The nurse bent at the knee and leaned in close to Cherish and Jasmine. She gave Cherish a quick hug on the shoulders before she placed a hand over Jasmine’s little face, “Now you take care of that baby. Do not give up, do you hear me?” She asked in a stern tone.
Cherish nodded repeatedly before she turned to Jasmine, “I promise I will try my hardest for her.” She whispered.
The nurse reached around and grabbed Cherish’s baby bag, “Now, I packed some more formula, extra pads, and some creams you will need, okay? Don’t tell anyone but this is only for you, alright?” She questioned.
Before Cherish could answer, Simon had returned by her side. She passed Jasmine to the nurse as he helped her to her feet. He took her hand and wrapped his arm around her back. Cherish hummed out a soft moan of pain, gripped tightly onto his hand, and shuffled towards the car. She sat down cautiously before landing on the seat with a huff. She was still in a bit of pain since she tore from the strain Jasmine put on her body but, it was worth keeping her without a doubt.
Simon reached for Jasmine and she was placed into his arms. He paused for a moment and stared down at her. She had the cutest little nose and her chin tucked in the sweetest way to her pouted lips. She looked like her mother. Now, where on Earth was her daddy?
Cherish mouthed “Thank you” to the nurse who pressed her fingertips to her mouth before she clenched a fist at her heart. Cherish felt that tell-tale sting in her eyes again. She was quick to wipe her face and held her arms out as Simon approached.
He set Jasmine into her arms before he placed her small bag between her feet on the floor. Cherish took a moment to glance over at Jr. in his car seat. She felt off with him back there by himself. From the outside the car looked like a full and completed family but on the inside was nothing but the pain two strangers shared. With one last look and wave to the nurse, the car pulled away and Cherish was officially on her own. She was able to make her own choices with her daughter in tow but now she didn’t know what to do. Simon gripped the steering wheel as he turned onto the road and drove them home.
The car was eerily silent. The lie of knowing one another was no longer in play.
The rumble of the tires was the constant sound and Simon didn’t want to risk waking the babies with music. Cherish clenched her jaw as she patted along Jasmine’s bottom and rocked from side to side; staring down at her child. After a few minutes, he decided he needed to know where to start. What happened to land this woman in her situation. He didn’t want to, but he had to put her on the spot. “So, where’s Todd?” He questioned.
Cherish looked to Simon for the first time and cleared her throat. Her voice was hoarse, raspy, and strained but she tried to amplify, “I-I don’t know.” She said with bitter shame. Wetting her lips, she blew out and slowly turned her attention back to Jasmine. She didn’t dare ask about Emily because the answer was completely obvious.
His lips drew into a tight, thin line. Cherish almost lost her child and future because of that piece of shit. He and Emily witnessed the way Todd treated her while she was pregnant. He already didn’t like him from a stranger’s point of view. To know Todd didn’t have redeeming qualities to be there for his child’s birth and to clearly abandon Cherish at the hospital, Simon couldn’t hold his tongue, “Oh, then he’s a worthless shit then.” He snipped. Simon was usually a calm and mildly spoken man. He had venom in his insult with the “T” in shit clear and sharp. He did a double take at her from the empty road, “Sorry if that offends you. It’s not my place but he wasn’t treating you right.” He sighed.
Cherish’s large eyes met with Simon as he expressed the very thing she had come to terms with over the last two days. “Hmph…” She huffed under her breath. She cupped Jasmine’s head and proceeded to nod, “No, no you’re right. He’s a big, fat, stinking pile of donkey shit.”
“You’ll be better on your own. I’m sure of it. We’ll find you a job, get you a car, and a place. For now, don’t worry about anything.” He listed as though trying to convince himself.
Simon said “We” quite a bit. Suddenly, it dawned on her that he intended to keep them off the street until she was able to get on her feet. His kindness was beyond anything she’d expected from another human being, especially after the man she dedicated herself to had destroyed the marginal faith she had in humanity.
Cherish parted her lips. She wanted to say something so badly but instead there was only silence. Why was he doing this? Surely, he had enough on his plate. Now, he was willing to put Jasmine and her on his shoulders as well? Maybe he didn’t want to be alone as ironic as it was. Or, perhaps, he did it out of pity? That had to be the reason. So why didn’t it feel that way?
“Thank you.” Cherish said before they fell into silence once again.
Riding the car down the backstreets to Simon’s home, he felt a certain clench in his stomach. The street was dotted with beautiful colonial homes with large walkway gardens and pillars decorating the front doors. This was the nicest neighborhood Cherish had ever
