30. A Boy Needs His Mother

Chapter 30: A Boy Needs His Mother

Allen

We were just finishing up breakfast when the doorbell rang. Mika and I looked at each other, confused. Who could possibly be stopping by this early on Christmas morning?

Since I was already standing, I went to open the door. I wish I hadn't opened it.

On the front porch stood Sarah, looking even frailer than the last time I saw her, if that was possible. She was bundled in a large winter jacket, but her face looked so hollow, so sick. She smiled up at me though when I opened the door. In her hands was a box - probably an old shoe box - wrapped in paper that had little Santas on it. I could guess why she was here, and although I didn't like that she came by without any warning, I didn't think I could say no.

"What are you doing here?" I asked anyway, wanting confirmation before assuming anything.

The smile fell right off her face. "I came to see my baby on his very first Christmas. You can't forbid me from seeing him, Allen. I have something for him and I want to give it to him myself."

I sighed. So I did assume correctly. "I never said you couldn't see him today." She had a right to see him, so I couldn't send her away. Not today, anyway. It was Christmas.

With a nod of thanks, Sarah walked right by me and into the house. After closing the door, and hanging up the coat she so graciously dropped on the floor, I followed her into the kitchen, where Mika was standing by the sink looking at me with one eyebrow raised. I quickly mouthed a "sorry" and he only shrugged. I'm sure I'll hear something about this from him later.

"Hi my sweet baby," Sarah cooed as she sat in the chair next to Sammy's high chair. "You've gotten so big, haven't you? Oh, you're such a beautiful baby."

Deciding that I could leave her with him for a minute or two, I motioned Mika over to me. He had a questioning look on his face, and I watched his eyes dart over to Sarah, as if to ask if leaving them alone would be okay.

I nodded and beckoned him over again. This time, he came and I grabbed hold of his hand when he got close enough and pulled him into the hallway.

"She's not going to stay long," I told him quietly. "I just couldn't say no, not today. She's still his mother."

Mika rolled his eyes. "You still care about her, don't you?"

That wasn't true. I didn't care about her, not after everything she did. I love Mika now, not Sarah.

He kept talking when I didn't say anything. "Maybe you don't love her - I know you don't. But there's still some sort of feeling there, right? I'm not mad or anything, I'm just pointing it out. You still have a soft spot for her. You're going to let her get away with murder if it'll help Sam."

I sighed. "If anything, it's pity and the fact that she's his mother. That's it. She's done enough damage - to all of us. I'm sorry you had to get caught in the middle of this mess she's caused."

Mika didn't say anything for a moment, the only sounds being Sammy's little giggle and Sarah's soft voice coming from the kitchen. At least he was laughing this time. It was a much better improvement from the last time they saw each other.

Then the corner of Mika's mouth turned up into a smirk as his hands went to my waist. "You know," he said, "if it weren't for her creating this mess in the first place, then I never would have met you."

I leaned down to kiss him. "Oh, the way fate works," I whispered against his lips. "It works in mysterious ways."

He smirked again - I could feel it. "Whatever you say, Allen."

I gave him one more kiss for good measure. But then, as I was pulling back, I realized the house was way too quiet.

"Do you hear anything?" I whispered.

Mika listened for a second then shook his head. I could tell he was thinking the same thing I was when he turned and walked straight back to the kitchen.

I was on his tail immediately, which only made me walk right into him after he stopped short in the doorway. I looked over his shoulder to see why he stopped. Sarah was standing over the high chair with her back to us, but I could clearly see Sam. She had her hand practically covering his whole face. It didn't look like he was breathing.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Mika demanded before I could fully process what was going on. "Get your hands off him!"

Sarah, startled, quickly backed away from Sam and looked at us. "What? You don't trust me enough to play with my son?"

"That didn't look like playing to me."

I needed to say something. Anything. I couldn't let Mika handle this. It was my problem to deal with, not his. But I couldn't seem to find my voice, staring instead at Sammy, who was looking back at me with wide eyes. He looked terrified.

"Oh, and you would know," Sarah retorted, inching her way back towards my son. "You two are too busy fondling each other to notice him or care for him properly. He needs his mother."

That's when I noticed Sam's cheeks beginning to turn pink in the shape of a hand print. she hurt my son. That was the last straw.

"Get out of my house," I said, my gaze never leaving Sam's.

"Allen, sweetheart..."

This time I lifted my gaze to lock eyes with her. "Get out of my house. You hurt my son. I don't want you anywhere near him ever again."

"The boy just needs his mother!"

Somehow, without me noticing, Mika had gone around the other side of the table and picked up Sam. I watched as he quickly inspected the toddler's face.

"You could have killed him," Mika said quietly, venom lacing his words. "How could you possibly think that was okay? He's just a baby!"

"The boy needs his mother!" Sarah repeated. Then she started reaching for the box she had brought with her, which was sitting on the table, still wrapped.

I grabbed it before she could. It was heavier than I thought it would be, and something was sliding around inside. "What is this?" I asked.

"His only saving grace now," she answered. "Just let me have the box and I'll be out of your life for good."

Instead of giving Sarah the box - because I seriously didn't trust her anymore - I unwrapped it myself. Inside was a small handgun. Where did she get a gun? Why? Was she really planning on killing Sammy? But if she had a gun, why try to suffocate him? Because she was absolutely insane, that's why.

She spoke up before I could. "Allen, can't you see? I'm sick again. It came back. I don't have much longer and Sammy will be happy with his mother. We'll have so much fun up in heaven together. Just let us go, Allen. He'll be so much better off."

I motioned for Mika to take Sam out of here. Neither of them needed to be here, especially with a gun present. Although, I had a feeling Mika probably had a bit more experience with being around guns than I did. Not that that made me feel any better.

"You really need to leave," I said once Mika was out of the room, putting the lid back on the box. "You're dangerous, Sarah. Mentally unstable. You need help."

She started tearing up. "Allen, baby, can't you see where I'm coming from? He needs to be happy."

"He can't be happy if he's dead." I placed the box back on the table, but out of her reach. I didn't know what else to do with it. Then I pointed towards the door. "You need to leave. I can't let you see my son anymore. You're too much of a risk."

She took a couple steps toward the door before stopping to look at me again. "But he's my son too, Allen! He's mine!"

I shook my head. "No, Sarah, he's not yours. You gave him up when you left him on my doorstep. Now please. I'm not going to ask you again. You need to go."

I could tell she wanted to argue more, but she still had enough sense not to. "Fine," she sighed. "But don't think I'm giving up just yet. He's still mine, Allen."

"This is the end, Sarah, because the next time you try to see him, I'm getting the police involved. They won't be on your side in this fight. So I'd suggest you let your son live the best life he can. And to do that, you need to stay away from him."

With a huff of exasperation, Sarah stormed out of the kitchen, grabbed her coat from the hook I had put it on, and left the house. I watched out the window as she climbed into her car and backed out of the driveway. Hopefully this really would be the last time I saw her. If she wasn't a danger to Sam, it would be a different story. But nobody hurts my son and gets away with it, not even his own mother.