A/N: The song is Phil Collin's You'll Be in My Heart
I shifted the backpack strap into a more comfortable position on my shoulder and kicked the duffel bag forward as the line moved up. My daughter stood beside me, clutching my hand and looking around eagerly at the new sights. I smiled down at her. At least I got her out of there before she had gotten hurt.
Ten minutes later, the woman in front of us walked away after getting what she needed. I smiled at the middle-aged lady behind the counter. "Hi, I need to get to Ipswich, Massachusetts."
The woman eyed be briefly, and then typed a little on her computer. "There's a bus leaving in two hours for Hartford, Connecticut, where you can connect to another bus heading to Boston."
"That's perfect," I said happily. Anything to get out of Danbury, Conn.
I paid for the tickets and zipped them into my backpack, gathered the duffel bag in my free hand, and gently tugged Kaylee out of the way of the other people. We boarded the Greyhound bus and found seats near the back. I stuffed the bags under our two seats while Kaylee pressed her nose to the window to see outside.
"Kaylee, do you need to go potty?" I asked.
"No!" she said happily, but climbed off the seat.
I smiled and shook my head, and took her hand to lead her to the bus's bathroom. Once we were both done, we returned to our seats. I pulled down the tray opposite her seat and and dug out her coloring book and crayons, and set her up for the ride. Hopefully she could handle being on the bus for hours. When she seemed perfectly content, babbling away to herself, I dug my book out of the backpack and opened it to where I'd left off.
Three hours into the bus ride, she began to fuss. I completely understood her restlessness. Sitting on a bus for so long was a lot to ask of a two-year-old. "Hunny, do you want a banana?"
"No!" Kaylee said, trying to stand on the seat.
"No, you can't stand on the seat," I said, and sighed when she ignored me. I reached over and lifted her up and set her back in a sitting position. "Do you want cereal?"
"No!" Kaylee pouted, crossing her arms as her eyebrows pulled together in an angry frown.
"Do you want a drink?" I tried, running my hand through her soft, light brown hair. Instead of answering, she tried to stand up again. "Kaylee, no, you can't stand on the seat. Sit down."
"No! No, no, no, no!" And then her eyes began to water and she let out a loud wail. A few people nearby glanced our way, one man looking very irritated.
She tried to wiggle away when I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her onto my lap, but I was stronger. "Shhh, hunny. I know it's a long ride." I rubbed her back in slow, soothing circles, and she buried herself deeper into my arms. "Come stop your crying, it will be all right," I sang quietly, resting my cheek on the top of her head. "Just take my hand; hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry. For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you; keep you safe and warm. This bond between us can't be broken. I will be here, don't you cry. 'Cause you'll be in my heart. Yes you'll be in my heart. From this day on, now and forever more. You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say. You'll be in my heart, always."
Kaylee sniffled and slowly relaxed as her breathing evened out. I smiled, continuing to rub her back. She reached up and began toying with my small silver pendant necklace.
"Why can't they understand the way we feel. They just don't trust what they can't explain. I know we're different but, deep inside us, we're not that different at all. And you'll be in my heart. Yes, you'll be in my heart. From this day on, now and forever more. Don't listen to them, 'cause what do they know. We need each other, to have, to hold. They'll see in time, I know. When destiny calls you, you must be strong. I may not be with you but you've got to hold on. They'll see in time, I know. We'll show them together. 'Cause you'll be in my heart. Yes, you'll be in my heart. From this day on, now and forever more. Oh you'll be in my heart. No matter what they say. You'll be in my heart, always. Always." I carefully shifted to look down at her. Her fingers were wrapped loosely around my pendant, but her eyes were closed and she was breathing peacefully. I leaned back against the seat and looked out the window, watching the scenery fly past. Maybe she would sleep through the rest of the ride.
I have to say, Kaylee did much better on the second bus. It must have been because of her nap. Instead of coloring, we read a few of her favorite books, including Dr. Seuss's One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish. She loved going through it and pointing out the different colors. When we arrived in Boston, I quickly stuffed everything back into the bags, hoisted them onto my shoulder, and carried my suddenly energetic daughter off the bus.
After stopping in to the bus station's bathroom, where I changed our clothes into something more presentable, we left and found a cabbie who was willing to make the drive to Ipswich. Kaylee babbled away in the backseat beside me, and I tried to keep my nerves under control. My daughter had always been able to sense my feelings, and tended to let my feelings override hers. I didn't want her to feel afraid of where we were going. And I wasn't afraid. I wasn't.
Ipswich was small and beautiful, and foggy, even in the evening. The cabbie expertly drove through the streets, and seemed to know where everything was. He pointed out different places and explained what they were. When he turned onto the long, curving driveway leading up to the old mansion, my stomach clenched painfully. If they could afford a place like this, why hadn't they kept me? Did they not want a child? Was I making a mistake by coming here?
The car pulled to a stop in front of the porch stairs leading up to the door. I thanked the driver, paid, and pulled both bags out before lifting Kaylee out. I slung the bags over one shoulder, shifted Kaylee into a more comfortable position in my arms, took a deep breath, and slowly walked up the steps of the old mansion.
My heart pounded frantically against my ribcage, and my legs shook slightly. This was it. I was about to meet my birth parents for the first time since I was a baby. My arm trembled as I reached out and rang the doorbell. The chimes of the bell echoed through the house, and a few minutes later, a woman opened the door. My breath caught as I looked at her. Long, brown, wavy hair; sparkling green eyes; smooth, perfect tan skin; and light pink lips. She blinked in surprise when she saw me.
"Hi. Heather Sims?" I asked tentatively.
"Yes," the woman replied pleasantly. "Can I help you?"
I swallowed past a sudden lump in my throat. "I'm... Anya Sims. You're daughter."