Michael's POV
"Hey dad can she please come home with us? Just to play for a little bit." Rose said as Lily pulls a black hair little girl along with her. I looked down at my two six-year-olds. They look just like their mother.
"Sure, if that's OK with her parents." I look around but i noticed that I'm the only adult in the park. I turn to the little girl in confusion. "Hey doll where are your parents?" I ask trying to be gentle.
She looks down at the floor and kicks the dirt around. "I'm here alone because mom didn't wanna wake up." She shyly whispers still looking down. My eyes widened and i get worried.
"How old are you?" I question. She finally looks up and i can see her big brown eye. "9" She whispers again. "Don't worry mom lets me go to the park alone all the time." She suddenly looks up worried, finally meting my eyes.
I don't know what to do. Do i call the cops? Do i drive her to her house but then she would be getting in a strangers car. I don't know how her parents would feel about that. Then again what kind of parents would let their nine-year-old child alone at the park.
"Can she please come with us?" Lily ask making puppy eyes and Rose soon joined her. I look up at the sky as if asking God what to do. I'm just twenty four i have no idea what I'm supposed to do here.
I look down when the three girls giggle whispering to each other. The twins find it hard to make friends. Especially Rose so it's comforting to see them get along.
What kind of mom would leave her all alone?
"Hey Doll do you know your address?" She nods. "Okay...you three girls get in my car. I'm going to take her home and talk to her mom." They do as i tell them without question which makes me glad I'm the one to bump into her and not some creep.
I take out my phone to call the police. Im not risking this being some kind of trap for money so i want to make sure. "California police department how can i help you?" A woman asks.
"Hello, I'm at the park with my daughters and they found a little girl but she's all alone so i don't know what to do here." I scratch my head.
"Does she seem lost or injured?" I look back at the perfectly healthy girl. "No no she just said that her mom wouldn't wake up so she went alone to the park." I whisper not wanting to make the girl feel bad.
"What's her name?" I didn't ask. Im such an idiot. I watch them laughing and talking in the car. "Hey Doll what's your name?" I ask making her look down. "Darling Hill." She becomes shy around me so i offer her a warm smile.
I like her name.
"Darling Hill." I repeat back into the phone. The lady sighed on the other side. "Could you please give the phone to Darling?" I do as she asked and Darling casually says hi.
She smiles into the phone. "Hi Aunt GG.... No, I'm fine...She just drank again...... No i got out like you told me to...He seems nice. He has two daughters but i think they are clones." She whispered the last part and i can't help but silently chuckle.
She gives me back the phone. "Excuse me sir what's your name?" The woman on the other line questions. "Michael Nightingale." I can hear tipping on the other side. "Okay Mr. Nightingale you check out. If you could do me a favor....take her with you. I know your address here and i can pick her up in two hours. That's when my shift ends."
I bite my lip looking around. "Sure. I can do that. I can assure you, you're niece is going to be safe." She chuckles. "Oh no she's not my niece it's just that well. We've been getting these calls since she was five. We got to know each other very well."
I stay quiet thinking.
"I know what you're thinking. Why don't we take her away from the house but she always begs us not to. She has never been harmed and she's a very smart girl Mr. Nightingale." Still doesn't sound like a good reason.
"Okay." Is all i say. It just sounds like they don't care enough to make sure the little doll is safe.
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7 YEARS LATERNow she's crying in my arm at seventeen because some stupid boy broke her heart. She rests her head in my chest trying to calm down and stop her tears from falling. She's quiet but i feel her pain every time her chest raises and falls.
I play with her hair trying to sooth her. "Don't worry doll he was to ugly for you anyways and an ass for cheating." She giggles sniffling. "Dad!" She yells punching me. "What? he is." I shrug still holding her.
"Hey doll stay here and put a movie on. I have to pick up the girls from middle school." I get up from the couch reluctantly letting her go. "You know next year they will be in high school with me and i can drive them."
"Nooo!" I yell up at the sky to make her laugh. "I can't have my three girls in high school. It's to soon." I turn to her to watch her shaking her head with a smile. "Hey I'm leaving in two years so get use to it."
I open the front door but stop. "God doll, I'm going to leave before i have a heart attack." I groan over my shoulder. She giggles ad i leave holding my chest as if i were in physical pain.
I drive to the middle school but i can't stop thinking about what Darling said. She's leaving so soon, the years went by much to quickly. I guess i always thought it was to far away to think about it.
Why does she want to go to New York? There are very good schools right here in California. It's two years from now so i can get her to change her mind. It's still far away so there's still time.
I look up to see the twins running to the car and both get in the back because the passenger seat is Darling's. "How is she?" They both ask at the same time. They didn't want to go school so they could stay home and comfort her.
I promise to take care of her since the twins had tests.
I start to drive. "Better. She actually laughed. I was thinking we should go to the store. Get her, her favorite snacks and you guys can have a sleepover? I can call Linda to let her know." I glance at them through the rearview mirror.
They jump and squeal. "Yesssss that would be awesome." Lily cheers. Rose roles her eyes. "Why do you even call Linda? Like she would notice if her "daughter" is home or not."
"Rose, I know she isn't mother of the year but i am still obligated to let her know." I say looking at the road. "Don't get why? Darling is practically your daughter not hers." Rose says annoyed.

YOU ARE READING
ZONE
RomanceDarling has been best friends with the Nightingale twins since she was 9 and they were 6. The only Parent figure she's ever had was Mr. Nightingale. He was always there for her like she was his third daughter. Darling got a scholarship to her dream...