"Eliza." Eva tugged on the back of her cream-colored shirt, jutting her lower lip out. "I thought we were going to see my mom."
"I'm working on it, honey. Why don't you go draw her a picture?"
"Okay." Eva frowned as she turned back to the table and reached into her pink sparkly bag sitting beside her. She pulled out a medium-sized unicorn from the inside pocket, sat down on her chair and leaned her hand against her cheek. She made the horse prance around on the table for a few minutes before giving up and pushed the toy aside.
"Excuse me," I told Eliza without much explanation before walking over to the far corner of the room. I pulled out my cell phone from my pocket and dialed the number on the card; then waited impatiently as it rang.
"Arthur Carson."
"Arthur, it's Hailey Upton."
"Hailey. How are you?"
"I would be better if you told me what the heck is going on." I lowered my voice so I didn't disturb Eva who was now drawing what looked like a mom and child. "I thought we had a deal."
"We did." He shuffled through some papers on his end. "But the people you gave her to—the Busby's—-they died in a car accident last week."
"Last week?"
"You were unreachable, Hailey. I couldn't very well call your work before you were ready to find out."
"So you sent them here instead?"
"That was one of the options, yes. The other was to fly to Chicago myself, but I thought it would better to go through social services if anyone started looking."
"Like Booth."
"Like Booth." He reiterated with a sigh, which could mean many things. I had been a cop long enough to know you do most anything so the perp didn't catch on. "What you don't know is I've kept tabs on her since she was born and you gave her up for adoption, just in case he ever found out."
"Did he?"
"No. Thanks to you, you got the ball moving. One of Booth's men was arrested on a felony murder charge last night here in Michigan. I can't imagine what's coming for the rest."
"Okay. So why send her here? I am not a mother. I gave her up because I wanted her to be safe! Not to mention, I can't do this job and raise her on my own."
"You gave her up because you were broken, Hailey. You and I both know it." He stated simply. Arthur was just as hard-headed as I was, and even if I didn't want to admit it, he had a point. I had given her up because I was lost in my grief, and I wanted revenge for what Booth had done. "You may have lost Garrett all those years ago, but now this little girl—your little girl—has not only lost her father but she has lost her foster parents. You are what she has left."
"And if she loses me too?" I told him intensely, feeling my stomach knot up because of indecision." If I take her in, I'm subjecting her to her the possibility of losing me and everyone she loves. Not to mention, there will be days when I am not there to love her because I'm too busy with my job."
"Look around you, Hailey. You have many people around you who would be willing to love and protect that little girl in front of you—if they're given the chance."
"I don't know." I rubbed just above my eyebrow. If I did, she could lose me. I didn't want that. I never wanted that. "I'll think about it."
"Okay. That's all I'm asking is you to think about it." He paused as the line grew silent between us. "One more thing before we go."
"Yeah?"
"I recognize your life has been anything but easy for you, Hailey. Just remember she hasn't had an easy one either." When I didn't say anything further, he excused himself and hung up—which left me feeling further confused about the situation at hand.
Both my mom and dad had often been too "busy", which often left my brother and I to raise ourselves and our two younger brothers. It hadn't been easy keeping us all together. So I promised myself that if I ever had kids, they would have a mom and a dad to raise them. So much for that plan.
"Eliza?" Eva whispered as they sat at the table.
"Yeah, sweetheart."
"Hailey looks upset. Did she find something out about my mommy? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, honey. You did nothing wrong." Eliza reassured her while running her fingers through the girl's blonde hair.
"Then why were you two whispering in the corner if nothing is wrong?"
"You are quite smart." Eliza leaned her hands on her knees before pulling up a chair next to her. "It's just sometimes—whether you're little or big—things that happen come with really big feelings."
"Like when I found out about my foster parents in the car accident."
"Just like that—"
"Would it be okay if I gave this picture to Hailey instead? I think she needs it more."
"Sure, honey." Eva grabbed the picture and hopped down from her chair. She walked eagerly across the room, then slowed her pace as she timidly approached me.
"Excuse me?" Eva stated in a timid voice, tugging at my shirt. "I thought you could use this picture more than my mommy." She handed me the paper with such happiness I couldn't refuse taking it.
"Thank you." Her thoughtfulness was just what I needed to make me smile. However, as soon as she turned and skipped back to the table, my smile fell and tears pricked at my eyes. To her, I wasn't her mommy. I was just a police officer trying to find her mommy, and it hurt knowing she had no idea who I was.
"I can see this is a lot for you to take in," Eliza stated quietly, approaching me again. "If you need some time to think about this, we'll be at the Hilton Chicago until the end of the week."
"I'll let you know."
"If you want to meet outside of your workplace, just give me a call." Reaching into the back of her purse, she handed me her card this time.
"I will, thank you."
She nodded and turned back to Eva. "Hey, you. Why don't you pack up and we'll head back to the hotel? Maybe grab some lunch?"
"Do we have to?"
"Do you have some other place you want to go?"
"I wanted to see my mom," Eva said under her breath as she shoved the unicorn, pad of paper and markers into her bag. "I guess that's not happening today, is it?"