Chapter 51 Daisy - Baby Trauma
DAISY Baby Trauma
I was absolutely exhausted from my second twelve-hour shift of the week. I felt a little bleary-eyed picking Maisy up from day care. Even so, the moment I saw her sweet face, it was like the fog lifted.
I had tried all day to avoid the very real thought that I had made the most incredible mess of my relationship.
Mason still hadn’t called. And, well, why should he?
I had told him not to. Somewhere deep down, I had hoped that Amelia would explain my outburst, and he would have some sympathy…
Anyway, I checked my phone at the stoplight for the millionth time.
No missed call. No text. I even tapped my email app.
Because Mason would email me? Why would he even have my email address?
As I pulled onto the street, I looked in my rearview mirror at Maisy.
She was facing the back seat, of course, but one of the moms had given me a little mirror to hang on the headrest so I could see her sweet face.
She put her hand up to touch one of the toys that was hanging over her car seat.
She was very advanced. I smiled. Even on a bad day when work had been challenging and Mason and I were in a terrible place, that baby girl was what was important.
I was holding my breath, knowing that at any moment, she could—and likely would—be taken from me.
My heart skipped a beat as my town house came into view, and a truck I recognized was parked there. He had come back! Maybe it was just for a clean break, I told myself, trying to manage my expectations. But at least I would have a chance to plead my case.
As I pulled in, a car I didn’t recognize pulled in right behind me, almost touching my bumper, in a way that made me uneasy.
I got the feeling that whoever this was didn’t want me to leave.
Mason practically jumped out of his truck and ran to the car behind me.
Before I had a chance to get out, I could see that the driver was Cheryl.
And, from the look on her face, she was here on a mission.
I didn’t want to leave Maisy in the car, but I couldn’t risk getting her out.
So I rolled down my window a quarter of the way, and I could hear Mason saying, “Cheryl, let’s talk through this. ”
She stormed up to the car window. “I want my granddaughter. Right now!”
Mason was behind her, and he locked eyes with me through the glass. “Cheryl,” I said, as calmly as I could muster. “I can see that you are upset, and you and I both agree that we have a lot to work out here. But, for this moment, I am Maisy’s legal guardian, and it is my job to keep her safe.”
“Keep her safe!” she squealed at me. “I am her grandmother. She is mine!” Her face was red and splotchy, and I was glad I was locked in the car. Cheryl pulled on the door handle, and Mason gently took her arm.
“Cheryl, look. We can work this out, but you can’t just steal a baby—”
“Why not? She did!” Then she spun around to Mason. “And you! You knew the whole time, and you just let my grandchild be taken by a stranger!”
Mason took a step back and crossed his arms. I could tell that that infuriated him.
“No, ma’am,” he said. “We won’t take that.
We had no idea that Drew was this baby’s father.
We had no idea that Sarah was her mother.
If you’ll recall, I found her in a dumpster, and Daisy nursed her in the hospital and has been caring for her full-time since.
We will not be blamed.” He took a deep breath, then lowered his voice.
“Cheryl, you are right. You are her grandmother. And I am so sorry. But this is not my fault. It isn’t Daisy’s fault.
She has provided love and care for this abandoned baby.
And it’s not your fault because you didn’t know. Neither did Drew.”
Cheryl looked back in the window at me, then back at Mason. “Are you sure Drew didn’t know?”
I was terrified of this woman, but, through the crack in the window, I called out, “I am one hundred percent positive that Drew didn’t know.”
“We don’t even have proof or anything,” Mason said. “We just started putting some pieces together. All we have tried to do is protect Sarah and Drew.”
I nodded. “Cheryl, the police came for them, and Mason was so quick. He handled everything.”
Cheryl took a deep breath and smoothed her dress, looking in the back window. “Can I at least see her?”
Mason took her arm again. “No offense, but this might not have been exactly the right approach if you just wanted to see her.” Cheryl hung her head, but then she looked at me again.
“Fine,” she said. “I got really worked up in the car… I might have overreacted.” She looked straight at me and said, “But I want to be very clear that this is my granddaughter, and I plan to raise her. I have an attorney, and he assures me this will be a no-brainer for the judge.”
Tears sprang to my eyes. I knew she was right. Judges wanted babies with their families, and I didn’t blame them. Only, where did that leave me?
I nodded and, my throat thick with tears, said, “I understand. I’m just fostering her. I’m just trying to keep her safe.”
I noticed that Cheryl had tears of her own as she stormed back to her car and squealed out of the driveway.
My heart was beating out of my chest, but Maisy was still enthralled with her little toys as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Thank goodness. I didn’t want her to have baby trauma.
I leaned back against the seat and unlocked the car. Mason opened the door and helped me out. I was shaking. Without a word, he unclipped Maisy’s car seat from its base and followed me up the stairs. There was so much to say, but I didn’t have any words. Only fear.
“Do I get a lawyer?” I managed to eke out as I opened the door.
Mason put a firm hand on my shoulder as he placed Maisy’s carrier on the floor inside. “Daisy, you could. But I think we both know…”
He trailed off, and I nodded, trying to steady myself. I reached down to unbuckle Maisy and held her close to me. I was overwhelmed with love for her, swamped with the grief of being separated.
Mason rubbed Maisy’s back. “That might not have been Cheryl’s finest moment, but she and Andy are perfect parents. I know this isn’t what you want, but Maisy will be in good hands.”
I nodded bravely, ignoring the tears running down my cheeks.
There was so much to say, but I couldn’t care about anything happening between Mason and me right now.
I could only think about Maisy. Through my tears, another figure appeared at the still-open door.
I heard her sobs before I recognized her.
“Cheryl told my parents!” Sarah wailed. “And they kicked me out.” She took a ragged breath.
“They said I’m not their daughter anymore. ”
Mason gave me a look that said this was above his pay grade. “It’s fine,” I said to him. “I’ve got this.”
But I didn’t. I had nothing. Last week, the world had been mine for the taking. And now, what seemed like only a heartbeat later, I had lost it all.