Anna said, ‘I’m sorry it was so awful when we last met, so sorry; we could have handled it all so much better.’
‘It’s OK,’ Minnie replied, ‘it wasn’t you, it was …’
‘Dickhead Dad,’ Anna finished her sentence, and Minnie laughed, although it sort of hurt to do so. Minnie was hooked up to various machines monitoring her heart and checking every aspect of her health.
‘How are you, Minnie?’
‘Yeah, OK, bit scared. Wish it wasn’t like this, not really sure how it’s going to go. My heart is only just coping. I don’t want Bean to have any distress. I don’t want Mum to have any more distress … Oh, sorry … I mean …’
‘No, that’s right, Minnie. She is your mum. I know that. Call me Anna, that’s just fine.’
‘Oh, OK, thanks. Easier. Yeah.’
‘Of course. Look at you trying to look after everyone, Minnie. Well, I’m here to tell you, direct from your mum’s mouth and your mum’s heart, that you have to stop that, and ONLY think about you and that little Bean. The rest of us will cope. Your mum has asked me to be here for you, if you want me to?’
‘Yes, yes, I want you to. I really do, please.’
‘I don’t want to be anywhere else, Minnie. I’ve got your mum in my pocket; we’re both here for you. But there is a condition …’
‘What? What d’you mean?’
‘She wants to know everything, Minnie. Being kept from the truth, the reality of it all, is what’s wrecking her. She’s a big girl, seriously, she can cope with anything true; she can’t manage lies any more. She’s had a lifetime, your lifetime, of that. She’s exhausted from it. Do her a favour and let me include her on EVERYTHING, yes? Not filtered, not edited. She needs to be part of it for real.’
Minnie’s beautiful face started to crumple. Lee, who had been standing sentry outside, saw Minnie’s concern, and rushed in, demanding, ‘Hey, hey, what’s going on? You can’t come in here,’ he said pointedly to Anna, ‘and be upsetting her, for God’s sake!’
‘No, hon’ – Minnie took his hand – ‘no, you’ve got it wrong. Mum’s asked her. It’s OK. It’s OK.’
Lee looked between the two of them and trusted that all was in fact well.
‘Yep, you really are the marvellous chap Hope told me you were, Lee. She’s pretty much right about everything, isn’t she?’
‘Umm … yeah!’ Minnie chimed in. ‘Except she did steal a baby. She ain’t no angel. None of us are.’
‘None of us. True,’ Anna easily agreed, ‘but I’m going to be the human bridge between you and her, so that you can get on with bringing this baby here safely, and not worrying about anybody or anything else. Want that, Minnie?’
‘Yep. I want that, Anna. Yes. Thanks.’
‘I’m here now. For anything you want. It’s my privilege. Now, what’s first up? What d’you need?’
‘Umm …’ Minnie thought a moment. ‘Oreo cookies?’
‘You are your mother’s daughter, darling, you really are.’
Anna stayed at a little boutique hotel in Bristol and was with Minnie whenever she wanted over the next week, filling in the gaps where Doris and Glory couldn’t be there, or when Lee had to be at work. She watched everything very closely, and noted down all the medical details of every step the team took, every decision, every bit of advice, and she relayed it all to Hope in phone calls whenever she could. Hope didn’t miss out on a single detail, and she sent messages to be relayed back to Minnie. Sometimes, they were wawa messages. Anna retold them exactly as directed and never once questioned it. She knew it was their exclusive club, their secret code, and she didn’t presume to interfere.
Anna’s most prized moments in amongst the chaos and tension of the hospital procedure carrying on all around were when Minnie would nod off, which she often did. Hosting her racing heart was exhausting. It was in these sleepy moments that Anna nabbed her moments of joy. Watching her sleep, stroking her hair, holding her hand. All the little things she’d ached for with her stolen daughter, over the long and painful years. Little things that meant everything.
One time, Anna herself fell asleep holding Minnie’s hand. She only woke when she felt Minnie move. Minnie was awake seconds before Anna and saw what was happening. She smiled at Anna. It was OK. It was comforting. Baby steps.
Anna was about to leave the hospital late one night when, as she passed the nurses’ station, she heard a man asking for directions to Minnie’s room.
‘I’m here to see Minnie Parker, please,’ the man said, very formally.
He had an accent which caught Anna’s ear.
African, undoubtedly.
Anna hung back.
The nurse pointed towards Minnie’s room. As he passed Anna, the tall handsome man with the high forehead and polished ebony skin exchanged a cursory glance with her. Anna saw the flash of green lightning in his right eye. Sudden green in the dark dark brown. He walked past her, towards Minnie’s room.
Anna decided to double back. She needed to know if this stranger was friend or foe.
He approached the door to Minnie’s room, and hesitated. He was looking through the glass at her. Then he knocked lightly and went in.
Anna approached the door and saw Minnie look up at him.
‘Dad,’ she said, ‘you’ve come!’
‘I’m here,’ said Quiet Isaac, ‘I’m here.’
Anna backed away slowly to let them be together.
So, this was the Absent African.
Returned.
Anna’s heart plummeted. Was she about to lose her daughter again?
The Birth
As Minnie drifted in and out of sleep and worry, she wondered if she would always remember the safety she felt when she saw Lee’s lovely face as she woke up.
‘Hello, Curls? Still in bed bein’ a lazy mare?’
A few days later, everything changed for Minnie.
