“I know plenty of people on the island looking for handyman work, especially now before the tourists show up.”
Oh. He’d find someone to help. Still, he hadn’t booted her out.
“When can I see Jordan again?” Please, let it be soon.
“I’m at work tomorrow, and she’s at school. You’re welcome for supper again. I mean, you need to eat and probably don’t have much in your house if you’re only now getting settled in.”
“Thank you. I’d love to. Can I bring anything? I don’t want you to always have to feed me. I am capable of making food.” Barely, but she’d muddle through if need be.
Theo fished his phone from his pocket and swiped across the screen. “Do you still have the same phone number?” His face hardened at that question. Why?
“No, there was something wrong with my phone after my dad died, so I got a new one.” Pulling it from her pocket, she rattled off the new number. A second later, her phone sounded. It was a text from Theo.My number is still the same,it said.
“This way, if something comes up and you can’t make it, you can let me know. I don’t want to get Jordan all excited, then have her be let down.”
“I’ll be here. Nothing short of a natural disaster will keep me from seeing my baby girl. Even then, I’d fight my way here.”
Theo got to his feet, so she followed suit. Guess it was time. Time to go back to her lonely, empty house.
“Can I borrow the photo album? Just for tonight?”
At Theo’s dubious expression, she continued, “I’ll bring it back tomorrow. I promise. I need something to prove to me that she’s real. I was so freaked out today that I never even took any pictures. If it’s okay, I’ll do that tomorrow.”
“It’s fine.” Moving to the mantle, Theo stared at their wedding picture, then picked up the baby book and handed it to her. “Will you be okay getting…home? I can try and find someone to take you if you aren’t. I can’t leave Jordan here by herself. It’s one of the trials of being a parent. You’re chained to the house once your child is asleep.”
Was he trying to convince her parenting was hard? Yeah, she knew. Her own parents had failed miserably. Would she be any better?
“I’ll be fine. Thanks.”
Clutching the photo album to her chest, she eased toward the door. As she turned the knob, she said, “I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Or perhaps sooner, since she would probably do more pond cleanup tomorrow.
As she drove down Route 3 to Seal Harbor, she replayed the day in her head. Her baby was alive. It was still so hard to fathom. Her father had known and planned the whole thing. What had he been thinking?
Early in her pregnancy, he’d insisted she get an abortion. It was the one thing she’d stood up to him about. She wasn’t killing her child. After that, he’d tried to convince her to give the child up for adoption. Since she continued to refuse, he’d apparently taken the decision out of her hands. At least, he’d given the baby to Theo and not some strangers. Did that show a tiny sliver of decency? Not particularly. How do you justify telling a new mother that her baby had died?
Parked in her grandmother’s driveway, she fumbled in her purse for the keys. When she’d left the house this morning, she’d never imagined what her day would hold. The place was now pitch dark. Like her life had been after her father had lied about her child.
After flipping on lights, she threw her purse on the table and slumped in a kitchen chair. Her hands shook, and she lowered her head into them. Her whole life had changed in a matter of hours. Emotions raged through her, from ecstatic and relieved to angry and betrayed. But her daughter was alive and that would make everything better. Right?
It would, wouldn’t it? Then again, her mother had never seemed happy, and she’d had a loving daughter who wanted nothing more than to spend time with her. In the end, it hadn’t mattered. The stupor she’d been in so often consumed her and finally took her life. It was a feeling Chelsea understood.
Would it consume her, too? No, she wouldn’t let it. Reaching for her purse, she took out the bottle of pills that were always nearby. It had been a few weeks since she’d last taken one, and she felt great. Would it last? Or would she fall victim to the depression and anxiety that had claimed her mother? She pushed the pills back in her bag and took a deep breath.
What if Theo found out about her mental illness? God, she hated that term. Hated that she had no control over things that others found easy. Would he insist she stay away from Jordan? Have her committed? Her father had kept her and her mother at home, never wanting them exposed to anyone who could hurt them. What had it mattered? Her mother had hurt herself. Permanently.
The light on her phone blinked, and she swiped the screen to check it. Frank had called a few times and texted another dozen. It was only nine o’clock. She supposed she should call him back. After all, he had taken on the responsibility of a huge pharmaceutical corporation when it should have been on her shoulders.
He picked up on the first ring.
“Chelsea, where in the world have you been? I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for hours.”
“I told you in the text that I found my daughter. She’s here on Mt. Desert Island.”
“What in the world are you talking about? When did you have a child? And you mentioned a husband? Are you having an episode, Chelsea? Maybe I should come get you and bring you home.”
“No, Frank. I’m fine. I need to start standing on my own. My father took care of everything my whole life. It’s time I did things for myself.”
“You don’t sound like yourself.”
