| |
Cameron
Aimee and I stroll into her speech therapy appointment, holding hands.
Linda, Aimee’s therapist, grins. “How long has this been going on?”
“First time around or this time?” I laugh.
Aimee smiles. She actually smiles.
“This is excellent physical progress.” Linda writes a note on Aimee’s chart. “I’m positive the verbal and written are coming soon. Right, Aimee?”
It takes a moment, but Aimee nods.
“Good job.” Linda asks me, “Seriously, how long have you two been holding hands?”
I have to think back to the day we kissed in her apartment. “A couple of weeks. I should have told you.”
“It’s fine. Any kissing?” Linda asks.
“Lots.”
Aimee’s cheeks redden.
“Nothing more. I’m waiting until Aimee can tell me it’s okay.”
Linda winks at Aimee. “That’s quite a motivating prize.”
Aimee buries her face in her hands.
“Oh my God, you two are too cute.” Linda takes Aimee’s arm. “Let’s get to work so you can get back to kissing.”
Aimee musters as much of an embarrassed expression as she can.
I mouth, “I’m sorry.”
I watch Linda take Aimee through her routine. After her appointment, I maneuver around the Philly traffic and double park to let Aimee off directly in front of our apartment building. “You go ahead in. I’ll hunt for a spot, and then I need to go up to my apartment to check on Arlene.”
“R,” she says before climbing out of my car.
After parking in a space in the next block, a lightness fills my step that’s been missing a long time. I hurry up the stairs with the intention of taking Arlene down to Aimee’s. Rain will happily relinquish the baby for the rest of the day.
But when I bound into my apartment, I discover my brother sitting on my couch next to Rain, who is holding Arlene. Despite the fact that he’s shaved and cut his hair and is wearing clean clothes, adrenaline bolts through me.
“Get away from them.” I grab his shirt, haul him up, and pin him to the wall.
“Hey, man. It’s cool. I’m not here to hurt anyone.” He relaxes against my hands pushing his shoulders back.
“Why the hell are you here?” I spit out the words without releasing him.
“Mike, chill. I came to talk to you.”
“About what?”
Rain stands. “Mike. Let him go. He’s sober.”
I step back but stay between Chase and Rain, who still cradles the baby.
Chase straightens his shirt. “Good to see you, Mike.”
“The last time you showed up, you attacked Sh... Rain.”
He lowers his head. “My bad. Since then, I’ve been in recovery. I take full responsibility.” He stares me in the eye. “I’m here to make amends.”
“We have a police report because of what you did at the beach house.”
“I wasn’t myself.”
I speak to Rain. “Why did you let him in?”
She gives my brother a look that is nothing short of pure admiration. “It’s what he said. He’s changed.”
What the hell? I widen my stance and set my fists on my hips.
“May I move?” Chase asks.
“Yeah, but stay away from the baby. In fact, hand her to me.” I hold out my arms to Rain. If she wants to toss her life away with my loser brother, I don’t care, but I’m not giving up Arlene.
“Take her.” She hands Arlene over to me.
“You’re not getting the baby,” I say to Chase.
“I’m not here for her. I’m here for Rain. If she chooses to bring the kid, it’s up to her.” Chase sits down and crosses his legs.
His arrogance unnerves me, but I focus on Rain. “He shows up today, and just like that, you’re going with him?”
“This isn’t the first time he’s shown up.”
Nausea roils in my gut. “You’ve been here with my daughter?” I tuck Arlene closer to my body.
“No, he met me on the street.” Rain sits next to him on the couch.
“When were you going to let me in on your little plan?”
Chase rubs his hands together. “When I was ready. I had to prove to myself I could handle this.”
“Handle what exactly?”
“I’m clean. I go to meetings four times a week. I got a sponsor. Mom and Dad have hired me. If I continue to prove myself, they plan to leave me the business since you’ve turned it down.”
His transformation is remarkable and exactly what I wanted for him. “Really?”
“Yeah. The parents aren’t so bad.”
“I’m shocked our parents have changed so much, but that’s good, Chase.”
“Thanks, Mike. We’re finally connecting.”
“Wow.” My pounding heart settles, but I’m having trouble taking this all in.
