Chapter Three

The police had come and gone. Sam had told them about how Bridget had dropped the little girl off at the center at 7:30 that morning and said she'd be back at 3:00 to pick her up and never showed. When the police had said they'd take the baby and put her in a temporary home, Sam had stepped up and said she'd take care of Hope until Bridget was found. After a lot of persuading, the police finally agreed and left.

"Did you call your dad Melanie?" Sam asked her daughter as she sat on the floor of the play room.

Melanie nodded, "Yeah. He said he'd be down here soon. I didn't tell him about Hope though. Oh and Carly and Greenlee left."

"That's fine," Sam replied, trying to think of how she was going to tell Jason about Hope living with them for a little while.

"Mom? I'm going to go check on Tyler and Lila okay?" Melanie said, looking at her mom, worried about her.

Sam nodded and watched as Melanie gave her a hug and said, "It'll be okay Mom."

"I know Mellie..." Sam trailed off as she saw Jason coming towards her.

Melanie smiled at her father as she left the room to check on her brother and sister. Jason looked at his wife, worried. He had not seen her like this since Melanie had been taken 14 years ago.

"Sam? Baby, what's wrong?" he asked as he knelt down beside her.

Sam looked into his ocean blue eyes and then back down at the floor, "Jason, I did something that you're probably going to hate me for."

Jason gently lifted her head and looked into her eyes, "I could never ever hate you babe. What did you do?"

"You know that new baby Hope?" Jason nodded and then Sam continued, "Well her mother never came back for her. When Greenlee had tried to call her, the number had been disconnected. So we called the police and they came and took a statement or whatever. Then when they said they'd have to put her in a temporary home, I said I'd take care of her until Bridget was found."

Jason smiled, "Sammie, how could you think I would hate you for wanting to keep Hope safe?"

A tear fell down Sam's cheek as she said, "I'm sorry Jase. It's just that I didn't know if you'd be okay with having another baby in the house. Even if it's only temporary."

"Oh Sam," Jason said as he hugged Sam close to him.

"Mom, can we go home?" Tyler asked as he walked in the playroom with Melanie and Lila not far behind.

Sam looked at Jason and he smiled, "Yeah. Let's go. I just have to get Hope."

Jason stood up and helped Sam up as she walked by everyone and towards the nursery.

Melanie looked at her dad and smiled, "Thanks Dad. Mom was really worried you'd hate her for what she did."

Jason shook his head, "I could never hate your Mother for anything."

He picked Lila up and they all walked out of the room, getting ready to go. Sam came out after a few minutes. Jason saw her carrying a car seat and a diaper bag.

"Hey Jase, I'm going to take my car. Do any of you want to come with me?" Sam asked her kids.

"I do!" Tyler said quickly.

Sam smiled as she said okay and went to her car to get Hope's car seat in. Right after she had the baby in the car, Tyler was behind her, "Mom, can I sit up front?"

She nodded and Tyler cheered as he opened the passenger door and climbed in.

20 minutes later, Jason and Sam had each pulled into the driveway. Jason helped Lila out of the truck as Melanie made her way over to Sam, "Can I help?"

Sam nodded and smiled as she watched Melanie take Hope and the car seat out. She followed Melanie, Hope, Lila and Tyler with Jason beside her.

After they got inside, Jason set the diaper bag he had been carrying on the floor and watched as Sam led a tired Lila and Tyler up the stairs to their bedrooms. After she had made it up the stairs he turned to see Melanie holding Hope and talking to her. "You know what Hope? My mom is really good at the mom thing. She'll take really good care of you until Bridget can be found. And my dad, well, he's great and so much fun. You'll like him. I don't know any kid that doesn't like my parents," Melanie told the baby.

Jason smiled as he made his way towards them, "Can I hold her now?"

Melanie laughed as she gently passed Hope to her dad, "She's an awesome baby Dad."

Jason laughed as he heard a creak on the stairs. Him and Melanie turned to the stairs and saw Sam standing there smiling, "It's been a long time since I last saw you holding a baby Jason."

He laughed again, "I know. I thought I almost forgot how to hold one."

Sam shook her head, smiling. As she sat on the sofa, Hope looked at her and giggled. Sam laughed as Jason gave her Hope, "What do you think is so funny little girl?"

"Hey guys, I forgot to tell you about this essay thing I've got to do," Melanie said as her parents looked at her, "I've got to write about my family. This means like I have to know about my relatives and stuff."

Sam's smile quickly fell as her eyes began to fill with tears. She hurriedly gave Hope back to Jason and ran up the stairs. Melanie and Jason heard the bedroom door close, then Melanie turned towards Jason, "What's wrong with Mom?"

"I don't know Mellie," Jason said, looking back at the stairs.

"Hmmm," Melanie said.

Jason looked at Hope and back at Melanie, "Hey, could you hold her for me while I go check on your mother?"

Melanie nodded and smiled as she took Hope from Jason. After Jason made sure that Melanie was okay, he quickly made his way up to his and Sam's bedroom. He knocked softly and when Sam didn't say anything, he turned the doorknob and walked in to see her laying on the bed, sobbing.

He walked over to her and carefully sat beside her and whispered, "Sam? Baby, what's wrong? How come you're crying?"

"Why did her fucking teacher assign that essay? When Melanie said that she had to write about relatives and shit, it made me think of Jonathon and what he did and how I haven't ever told Melanie about him," Sam cried.

"Sam, Jonathon was a disgusting pig. Melanie doesn't ever and I mean ever have to know about him being her biological father," Jason said, trying to comfort her, "She's been okay for 14 years of her life thinking that I'm her dad."

Sam replied, "Jason, she's going to find out someday. Maybe I should tell her the truth. You know, that I was raped by him and that's how she was conceived."

Before Jason could reply, they heard a noise behind them. They both turned around to see Melanie standing there with tears in her eyes. Sam couldn't say anything because Melanie took off to her room, crying.