Hope trudged through her apartment door after working a longer shift than expected. She flopped onto the couch, putting her tired feet up. A muffled buzz sounded from her purse. Her phone. Could it wait? She hesitated. No, she should check it. She dashed to the table and fished out the still buzzing cell. She stared at the screen. Sean Holland.
“Sean? Hey, this is Hope.”
Screams almost covered Sean’s reply. “I need help. Can you please come to my condo?”
What was going on? By the desperate tone in his voice, something was really wrong. And, that screaming and wailing in the background sounded like a child.
“Sure. What do…?”
“I’ll explain when you get here. I’m really in over my head.”
“Okay. I’ll change and be right over”.
“Thank you.”
As she knocked on Sean’s door fifteen minutes later, cries still echoed from inside. As the door opened, Sean uttered a thank goodness and grabbed her hand, pulling her inside. His eyes were bloodshot, and his overall appearance could only be described as disheveled. Not at all the Sean Holland she had come to know. He closed the door behind her, and it was then she spotted the source of the crying.
A small girl sat on the couch rocking a stuffed bear with one of Hope’s prayer shawls draped around her shoulders. Tears streamed down the little girl’s cheeks, and her sobs came out as hiccups. Hope glanced at Sean, unable to speak. He ushered her closer to the child.
“This is Grace Williams. My daughter.” He leaned close to her ear. “I didn’t know about her until I was contacted by a lawyer. Her mother was killed in an accident. Her will named me as guardian.”
Hope’s heart wrenched. She gestured toward Grace. “The shawl?”
“It was in her suitcase. It’s one of yours, isn’t it?” His eyes widened.
She nodded. Focusing on the child, she eased near and knelt in front of her. “Grace?”
The girl’s eyes gazed into Hope’s. Her face was covered with dark pink blotches, and her eyes were red rimmed. Tears had made her eyelashes clump. Suddenly recognition dawned in Hope’s mind.
She glanced at Sean. “I remember. Several months ago around January, Grace had her tonsils out.
“And tubes in my ears,” Grace added, sitting up a bit straighter.
Hope turned back toward her. “That’s right, sweetie.”
Grace studied Hope’s face for a moment, and then her eyes bulged, and her mouth fell open. “You took care of me and gave my mommy this shawl.” She stroked the fringe.
“Yes.”
Grace launched herself into Hope’s arms and nearly landed them both on the coffee table. Hope righted them, wrapped her arms around the child, and returned the tight embrace.
Hope locked her eyes on Sean, who plopped down on the couch and sighed. “I knew if anyone could help, it would be you.”
Grace went limp in Hope’s arms, and her breathing evened. “I think she has exhausted herself from crying.”
Sean scrubbed his hands down his face. “What am I going to do? I don’t know anything about taking care of a child.” He scooted to the edge of the couch. “Is there somewhere for her to go? You know, where she can be better cared for?”
Grace fidgeted. Hope stroked her hair, and she quieted again. “Sean, you’re her father. Do you really want to throw her into foster care? You can’t be sure who she’ll end up with, and she may be moved from place to place. That’s traumatic, especially for such a young child.”
“Sounds like you know this from experience.”
Her eyes stung. She blinked to stave off the tears. Sean probably didn’t need another crying female. “I do know from experience. When my parents were killed, my living with Mimi wasn’t immediate. I bounced around from foster home to foster home for almost five months before my Mimi could get everything squared away. My parents hadn’t thought ahead like Tiffany did.”
“Hope, I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “Sean, you can do this.”
“How?” His voice rose. He paused and lightened his tone. “How do I do this?”
An urging bubbled from deep inside Hope. “I’ll help you.” She blurted out the words before she could stop herself. “She was here last night when I called, wasn’t she?”
Sean nodded. “She went right to sleep but woke up screaming in the middle of the night.”
“What did you do?”
“I rushed in, and she pretty much did what she has with you. When I tried to lay her down to leave, she almost woke again, so I just laid down with her on my chest.”
Hope smiled. “See, you’re not as bad at this as you think.”
“I’m still in shock. I never knew about her.”
Hope smoothed Grace’s hair and studied the side of her face. “She looks like you.”
“I know.” He smiled.
* * *
Hope awoke stretched out on Sean’s couch, Grace wedged between the sofa back and Hope’s side. She barely remembered moving from the floor. Light shone in rays around the long, slatted blinds on the sliding-glass door. Grace had slept through the night. Hope winced at the thought that she had spent the night in a man’s condo. Sean Holland’s, no less. But, it had been more like a sleepover with Grace. After she saw the desperation in his eyes, she couldn’t leave him. Sean had practically begged her for help.
Hope’s hair was grimy, and she longed to rush home for a shower and a change of clothes, especially before Sean saw her. She was stuck. She feared moving, which surely would awaken Grace. Today was Saturday. No shifts to work today or tomorrow.
Light footsteps caught her attention. Sean appeared from around the corner that led to the hall. He stopped and stared down at her. “Did she sleep all night through? I didn’t hear her,” he whispered.
Hope nodded. “Yes.”
Sean lowered himself and perched on the edge of the coffee table. “Do you have to work today?”
“No. I don’t have another shift until Monday.”
Grace suddenly stirred and sat up, rubbing her eyes with her fists. “I need to go potty.” Hope swung her feet to the floor, sitting up. The girl hopped down and scampered off.
Hope turned back to find Sean looking at her. She smoothed her hair and stuck it behind her ears. “I better get home and take a shower.” She stood, scanning the area for her purse.
Sean shot to his feet. “You’ll come back, won’t you?” At that moment he resembled a scared little boy.
“Yes, I’ll come back.” She nodded.
“What should I do while you’re gone?”
Poor man. He really was quite lost in this situation.
“Tell you what. You and Grace unpack her suitcases and find a place for all her things. Notice what she has. We’ll talk about it when I return.”
“Okay.”
Grace stood at the living room entrance. “Are you leaving?” Her bottom lip protruded.
Hope closed the distance between them and knelt to the little girl’s level. “I have to run home to get a shower and change clothes.” She glanced at Sean and then back. “While I’m gone, you two get your bags unpacked. I’ll bring back a couple of surprises. Does that sound good?”
Grace nodded her head vigorously
Hope stood and grabbed her purse. “I’ll bring late lunch/early supper, okay?”
Sean nodded.
Hope stifled a chuckle. There was no denying that the two were father and daughter. Their similarities screamed.