Introduction

Part 2

"I'll drive you up there" he kissed the side of my head before standing up to grab the keys.

———
"Beth- whose this?" Daddy said putting his whiskey on the coffee table. His initially conversation was cut off as soon as he saw the baby in my arms.

"Found her just tossed in the trash. I'll call social services in the morning but till then I was wondering if you had kayce's old crib lying about."

He stood up one hand on his hip before he headed towards the stairs  "yeah it's up here I had originally dished it out for Monica when she would come to visit with the new b..." he stopped talking and instead motioned to Rip to follow up the stairs too.

"You know sir, I don't think this will fit down the stairs." Rip stated as he rubbed his hand against the wood rail of the crib. I saw the look in his eyes as he did it. My stomach tightened knowing we will never have this. It was taken, ripped from us. But it angered me because I did not allow for it to be taken from us.

"There Rip, I think you're onto something I can hardly remember putting this thing together all those years ago." He focused his attention over to my direction "Beth, hunny, looks like you three are staying here tonight. This thing ain't getting down without pulling it all apart and putting it back together."

"Well then take it apart." I was growing impatient with all the faffing around.

"Sweetheart you agreed it's one night. There's no point in causing all this extra hassle" Rip tried to reason with me. Bless that man.

"Fine." I grudgingly said.
"Move it down into my old room at least."

I saw daddy huff before eventually letting out a small laugh as he and Rip picked up an end each and followed me down the hall.

"Christ this thing is heavier than it looks."
———

"What about... Lainey." I spoke looking up at Rip who I could tell was awake.

"What?" Rip replied pulling the bed covers over my shoulders as he pulled me into his side. He didn't look at me instead he kept his eyes shut and head facing up at the ceiling.

"For the baby."

"Beth" he cleared his throat this time to clear the grogginess.
"She ain't ours. You can't go getting attached. She belongs to someone else."

"I know that but she doesn't have a name. At least I don't know. I doubt those people gave her one considering the fact they just threw her away."

He let out a defeated sigh "Baby, you wanna give her a name give her a name. Just make sure it's a good one." He kissed the top of my head before trying to go off to sleep again. I turned my body still cosied into Rip and looked across the room towards the crib. Staring at this baby just reminded me of that day. The guilt that fills my heart when I think of what I can no longer give Rip. What Jamie took!

———-

A knock at my bedroom door woke me up. Why was someone there?
"Yea" I called reaching to the table side for my cigarettes.
As the door opened the last person I had expected to be there was Monica.

"I guess Kayce was telling the truth."

I looked up at her lighting one of my smokes.
"Hmm?" I looked up at her confused by what she meant. Then I saw her gaze at the baby. That was what she had meant.
Oh shit. I should probably not smoke this with her there. Monica seemed to have already picked her up "I'll take her downstairs whilst you smoke that" she softly said with a grin heading in my cigarette's direction.

I don't remember Rip getting up, normally he tries to be as quiet as he can except I always manage to hear him. Light sleeper I guess.
But time to get on with the day.

Opening the curtains the sun gleamed down in to the room leaving a ray of light from the window onto the bed. Sunny day, I'm wearing a dress. After the weather recently it's been way to hot to even keep my hair down.

I don't see the need to call social services right this second. I'll do it after breakfast. Hopefully Gater has something he can whip me up.

Strolling past the dining room Monica popped up from that direction still holding the baby. "Kayce said you're calling social services. Said you found him in a trash can."

Monica was the kindest soul I knew, I wondered how she managed to do it, keep a level head.

"Her. I found her in a trash can. But she isn't mine. For once I need to do the right thing."

"She's going to end up stuck in the system. You and I know that. Her family don't want her. Her life's been thrown away before it even started." Monica hesitantly spoke not wanting to admit the truth yet she did anyway.

What Monica was saying was right. She hadn't been dealt a good card to start off with. But I can't change that. As my mother told me, we gotta fight for every little thing that we get. This would just make her stronger won't it?