Alan
As we all fussed over Rach, Nat came in, looking pale and distraught.
"Alan, could we talk a sec?"
After assuring Rach that I'd return soon, I followed Nat to the hallway. My gut told me that she had just heard some very bad news.
"It's my Da...dad...he's...gone" she choked on the words.
I put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry Nat.."
"I have to go to Miami..." she continued, trying to put on a brave front. Nat had been close to her father. I've always thought that she was his favorite.
"I'll take care of Rach; focus on your mother. She's going to need you"
"I've booked the flight already...I gotta go pack" she numbly went to her room.
"Anything I can do?" I asked. Despite everything, I hated to see Nat like this. Besides, I had started to become friends with her father.
"Take care of Rach, and keep me up to date on how's she doing" she turned around. I started to follow her, but then rememembered that we were separated. With that, I returned to my kids. I whispered to the news to Charlie and Donnie. They looked somber, as they knew all too well the pain of losing a parent.
--
A while later, Nat, with my help, explained to Rach the situation in terms of a three year old's understanding. My soon to be ex wife left for Miami on the red eye later that night. A week and a half passed, and Rach was well enough for her next lesson with Bob.
He suggested a walk to the park. At first, it was just going to be him and Rach, but she wanted me to come.
"Daddy Come with us!" she demanded at the doorway.
"Go with Bob" I told her firmly.
"No! I want you!"
Bob suggested after a few minutes "Why don't we do this: you can lead her, and I'll be right behind?"
I reluctantly agreed. He gave me some tips, as I got my jacket.
"She needs to learn how to pay attention to the sound of traffic, and know when its safe to cross"
We went to a crosswalk, and I asked Rach "Do you hear anything?"
"Cars..." she answered.
"Ask her if they sound loud or soft " Bob whispered to me.
"Are they loud or soft?" I asked her.
"soft"
"Then they're far away" I said. "Loud cars are closer..."
Finally, the cars stopped passing. I asked Rach if she heard any and she told me no.
"Then we can cross the street" I said. She knew the difference between a sidewalk and a street. On the way to the park, I talked to her about blocks, calmed her down when she heard some dogs bark from someone's back yard, and warned her yet again about being wary with strangers.
At the park, she spent some time on the swing. On her way to the slide, her precane bumped into a little boy,. the father apologized to Rach, and scolded the boy
It pained me to see my daughter not being held to the same standards as other children, and it bothered me that there was no way to really convince the man that it wasn't his son's fault.
"It's all too common I'm afraid" Bob said kindly.
I asked Rach to apologize. She did but the father basically blew her off by saying 'don't worry about it'. I told her that she did a good thing, and that it was a 'big girl apology'.
She went down the slide a couple of times, and then asked for ice cream. Just like that.
"You're in the middle of a lesson, Rach" I told her firmly. "Now's not the time." I really needed to talk with Donnie and Charlie about giving her ice cream any time she wanted it.
She pouted, but I kept my ground.
--
Eventually, Nat returned and for a long time, her eyes were sad.
--
Just as I was almost starting to get used to the routine, working during one half of the week, and taking care of Rach during the other, things turned complicated.
One day, as I went to pick up my daughter from Nat's place, I noticed police cars right in front. Fearing the worst, I started to run, but was stopped by a uniformed officer.
"I'm the father" I told him, as a woman, wearing a severe work outfit starting to leave the house with Rach.
"Rach?" What the hell was going on??
"Daddy??" She turned her head all around. My poor daughter, holding her precane, looked pale, and had a bewildered expression.
"It's me" I gave a pleading look to the officer.
"You're the chld's father?" the woman asked, after identifying herself as a social worker called in by the police.
"Yes. Alan Eppes..If I may show my ID?" I turned to the officer. "What's going on?"
"Child's mother has been arrrested" the officer said.
"Arrested?" I repeated.
"they took mommy away!" Rach wailed. Finally, the officer let me go to my daughter. I hugged her tightly. A police raid in one's home is traumatic enough, even for an adult.
"sh...I'm here...I'll take you home" I comforted her, as the social worker asked me a few questions.
"Did you have any reason to suspect that something was going on in the suspect's home?"
"No. We've been separated for a while." I said. A detective in plain clothes joined us.
To the social worker, he said " This is the child's father. The suspect kept telling us to call him"
Finally, after some more questions, and giving them a couple of numbers, I was able to take Rach home.
"Da pooleese were mean!" she whined during the drive home. "They yelled and made me go with the mean lady"
"I'm sorry.." I stroked her hair.
"She wanted to give me a new mommy and Daddy"
"That'll never happen. You're with me now"
"Why are dee pooleese mean to mommy?"
"I don't know..hun, but I'll find out" I promised her. Hating to see her so upset, I took her to get ice cream. Then, I called Donnie to see if he could find out anything.
"What??" he demanded when I told him what happened. "I can't believe this...!"
"I need to know what's going on, at least so that I can help Rach through this"
"It's probably over a stupid animal" Don growled. "How's Rach?"
"Upset"
"I'll ask around, and let you know" He promised. "Look, I gotta go"
With that, I took Rach home, where I hoped she would start feeling safe again.
TBC
Is Nat headed for Jail? Stay tuned for Chapter 42!