Chase uncrosses his legs and leans forward. “You were a great brother. I’m sorry I couldn’t live up to your expectations or Mom’s or Dad’s. But I’m trying to now.”
“I’m happy for you, Chase. You and Rain have my blessing, but I’m making this perfectly clear: Arlene stays with me.”
Rain stands. “There’s nothing you can do. She should be with her parents.”
My jaw tightens. “I have a lawyer and too much documented information on why you are both unfit parents.”
Rain laughs. “The old Black woman?”
I clench my jaw and point my finger at her. “That attitude is only one of the many reasons I won’t have you raising Arlene.”
“Well, what about my money?” Rain moves closer. “You owe me ten thousand dollars.”
“You expect me to buy Arlene? She’s not a commodity.”
She shrugs. “People do it all the time, Mike.”
I don’t answer. I worry this could blow up in my face if I say too much about my financial concerns with not working, paying for two apartments, and taking care of Aimee’s medical copays. I have to talk to Hattie.
“You’re out of here for the time being.”
“Both of us?” Rain’s face blushes.
“No. You can stay. Chase, I’ll talk to you later.”
Chase grudgingly rises and goes to the door. “I have to go back to work on the West Coast soon. I’ll be in touch, babe.” He leaves.
“Rain, if you try to disappear with the baby, I’ll slap kidnapping charges on you.”
She runs to the nursery and slams the door.
I grab some baby formula and the diaper bag before going down to the studio. As soon as I open the door, Aimee takes Arlene to cuddle her. The baby coos.
“I need to leave Arlene with you when I’m not able to be home. Okay?”
Aimee’s eyes widen.
“You need to keep your door locked. I’ll knock and use my key. I’ll ask Mrs. Haddad to do the same. Otherwise, no one gets in here, including Rain.”
Aimee tilts her head. She must be wondering why I’m spitting out all these instructions in an obvious panic.
“My brother showed up today. He’s asked Rain to move out to the West Coast with him.”
Aimee leans her shoulder and arm over the baby protectively.
“Rain wants ten thousand dollars for the baby. I don’t have it now. My finances are tapped. What the hell am I going to do?” Anxiety rises in my chest as I stride around the small apartment. “I can’t handle all this much longer.” I run my hand through my hair. “Maybe the baby would be better off with Rain. She is her mother, and Chase is her father.”
“N... no!” Aimee stamps her foot.
Before I can congratulate her on saying her first word, she carries the baby into the bathroom, slams the door, and locks it.
I go to the door and tap lightly. “Aimee, open up. Please.”
I can hear her crying. Damn.
“Aimee, don’t cry. I was only thinking out loud. I wasn’t seriously considering letting Rain take the baby to California. I’m just frustrated. I’m talking crazy.”
Aimee comes out of the bathroom and crosses to her apartment door. She opens it.
“Do you want me to go?” I ask.
She nods.
“I’m sorry I said that. I’ll never let Rain take Arlene. I promise.”
Aimee holds the baby tightly. “G... go!”
“Okay. I’ll go. Lock the door. But let me in. Okay?” She can’t respond. “I’ll go to Hattie. She’ll help me figure this out.” I point at the diaper bag I brought down. “There’s everything you need for a while in there.”
She stares out the door. I go. She locks it behind me. While I’m jogging to my car, I call Hattie.
***
When I reach Shirlene’s house, I vault out of my car into the house, passing large trash bags on the portico. “Hattie?”
She comes down from upstairs, dragging a full black plastic bag. She looks exhausted. “This is the last of the clothing donations.”
I take hold of the bag before she collapses. “You’re wearing yourself out.”
“Be a good boy and stick this bag out front with the other donations. The veterans are picking the stuff up any minute.”
“Go sit down in the dining room. Do you want some water?” I ask.
“I’m fine. Just do as I say.” She eases herself into one of the chairs at the table.
When I return from dumping the bag with the others, Hattie says, “You haven’t given me a hug.”
I squeeze her tiny shoulders before sliding out the chair adjacent to her. “Hattie, Chase is back. It seems he’s gotten himself pulled together. But he’s here to take Rain out to LA with him.”
“They’re not taking Arlene!”
