Chapter 2 –Flashback

Baby

Sitting on the side of the bathtub Samantha stared at the test she had in her hands. She couldn't believe what was happening. She was only 18 years old, she couldn't be pregnant. She had met Martin at a party when she was visiting a friend in Washington D.C. He seemed sweet and didn't push her into doing anything she didn't want to do.

Samantha stood outside close to the bonfire. All her friends were making out with their boyfriends or random guys. She felt a bit left out so found a quiet spot down the bottom of the garden and sat on the grass. God this party sucks, she thought to herself. She was interrupted by a voice.

"You mind if I sit here next to you"

"Um…sure" Samantha looked at the guy who had sat down next to her. He had the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen.

"My name's Martin" He held his hand out for her to shake.

"I'm Samantha" she said accepting the gesture. Wow a real gentleman. Knowing my luck he's probably gay or has a girlfriend.

"So am I the only one who thinks this party blows?" Martin looked at her questioningly.

"No that's why I'm down here alone again" Samantha sighed

"Nothing worse than a beautiful woman sitting alone"

Samantha turned to face him and their eyes locked. She leaned forward and kissed him testing the waters. They broke away breathless.

"Before we go any further you're single and straight aren't you? Samantha said without thinking.

"Yes, no worries there" Martin laughed.

"Sorry had to ask" Samantha smiled.

"You wanna go upstairs somewhere more private. I mean only if you want to. We don't have to. I…"

"Its ok Martin I do.

He smiled and took her hand leading her upstairs.

She couldn't believe she was now pregnant with his child. She had called him and told him that she was pregnant. He decided to fly out to see her so they could talk about things.

On the flight over there were a million thoughts racing through Martin's head. Was he ready to be a father? Could he handle the responsibility? He didn't think he was able to raise a child. His thoughts drifted to Samantha. Would she want to keep the baby?

Samantha stood waiting nervously for Martin at the gate. When she spotted him she couldn't help but smile. He walked over to her and before she knew it his strong arms held her in a warm gentle embrace. When they finally pulled apart Samantha led him to her car. They drove to a nearby café so they could talk. Sitting down Samantha spoke first.

"I know this has been a shock for us both. I can't kill my child. I don't know what kind of mother I will be but I can't go on knowing that I passed up the opportunity. You can be as involved as you want." Samantha let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Martin was trying to take in what she had just said.

"Samantha, I want to have this baby to. I'm not so sure about my fathering skills but I think we'll be ok."

He moved to sit beside her and held her with his hand resting lightly on her stomach.

9 months later

Samantha lay in the hospital later. She was relieved that she had finally had the baby. She was unpacking a few things in her new apartment in Washington D.C. when she started to go into labour. Martin had been there within a few minutes to take her to the hospital. She couldn't believe that her daughter was finally here, she fell in love with her the first time she had seen the scan. She looked over at her little girl who was fast asleep. She heard a tapping on the door and Martin came in. He smiled widely at Samantha and kissed her forehead. He walked over to the crib and looked at his daughter.

"She's just so beautiful" Martin gushed.

"I know." Samantha said smiling at him.

Martin came over and sat in the chair next to Samantha's bed.

"So, have you thought of any names yet Sam?"

"What do you think of Aimee?"

"Yeah I like it" Martin said

"I thought we should use your last name and maybe we could choose Elizabeth for her middle name after my grandmother."

"Aimee Elizabeth Fitzgerald, sounds great Sam."

Just then Aimee awoke and began to get a bit fussy. Martin walked over and picked her up handing her to Sam. He sat next to her on the bed with his arm around her. They had decided it was best if they stay friends for now and concentrate on bringing up their daughter.

7 years later

Samantha lay in bed loving the fact that it was Saturday and she didn't have to get up early, or so she thought. Just then Aimee came bounding in the door in her pyjamas.

"Mommy, mommy. Time to get up. Time to get up!"

Samantha groaned putting a pillow over her head. It was 7am but her daughter refused to give up; this was one of the downsides of having an active 7 year old. She jumped onto the bed and started jumping up and down. Samantha laughed and grabbed her daughter pulling her down to lie beside her. She started to tickle her.

"Mommy stop." She giggled.

"Only if you give Mommy a kiss."

Aimee turned round and kissed her mom on the cheek. Samantha got up out of bed and put her dressing gown on. Aimee jumped up into her mother's arms. Samantha carried her through to the kitchen and sat her on one of the chairs at the kitchen table starting on breakfast.

Aimee looked suitably unimpressed when Sam set down some porridge and a spoon in front of her.

"I want Sugar O's mommy."

Samantha cursed those damn adverts; she had always tried to keep Aimee away from junk food but the advertisers had other ideas.

"Sugar O's are no good honey. You eat that and you'll grow up to be big and strong."

Aimee was still not convinced.

"Sugar O's don't just rot your teeth, they'll rot your brain too." Sam said smoothing down Aimee's hair.

"Ewww." Aimee replied in disgust and started to eat her porridge.

Sam smiled and kissed her head. Being a mother wasn't as scary as she had first thought. The first few months were hard; half the time she didn't know what to do with her but her and Martin got through it together. She couldn't believe how fast the years had passed.

After Samantha had got Aimee dressed and her shoes on she led her towards the door so she could go play in the garden downstairs. When she opened the door she bent down and hugged her daughter.

"I love you mommy" Aimee skipped off down the hall towards the stairs.

"Love you too, baby."

Samantha smiled then went over to the window where she saw Aimee eventually run out towards her swing. She went into the kitchen switching on the radio while she did the dishes. After about half and hour Samantha walked over to the window expecting to see her daughter playing happily but Aimee was nowhere to be seen. She ran out of the apartment downstairs to the garden hoping Aimee was playing hide and seek or something. All she found was her daughters' little shoe beside the swing. Someone had taken her little girl!

Martin rushed out of his car and upstairs to Samantha's apartment. He saw her and she ran over to him. He hugged her tight tears forming in his eyes. She just kept saying over and over again "I want my baby back."

Search teams scowered the whole neighbourhood interviewing neighbours but no one appeared to have seen anything. It was as if Aimee had just vanished into thin air. For months Samantha would ask people who were there that day what they had seen and constantly pressed the police for any potential leads but there were none. The case was left unsolved which was no comfort to Samantha or Martin.

A year after Aimee went missing Samantha moved to New York. She just needed to get away. Everything reminded her of her daughter, especially Martin. He decided to move to Seattle after Samantha left. There was nothing left there for him anymore. They tried to keep in touch over the phone but soon drifted apart. Both of them desperately wanted answers as to what had happened to their daughter. Little did they know that the only way to do that was to work together as a team.