Stork

by Mardria Portuondo

  “Oh, I have diaper cream that should go on before the diaper to protect her skin.”

  “You got help from someone! What did I tell you?”

  “I had to. She sales girl was right there by the baby section and she helped me. And stop yelling; you are scaring her.”

  “OK. Well, the cream will have to wait for the next change because she is hungry.”

  I finished putting on the diaper and realized she was naked otherwise.

  “She doesn't have any clothes?”

  “No. Go again, Stewie. Find a baby store. Get those things that cover their whole body...like a bodysuit. They will help you. Just don't lead the cops to my door,” I said as I got a fresh towel from the closet.

  I wrapped her in it and prepared the milk bottle then sat with her on a chair. I put the nipple in her open mouth and she started to pull so hard.

  “She was starving. Poor baby.”

  “Don't you think it is time you tell me something? Because if you found her on the street you have to call the police…”

  “No. Someone left her on my doorstep with a note.”

  “Who?”

  “I don't know.”

  “So you are telling me….”

  “Stewart, please get the clothes and I will tell you all I know when you get back. Please,” I begged.

  “OK,” he said and walked out the door.

  I looked at the baby with a smile on my face as she sucked on the nipple, enjoying her milk. I realized that the milk was spilling from the side of her mouth so I used the wash rag that I was initially going to clean her with and placed it under her neck. I watched her as she finished the small bottle of formula then I held her up still wrapped in the towel to keep warm. She had shiny black hair, bright eyes and pretty pink lips. She was a beautiful baby. I wondered about her mother, who she could possibly be. She seemed young because she said she was still in college. I needed to speak to her badly because I had no idea how to proceed with this baby. I also had my girlfriend to worry about who insisted that she should not return and the baby was still here.

  I needed to get to the document in the bag to see what else I could learn but I had to wait for the baby to fall asleep, which would be any moment now. I was not sure what Stewart was going to find at the store, but tonight I would have to go online and do some research then order some things for next day delivery because I would not be able to go to a store. She was too young to take with me and I did not trust anyone to leave with her, not even my beloved Stewart. I gently laid her in the center of the bed and I was proud of myself for not breaking her. I had never held a baby before, but I think there is something inside of a woman that kicks in when she hears the cry of a baby.

  I went downstairs and before I retrieved the document I called the number again. Still no answer. I reached inside the side pocket of the bag and there was an envelope containing a birth certificate and other medical papers for the baby. I checked the medical papers first to see if she was a dying baby with complications, but she was born five days ago. The hospital would not have released her and the mother if she was not healthy. However, I was sure she needed to see a pediatrician for something. I could not take her because I had no explanation for this baby in my care without getting into trouble. I needed to get to the mother.

  I checked the birth certificate. Her name was Kaci Louise McGuire. Her mother’s name was Victoria Louise McGuire. Why did they have the same last name? Was she married? The paper said single. That meant she had no father for the baby. Victoria was twenty-two years old. The police would have a lot of information here to go on. She said I should call before I called the police, yet I was calling her and there was no answer. I looked at the number again to see if I made a mistake with the digits. This three was possibly a five so I tried that. It was the wrong number. So the original number I dialed was correct, but she refused to answer her phone.

  My immediate concern was caring for the baby, so I decided to run into the shower while she was still sleeping, but I remembered Stewart. Normally, I would leave the door opened but I did not want to come out of the shower and the baby was gone. So I called him and told him I was going in the shower and he should wait in his car if he got back before I came out. As the water poured down on me, I felt a sense of purpose. There was a little person waiting on me in my bed to take care of her. She needed me, but I was absolutely sure that the best way to help her was by helping her mother. Kaci and Victoria became my new mission.

  CHAPTER 3

  I came out of the shower and got dressed as Kaci slept peacefully on my bed. I wondered what Stewart could possibly be buying that was taking so long. I called him on the phone and he told me he was outside my house sitting in his car and waiting to hear from me. I opened the front door and let him in and he entered with two big bags and told me he had more in the car. I was ecstatic. There were so many things. I opened the first bag and there were about two dozen footies. They were beautiful! There were blankets and more diapers, wipes, milk. Stewart re-entered the house with a big box. It was a bassinet to be assembled. I was so happy because I did not have to worry about her sleeping in the bed with me.

  “Miss Davis…”

  “How many times have I told you to stop calling me that?”

  “I know...Lea just feels weird. Miss Davis, I can’t go home tonight and I need to change my phone number.”

  “Why?” I laughed.