“No, she’s safe with Aimee for the time being. But when Rain showed up at my apartment pregnant and asked me to pay for an abortion, I told her if she delivered the baby and stayed sober, I’d give her ten grand. Now, she demands it, and with all that’s happened, I’m nearly tapped out. What legal rights do I have if Rain tries to take Arlene away?”
“Will she fight for the baby if you don’t pay her?”
“She threatened.”
“The fact that she is offering to leave the baby for money will help your case in court.”
I exhale. “Good.”
“But...”
I tap my fingers on the table.
“Arlene could end up in foster care until this gets settled.”
I fly out of the chair. “No way!”
“I said ‘could.’ It’s not definite, but a judge might want the child someplace neutral.”
“Could you take her?”
Hattie scrunches up her nose. “I would, but if you are asking me to represent you—”
“I am.”
“Then it’s a conflict of interest.”
I lean against the table. “Arlene already lost Shirlene. She can’t be placed with strangers.”
“To make sure it doesn’t happen, let me provide the money to pay off Rain.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “Hattie, I came over here for legal advice. I’d never dream of asking you for money. No. Absolutely not.”
She rises and takes my hand. Hers is tiny but holds a warm energy. This legal discussion has revived her. “You didn’t ask me. I offered.”
“I won’t take it.”
“Not for Arlene?”
I take my hand away. “Now you’re not being fair.”
“How about a loan. You’ll pay me back when Aimee is well and you’re working again.”
I run my hand over my mouth while I consider this. “Do you believe we can really force Rain and Chase to go away for money?”
“From everything I’ve heard about them? Absolutely. And to gain their money, they’ll have to sign the consent forms relinquishing Arlene.”
“Is it legal?” I ask.
She waves her hand like she is swatting a fly. “Don’t ask questions, Cameron.”
“Oh boy.” I sit back down.
Hattie gives both my shoulders a motherly pat. “Stop worrying.”
“Hey, what about having Rain sign those trust papers so she can’t try to get ahold of this house and Shirlene and Stan’s assets?”
“I’m one step ahead of you, but we need to convince both the mother and father to sign consent forms relinquishing Arlene.”
“How long will it take to have those drawn up?”
“Not long for me.” She winks. “I’ll manage the paperwork for you today.”
“Hattie, you are a legal life saver, but I won’t let you loan me the money. I’ll come up with it some other way.”
“I respect your decision, but my offer stands.”
“I hate to rush, but I left the baby with Aimee. The way she was acting, she’d kill Rain and Chase if they try to take Arlene.”
“She’s able to express more physically?”
“Yes, and she said ‘no’ when I made the mistake of thinking out loud.” I can’t admit to Hattie that I actually said Arlene might be better off with Rain and Chase.
“She spoke!”
The joy in the midst of all this chaos finally hits me. I grin. “She did. Like a toddler, the first word is no.”
“I like Aimee. She sets boundaries.”
I scratch my head as I lumber up. “Funny, she’s never been very good about doing that. She always tried to do too much for everyone else.”
Hattie walks with me toward the front door. “She’s caring.”
“To a fault. That’s why when she was finally able to say no to me and marriage, I had to respect how difficult it must have been for her. It nearly killed me, but at the same time, I was proud of her.”
“She trusted you enough to be herself and say her truth.”
“Yes. And now we’ll have a second go of it. I’m giving myself the chance to open up and fall in love with her again.”
Hattie wipes her eyes. “I’m so happy for you, Cameron. I want nothing more than your happiness.”
“But you wish it were with Shirlene.”
“Shirlene is gone. We must honor her by living our lives. I’ll be dancing at your wedding with Arlene in my arms.”
“Hattie. There’s no one who can make me believe in miracles but you.”
“You and I may be shopping for an engagement ring in the near future.”
“Unless Aimee’s willing to use the first one I gave her, I will need a loan from you.”
“Do you still have the ring?” Hattie asks.
“Aimee does, I guess. When she called off the wedding, I told her to keep it.”
Once I get into my car to drive back to Philly, I begin wracking my brain for a way to raise the money without Hattie’s help. I have nothing to sell that would begin to cover it. I could take out a bank loan, but it requires too much time. My parents have it, but I won’t go to them, especially when they’re doing everything for Chase. It’s way too complicated. But there is my 401(k). I promised myself I’d never touch it, but I might have to.