefully at the sound of the bike's engine. Shaking her head, Sara rode out of the parking lot towards home.
********
At the end of the shift the next day, Danny inquired as to why she had rushed out of the gym in such a hurry the previous afternoon. She shrugged.
"What, you got family to take care of?" he asked.
"Yeah, actually, I have a little girl."
"Really? How old?"
"Three."
"Wow. My wife and I just found out that we are expecting our first baby in about eight months. Hey—why don't we go to your place and finish this up. That way, you can spend some time with the kid while you work."
Sara brightened. "That's fine with me."
********
He followed Sara's bike in his car until they reached the daycare. She ran in to get Michelle, then headed for home, Danny on her tail. The walked in, Danny holding the bubbly three-year-old. She'd taken an immediate liking to him, and was talking non-stop.
"Unca Danny! You my Unca Danny! Can I have a hug? Please? Tank you." Her darling lisp made her words sound even more adorable than usual as she chattered Danny's ear off. "I wuv you! You nice, Unca Danny! Do you tink I'm cute?" she demanded.
"She certainly didn't get that straightforwardness from her mother," he muttered sarcastically. "Yes, you're very cute."
"Tank you." She turned woeful eyes onto Sara. "Mama, I hungry!"
Sara set her up with some crackers and toys on a blanket on the floor, and they got down to work.
An hour later, Sara gave up. For the third time in a row, Danny was sitting on the floor with her daughter, playing.
"Okay, what's this one?" he asked, holding up one of the alphabet blocks.
"M!" Michelle said proudly.
"How 'bout this one?" He held up another.
"T!" came the exuberant answer.
"That's right! All right, how about…this one?"
She looked perplexed for a moment.
Sara glanced up from her paperwork. "Danny! That's not a letter, that's a number—"
"Five!"
They both looked over at the toddler in surprise. She just grinned up at them.
********
The next day, Danny suggested they come back to her house again for paperwork. Once again, Sara was up to her ears in paperwork, and once again, Danny was playing on the floor with her daughter.
"What's this?"
"Nose!"
"This?"
"Mouth!"
"This?"
"Ear!"
"Danny!"
"Whaaaat?"
"We kinda have some paperwork that kinda needs to get done, so you kinda gotta get your butt into gear!"
Sighing, he stood slowly and came back to the table, digging into his half of the paperwork. In the background was the sound of little feet scampering back and forth across the hard floor. Through the kitchen. To the bedroom. Around the living room furniture. Through the kitchen. To the bedroom. Around the living room furniture. Through the kitchen. To the bedroom. Around the living room furniture. They stopped. Sara looked up when she noticed how quiet it had become. She got up and went looking for the little girl, Danny right behind her. She checked throughout the kitchen. Not there. The bedroom. Not there. The living room…Sara chuckled. Michelle was curled up on the floor, thumb shoved in her mouth, fast asleep. Sara lifted her daughter up carefully and took her to her room to put her down for a nap.
********