  “Because my sister helped me to get these things. I had to ask her to meet me at the baby store because I was overwhelmed. I did not know where to start. She kept asking me who I was buying these things for and because you warned me not to say anything, she just assumed I got somebody pregnant. Do you know what she did?”

  “She told your mother.”

  “That’s right...and she took pictures and send it to my entire family. Everybody has been calling.”

  “Oh honey,” I laughed. “I’m sorry.”

  “Yea. We need to wash these before we put them on. That’s what my sister said.” Stewart gather all the clothes and blankets together and picked up the gentle detergent.

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “To give these a quick wash and get them dried before baby wakes up.”

  “Her name is Kaci.”

  “Kaci. Cute name. I will be right back for you to tell me where the baby came from because I could be accessory to a crime and don’t even know it. What happened to your housekeeper?”

  “Today is her day off. She will be back first thing in the morning.”

  “I am sure she knows more about babies than we do. She will be able to help you.”

  “No. She has enough to do. This is a very big house. Kaci is my responsibility until her mother comes so I will not be passing that on to anyone else,” I said then smiled. “Except you.”

  “Oh God,” he said and disappeared into the kitchen which lead to the basement where the washroom was.

  I decided to send Victoria a message because she was not taking my calls.

  Victoria, I am not going to call the cops, but I need to speak to you. I feel very exposed having a baby without any contact with her mother. I am willing to help you but I need to speak with you. Please call me.

  I hoped that she would get in touch with me because I had no problem helping her out, but I could be in some real trouble here. I need to hear her tell me it was OK for me to keep Kaci for a little while. Two months to be exact because my fiancée would hit the roof if she came back and this baby was still here. But, I would never send Kaci through the door unless I knew she was going to be OK, therefore it was important for me to get in touch with Victoria so that I could help her to help Kaci. Rachel was on her way back to China but I knew to expect a call the minute she landed.

  Stewart came back into the living room and sat across from me.

  “So the baby belongs to…?”

  “Victoria.”

  “And she is?”

  “I have never met her. I heard th
e doorbell and when I looked out, the baby was there on my doorstep.”

  “Why didn’t you call the police?” he asked and I felt like I did a stupid thing and he was scolding me. He didn’t understand.

  “Here. Read this,” I said handing him the note.

  While he read, I ran upstairs to check on Kaci. She was still asleep and I needed something to be able to hear when she wakes up. I took my computer with me so that I could start looking for the things I needed. I went downstairs to see Stewart removing the bassinet from the box so he could put it together.

  “I have a question,” he said. “How did she know about you? I mean, why you?”

  “I don’t know. It doesn’t seem random at all. Do you think my friends would do this?”

  “With a newborn baby? No way. Your group of friends could easily be called the anti-baby gang. None of them has kids or planning on having any.”

  “Hmm. I never thought of it. Well, I don’t know this girl or who would have encouraged her to take the baby to me. Anyone who knew me, would not have made that recommendation, knowing my position on having children. But, with Kaci, I am sold,” I smiled proudly.

  “Miss Davis, try not to get too attached because if the mother comes back for her baby, it may be hard when you have to give her back. You understand?”

  “I do. I know. I wish she would just answer my call.”

  I ensured that there was nothing else in the pockets of the bag and took it out to the garbage can. Even if she came back for her baby, Kaci was not going to leave this house in it so it was OK to throw it away. I went through all the things that Stewart bought and order a late lunch for us. When it arrived, we paused to refuel but mid-meal I heard Kaci crying so I went upstairs to get her changed and fed. I needed to keep some sort of schedule so that I have an idea when her next bottle was approaching. As soon as she was finished eating she went right back to sleep and I was a little disappointed because I wanted to spend time with her.

  I stepped out of my bedroom and saw the closed door of the room across from mine. I opened it and stepped in. It was beautifully decorated but I would rip it apart for Kaci, if she was staying with us. Her things that Stewart got were downstairs and disorganized. She needed her own room, but my relationship would be over if Rachel came home and saw a nursery for the baby she told me to get rid of before she returned. I wished I knew how long I had with Kaci but her mother refused to talk to me. I needed to put her things in this room because I had a lot more to order in a short while, which would be here tomorrow, so I would leave the room intact but store her things inside.

  I returned downstairs and saw that Stewart had completed the bassinet. It looked girly and beautiful. We carried it upstairs to my bedroom because I needed to have her close to me.

  “Stewart, you have to go get another one. I need one for downstairs. When I am down there, I won’t have anywhere to put her.”

