Ten minutes later Maura has finished packing her suitcase. Allison sits on the bed, in tears. Maura zips her suitcase. She sits it on the floor.
"Come on, let's go get some cake."
"No," Allison crosses her arms, defiantly.
"I'm getting ready to leave."
"Don't leave me," Allison begs, with tears streaming down her face.
"I have to go."
"I'll go with you," Allison insists.
"You can't."
"Please. Maura, please."
Maura freezes. She stares at the little girl's innocent face. Before she can blink Allison is wrapping her arms around her. She wraps her legs around her too.
"Allie, you have to let go. I have to go."
"No. No. Don't leave me."
"I have to get home."
"No. I want to go with you. Mommy, take me with you."
Maura swallows hard. She fights off tears, as the little girl presses her head to her shoulder.
Allison looks at Maura. She shakes her head.
"I never knew that she threatened to cut you off."
"I wanted to take you with me, but I couldn't. I had never had a job. I didn't know how to take care of you."
"You should have fought harder."
"I'm sorry."
"Why didn't you follow their plan? Go to Canada? Give birth in secret. Come back after a few months, with a nice tan?"
August 19th 1990,
She sits in the hospital bed. The room is silent. It is another month until her seventeen birthday. And, yet, here she is, with a baby. She stares at the baby, in her arms. This was not part of the plan. She had a plan. Graduate early. Go to college. Get into med school. Become a doctor.
She stares at the sleeping newborn. The social worker would be by soon, to pry the baby away from her, no matter how much she protests. Her parents would show up soon, and drag her back home, sans baby.
Her thoughts keep drifting back to the sleeping baby, in her arms. She stares at the little girl. A perfect, pink bundle. She had never held a baby before. She expects the little girl to cry, but she doesn't. Instead, she sleeps peacefully, in her arms. She wears a tiny pink cap. Under the tiny pink cap, is a layer of bright red hair, that will fade to blonde. Behind her closed eyelids, blue eyes, that will eventually change colors. Tiny, symmetrical lips, and ears. A button nose.
She hears the footsteps coming down the hall. She braces herself for what comes next. Her parents come into the room. They move towards her, like bees to a hive, wanting only one thing. They stop at her bedside. They reach for the baby.
"We're here to take you home," her mother announces, holding her arms out for the baby.
"No," Maura responds.
"What do you mean, no? Maura give me the baby. The social worker is waiting. Our flight is set. We need to get you ready to leave. I don't want us to miss our flight. Don't be stubborn. Tell her, goodbye, and let's go."
"No," Maura shakes her head.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm not leaving her. I want to keep her."
"Excuse me?" her mother raises an eyebrow.
"I want to keep her."
"Maura, you can't keep her."
Her father nudges her mother.
"Maybe we could work something out," he suggests.
"Like what?"