Weeks had gone by and I hadn't heard from the nurse at the hospital, and I hadn't been able to locate the father. I had left my information and called several times to try to keep in the loop. It had been pretty much a closed case, listening to what had happened and not able to press him more. The autopsy results had come back that the girlfriend really did lose her life, after giving childbirth, just as the father had said. I hated feeling helpless and the intuition I had that something still didn’t seem right.
Needless to say, when today one of the calls I had to take was a baby who had been dropped at a fire station, my heart skipped a beat. I was scared but at the same time relieved that just maybe it was him, and this would turn out in a positive way.
My friend, Charles, rode with me, a fellow deputy. He had known I had taken the other case so personally and felt bad.
“You can’t try to solve every case you come across. Some are just not going to be solved. And some are going to be solved in a way you wish they weren’t. Trust me, I watched my dad go through this my entire life. He took every case personally. It will really wear on you.”
“How can you not take it personal when it is a baby? And infant! A living creature who hasn’t even started their life yet, and is already hitting roadblocks and getting an unfair shake.”
“It is just the way it is. Our job stops at a certain point.”
We arrived at Fire Station 13. I made eye contact with the fireman immediately and he looked hopeful.
Good.
As I walked up I asked immediately boy or girl? Estimated age, etc. It was a little boy, and he was a couple months old. A note was left with the baby, with nothing on it but a simple:
I will always love you.
Your Father
The firefighter handed the baby over to me, as Charles and he observed my actions. I bounced the baby a little as he began to fuss. “It’s okay, little guy.” The blue blanket the baby was wrapped in needed a good wash, but at least he was warm.
“Someone a dad?” the firefighter asked.
“NO! Long story, but I am just glad this turned out in a good way and he is safe.”
“Do you want to take him to Texas South or…”
“We can,” I answered, and Charles glared at me.
“Now we are babysitting?” He smirked.
I smiled holding the baby.
The fireman shook Charles hand and then mine before walking to get me a car seat for the squad car.
“Is it the same baby from before?” Charles asked after we buckled in our seats.
“I’d be willing to bet my life on it.”
BREIGH
Every two weeks I took my grammy to the grocery store and we went for lunch or a quick bite to eat. She was more than capable of doing the store by herself, but I had always loved to go with her. She would never tell me I couldn't take her now anyhow.
Her main purchase was always her endive and fresh onion to make her endive salad that was to die for. She was the only one that could make it, although I would be lying if I said I hadn't tried.
I had never come close.
“Have you spoken with your father?”
“He had called me over to his house and I assumed it was the same old story, that he was going to see if he could ‘borrow’ money from me, but instead he was in the kitchen cooking. It looked like he was sober, and he had cleaned the house.” Granted his small trailer home wasn't anything that was a challenge to keep up. Except for him.
“He stopped by the house and of course I assumed it was the same thing. I was ready to chase him out of the house with a broom, but instead he tried to convince me he was turning over a new leaf. Wanted to try to be the father you deserved all along. He is attending AA meetings over at the town hall every other day, and even has a sponsor.”
“Yeah, I hate to think negatively, but I feel like something is up.” Grammy stopped and met my eyes. “My exact thought, baby girl. Keep an eye on things. I feel like he is up to something.”
“Well, in all fairness, you always feel like he is up to something.” I smirked because she has always loathed my father.
“And I’m normally correct now, aren't I?”
“Yes, you are.”
Every time.
One hour later, we sat at the same booth at the Texas Pecan Restaurant, sipping coffee after an early lunch. I had been drinking coffee with my Grammy since I was twelve, taking it exactly like she had. Grammy was filling me in on the drama happening on the church board, whispering softly because it was supposed to be discreet. Most of it I had already known, and was just enjoying watching her talk. It was funny how the older you got the time seemed to slip by. You appreciated things that when you were younger didn't seem to matter as much. Maybe it was because my age of twenty-eight and the importance I felt knowing what I didn't have. Lately it seemed emphasized.
“Howdy, ladies.”
I look up with a little giggle still in my throat.
“Hello, Kevin. How nice to see you,” My Grammy answered and he bent down to get to her level to give her soft hand a shake. She hated being treated like she was fragile, but I had told her several times I thought it was out of respect the way people did this.
I smiled and greeted him as well. I offered for him to join us, but he said he was just grabbing a quick lunch,