  “OK. I will go back.”

  “Thanks, Stewie. What would I do without you? You were the best thing my mother ever did for me,” I smiled, meaning every word I said.

  “Well, I am happy one of us is happy with our mother. She thinks I am having a baby. Do you know how many calls I have received from her?”

  “Why don’t you have a baby?”

  “First, I need a girlfriend.”

  “Why don’t you have a girlfriend? Or do you have one?”

  “No. Not...I don’t,” he said and looked away uncomfortably.

  “Is there something you want to share with me?”

  I asked the question because I thought he was gay and afraid to come out to me or his family because if they knew, they would not be thinking he had a baby. It was little more complicated for gay men to become parents.

  “No. Nothing to share. Your phone is ringing. Maybe its Victoria.”

  I quickly reached for my phone but it was Jill.

  “Hi, Jill.”

  “Hey. Some of the girls are going out tonight and I know Rachel is away so it would be good for you to get out of the house,” she said.

  “No...sorry. I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I have something important to do here.”

  “OK. So we will take the party to you.”

  “No. You can’t. I will be busy…”

  “Are you having an affair behind Rachel’s back?”

  “No!”

  “Because you have my blessing.”

  “I don’t know why you hate her so much, but I am not having an affair. I have to go.”

  “Wait. Can I come over? Just me.”

  “Not today. Sorry. I have to run,” I said and disconnected the call.

  “How long do you think you can keep her away?” Stewart asked.

  “Not long,” I sighed.

  “I am going to take the things from the dryer. Where are we going to put them?”

  It was a guest room so the drawers were empty and I pulled them out to indicate. Then I heard a message come in. I grabbed my phone. It was from Victoria! I was afraid to open the message because I did not want her to say she was coming to get Kaci. However, I did and it read:

  Thank you so much for taking care of Kaci. I will be done with school in six months and I will get a job and take her. You have no idea how grateful I am. One day, I hope I will be able to show you how much.

  I decided to reply to the message because I needed to see her face to face.

  Victoria, I know you are scared, but I want to help you. You don’t have to hide from me. I just need to talk to you in person. I want to get your permission to help you but I need to speak to our directly. Please, at least take my call.

  I waited ten minutes and there was no reply. I dialed her number but it rang to voicemail. I tried a few more times and still the same result. She probably needed more time but it seemed as if I would be having Kaci for a little while and my heart soared. I searched for an interior decorator to make this room into Kaci’s room, while I prepare for an epic showdown with Rachel when she returned and realized that Kaci McGuire had moved in.

  +++

  Last night was a little rough on me. I was not accustomed to jumping out of my sleep at a baby’s cry. She was not a difficult baby because she cried to tell me she needed something and once she got it, she was fine. I got off the bed and looked inside the bassinet; she was asleep. She was dressed in a beautiful pink, yellow and white footie and wrapped in a pink blanket. I smiled at her then went inside the bathroom to brush my teeth and get ready for my day with Kaci. I went downstairs to get my coffee and refused to look at my phone screen until I did. But before I did, a call came in from Rachel.

  “Hi, babe,” I greeted happily hoping it would trigger the same response in her.

  “Is the baby still there?” she went straight to it.

  “Honey, you didn’t even greet…”

  “I asked you a question, Lea,” she said impatiently.

  “Yes. But the mother texted me. I am trying to get her to speak to me so that I can encourage her to come and talk for us to work things out.”

  “Work what out? She is to come and get her baby,” she said unsympathetically. “Don’t babies need food and diapers and all that stuff? How are you managing?”

  “Stewart had been helping me. He got everything I needed for now.”

  “For now? Honey, please do not get attached to that baby because it will be too difficult when it is time to say goodbye. I am not against you helping that girl and her baby, but I do not want it happening in our home. Let her take her baby and we will give her some assistance. Find out what she needs and we can help her to take care of her child.”

  “Really?” I beamed with joy because that could work. “Are you serious that we can help her?”

  “Yes. I just need you to encourage her to come and see what she would need to raise her baby.”

  “OK. I will try harder.”

  “How is it going with the wedding plans?”

  “I am going to get a pla
nner because I won't have time to…”

  “We don't need a wedding planner because you said you wanted something small. You and Stewart can handle the initial planning and I will finalize it when I get back.”

  “I don't think I will have time now because I have the baby and this is all new to me so I have to be learning as I go along.”

  “Oh my God. I cannot believe this is happening. I don't want to share you with anyone, Lea.”

  “I know. It is just for a little while.”