Taking a seat in the chair, Kaleb spoke, “Did Morgan say who her motherwas?”
“No,” I answered, taking a seat myself while Emily excused herself to wait for my father to arrive, and most likely my mother. By now, Dawn’s sobbing was down to just a few sniffles and she was much calmer. She sat on my lap with her head on my shoulder. I was coming to think that was her favoritespot.
“Wonder if it was that young girl we found in an abandoned house a few days ago. The timing and blood loss would all match up,” Kaleb mused. “It’s hard to tell without DNA. I’m sure you want to keep this on the down-low?”
“If at all possible,yes.”
My father arrived not long afterward, my mother in tow. Dawn hardly moved from her spot, but I could tell she was listening very closely to as much as she could hear. I gently shooed her off my lap so I could watch my father as he looked at the baby girl, and took any necessary pictures. Dawn stood close by with her hands in front of her. She was nervous, but I wasn’t sure if it was for herself, or for thebaby.
“Hello,” my dad said, looking at Dawn before everyone else, and then turning his attention back to the baby who Kaleb had laid on the desk. “Less than a week old? Maybe about two, three days, at themost.”
“Should she be monitored at all?” Emily asked, stepping closer to thebaby.
“Strong heartbeat, good coloring, but very tiny,” Vence said. “I don’t think hospitalization is mandatory, but you do need to keep an eye on her for any breathingtrouble, or anything not typical for a baby. Since she is preemie, she may be up more at night to eat, and lag behind most babies her age,” he said, as he bundled the baby back up. He handed her to me. “What do you plan to do withher?”
“Keep her tonight, but after that, it’s totally up Dawn,” I said, turning to her. She still stood with her head down and looking at the floor. I gently lifted her head with my index finger, making her meet my eyes. “It’s all up to you, if you want us to take this child as your own. You have lost so much, and I want you to be able to have the choice. If you choose not to want to take her, I’m sure someone in this room would be more than happyto.”
With wide eyes, she shook her head and began to take steps backward. I could see the want in her eyes, but also fear and trepidation. My own look softened. I was still concerned. I wished I could read her mind at that moment. I expected her to flee to the safety of our room, but she went to the window and sat with her knees pulled up to her chest, and wrapped her arms around them. She stared out of the window, lost inthought.
“Has she been this distant all week?” Kaleb asked. I could see Zack and Emily preparing toleave.
“Yeah, she has. Since Erick and Morgan were here. She’s been depressed. I’ve hardly gotten a word out of her, and she hasn’t eaten much this week, either,” I answered. It was clear she was losing what bit of weight she had been able togain.
Kaleb had only come by one day, trying to talk to her, but she wouldn’t let him anywhere near her. I didn’t blame her, although I was extremely worried abouther.
“Did one of them say something to scare her?” Kaleb asked, looking over ather.
“I don’t think so. I think it’s more to do with whatever her panic brought on when she was in that crawl space last week,” I answered, watching mygirl.
“Hey man, we’re gonna head out,” Zach said. “You sure you’ll be okay with the little onetonight?”
“I’ll be fine,” Isaid.
“I’m just a phone call away if you change your mind,” he said, before bidding us allgoodbye.
“Can I talk to her? I know you aren’t your normal self when it comes to her; you’re too soft on her,” Kaleb said, halfamused.
I couldn’t deny that I was soft on her. Normally, no one could make me care so deeply about them in such a short amount of time. Most people knew I wasn’t one to be messedwith.
“Yeah, go ahead,” I said with a smile. “I’ve gotten a lot more out of her today than I have allweek.”
“Oh, I’ll get something out of her,” Kaleb said indetermination.
“Just be nice,” I sighed, worried he’d press the wrong buttons to get her totalk.
“When aren’t I?” he winked before going over to my girl. At first, she ignored him, and it took a little coaxing before she slowly followed him out of the room and into a quieterone.
“Maybe she needs anti-depressants,” my father said, leaning against the desk besideme.
“I wouldn’t want her on those unless there is no other choice,” I said, remembering all too well the feeling of everything being muted anddulled.
“It may help her cope with everything,” my mom spoke up. “She’s been through so much in such a short amount oftime.”
I probably needed to be a tad bit tougher on her to get through to her; that she couldn’t let life get her down, just because her memories got the best ofher.
“Not right now,” I said, hoping to get my parents to drop thesubject.
“Alright, son,” my father said, patting my shoulder. “Do you think Dawn will want to keep thischild?”
