Chapter 7

ANNA

I’m sitting on the floor, tears streaming down my face as they take my little girl away for tests. I can’t go with her this time. The last time, she kept trying to leave the machines just to be with me.

I’m a distraction. So I have to stay here.

James pulls me up and wraps me in his arms, and I let him.

I let the tears flow. I need to let it all out. I need this pain to subside, then I can be strong for her. I have to be strong.

When I can’t cry anymore, I pull away from his now-drenched shirt.

“Sorry,” I say, looking into his eyes. Those eyes that make me want to cry all over again, but I won’t.

I close my eyes and take a step back.

“I’ll go grab us some coffee, then I’ll explain.” I know he deserves at least that much.

He nods.

“Cappuccino?” I ask him and he nods again, managing a small smile. I sigh and head to the coffee machine to get our drinks. I also grab some cookies to fill my empty stomach.

As I pass the nurses’ station, I hear my name.

“Anna?” I turn to see the nurse, Stella.

“Hi.”

“Pneumonia?” she asks.

“I’m not sure. She’s getting an MRI now.”

“Good.”

I nod and head back to the room. Olivia should be back within the hour.

James is standing there, staring out of the window, his hands in his hair. A sure sign that he’s stressed.

“Don’t worry, they’ll be back with her soon.” He turns around and I see the redness in his eyes.

I hand him his coffee and sit down in the chair. I motion toward the bed for him to sit down.

I open the cookies and sigh. “So, I guess I have some things to tell you.”

He rests his elbows on his knees and rubs his face. I try to think of a way to tell him everything—I never thought I’d ever see him again.

“Shit, this is hard.”

I take a deep breath and start my story.

“Okay, I found out I was pregnant two weeks after you left.”

“No…,” he says. I nod.

“I tried to keep it hidden as long as I could. At school and at home, because… well, you know why.”

“When I was five months pregnant, I had to tell my parents. I had gotten a part-time job in case they kicked me out, because I knew that there was a chance they would. And they did.

“My dad called me a whore, a slut, and lots more, and Mom called me and my baby Satan’s child. That made me snap. I took my things and went to a B&B. From there, I went to my aunt’s.

“She got me in touch with some organizations for single moms and she let me stay with her until I made enough money. Then she kicked me out too. Then after Olivia was born, I went to Seattle.”

“Damn it, Anna. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Oh, right. I did try.”

He makes a weird face.

“I called you, but you changed your number. I couldn’t reach you, James. So I left a message telling you I needed to tell you something important, but I knew it didn’t matter.

“I know you. I knew that you changed it to close that chapter and start your new life. Your dream life. I don’t blame you.”

“How did you know that?”

I smile.

“Because I know you. I didn’t have the luxury of forgetting you. I have the living reminder of us with me every day. She’s so much like you, you know,” I state proudly.

“I’m sorry I didn’t stay in touch. I was so busy. I didn’t see why I would need the extra phone.”

“I get it,” I tell him. Because I do get it. That’s why I told him to go.

“Tell me about her.”

I smile. “You’re not going to ask me if she’s yours?”

“Of course not, she has my eyes. Even if she didn’t, I know there wasn’t anybody else.”

This leaves me with the biggest smile. Most CEO multimillionaires would demand a paternity test. But not him. He knew how much I loved him. I’m happy he didn’t forget that.

“Her name is Olivia Rose Johnson-Brown. She was born on November 5th, 2017, at 3 a.m. She weighed seven pounds, seven ounces—which was perfect. She has your eyes, but also your wit, and her personality is a combination of both of us.

“It is a little bit of a downside that she inherited your need to find things out for yourself,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“How so?” he asks with a big smile on his face.

“Like, not long ago, I told her not to climb the baby gate near the stairs. And by ‘told her,’ I mean I told her at least fifty times. But guess what she did, the second I was in class?”

He slaps his head. “God, don’t tell me.”

“Yup. Five stitches, and pneumonia due to the weather. She keeps me on my toes because she’s so smart. I wouldn’t say gifted, but she’s definitely ahead for her age.

“She loves ladybugs—hence the nickname—and purple. She’s a girly-girl and she really loves her Auntie Liz and Uncle Jim. Besides me, they are her favorite people.”

“How did you do it all?” he asks me.

“I work my ass off.”

“I see that.”

“Yeah. I haven’t slept since yesterday.”

“What? Why?!”

“Look. I don’t need your pity or your money. I work and I negotiate to pay my bills. But last time, she had to stay for five days. It was a big bill, plus the antibiotics and school. I needed the extra shifts.

“I knew there was a chance she’d get sick again, so I started saving for an MRI.”

“I get it, and I respect you for it. You’re not one for pettiness. But when it comes to the bills—Anna, let me help. She’s my daughter too. I need to contribute.”

I shake my head. “You don’t have to.”

He looks confused. “Why not?”

“Because I’m giving you an out. You can go live your dream life. I’ll manage. If you’re living your dream, I’ll be happy. It’s what you’ve always wanted.”

JAMES

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I can’t believe she had to face all this alone. I should’ve been there. Her eyes were so bright when she talked about Olivia.

She loves that little girl so much. I felt that same instant love when Olivia looked at me with her big green eyes.

And now she’s giving me a choice.

~What a load of crap!~

~

It’s a choice she never had. How can she even suggest this? I’m reminded again why I fell in love with her.

She’d sacrifice herself to make someone else happy. Not in a naive way, but like what she’s doing now. She doesn’t care about her own struggles, as long as I’m happy.

But now I know I can’t be happy without her.

I’ve loved her all these years. I know I messed up, and I’ve regretted it every day since. I need to make things right, starting with taking care of her.

So I shake my head. “I guess you don’t really know me anymore,” I say.

“What do you mean?”

“Did you really think I’d abandon my girls after finding out all this? No way, Anna. You’re going to let me help you. Starting with the finances.”

She shakes her head.

“Don’t even start,” I say before she can speak.

“But—”

“No.”

“Okay. But only essentials. I was doing okay, financially, before the hospital. I didn’t have to work as much and I had savings. She had everything she needed. I did well,” she insists, sounding a bit defensive.

I raise my hands in surrender.

“I’m not saying she didn’t have everything she needed. But I want to help. I’m her father. Whether you like it or not, I want to be a part of her life. I can’t walk away from you two, you’re my girls.”

She sighs and nods.

“Okay, but I decide what she gets. Gifts are okay, but I don’t want her spoiled. All I want is for her to feel loved. That’s the one thing money can’t buy, and I want her to know that,” she says.