Against the Odds

by Brenda Kennedy

  “It sounds like it’s intentional to buy them some time.”

  I sit down across from him at the conference table and say, “I think it is. I also believe it’s time that we to file some motions.”

  “Motions? Like what?”

  “Like they can’t leave the country with Madison…”

  Bobby interrupts and says, “Do you think they would do that?”

  “Bobby, I have no idea. He’s a very wealthy and desperate man. A desperate man…”

  “Will take desperate measures,” Bobby finish the sentence for me.

  “Exactly.”

  I can see Bobby is thinking before he says, “Well, if they won’t cooperate with you, then let’s file for full custody, too.”

  “Do you want to speak to Leah about this first?”

  “No. She has enough to do with just trying to stay pregnant. I think this idea is good. Let’s put the fear of God in them.”

  “Okay then. I’ll get the papers drawn up and get them filed in family court in the next few days.”

  I also tell him about the psychotic nurse who was involved in the baby swap. I tell him, Melissa Simms the R.N. on duty, is solely responsible for switching the babies. I also inform him she was an undiagnosed schizophrenic at the time all this took place.

  Bobby and I talk more about his plan and what this will mean. He says he hates being that rude, but it’s the only way to get a response from them. I have to agree with him. I think we’ll be hearing something within the next week. This will certainly get their attention. Before he leaves, I hand him the gift that Mr. Reed gave to me at the end of the last meeting two weeks ago. I already explained to Bobby that the Sinclairs left right before I did. The package is addressed to Jamie written in very feminine handwriting.

  As soon as Bobby leaves, I make one last attempt to get ahold of Mr. Reed, Drake Sinclair’s attorney. When my call is sent to voicemail, I begin my paperwork. I call my wife, Lilly, and tell her I’ll be home late tonight.

  Leah

  Robert and I are on our way back from my Doctor’s appointment. We are both excited to learn that the cervical cerclage is working. I haven’t dilated anymore and the baby is healthy. I am also two weeks further along in my pregnancy.

  The car ride feels good and I beg Robert to take the long way home. He doesn’t. He does tell me that I can lie out by the pool later. I don’t know why I didn’t think to do that, sooner. I’ll still be lying down, but the different scenery will definitely help. I know I’m blessed to still be pregnant so I try very hard to not complain about the bedrest. When Robert asks how I am doing, I often make jokes about needing a bell to call my house boy when I need something and being a lazy couch potato. I also joke that I may never return to work again. It is tough to lie around all day but if it means delivering a healthy baby, I’ll do it.

  Later that night while lying bed, I ask Robert if he has heard anything from our attorney. “I actually saw him yesterday. I must have forgotten to tell you.”

  Forgotten or intentionally didn’t tell me? Robert and I hardly ever fight, but I’m a little angry with him at the moment. “Oh, did he say anything important?” I ask, but I already know anything that Bruce said about Madison will be significant.

  “He said that it’s getting difficult to get ahold of anyone from the Sinclairs, including their attorney.” Robert continues to talk, never taking his eyes off mine. “He said that he has a motion or two he wants to file in family court.”

  I have no idea what that means. Visitation, custody, shared parenting? I have no clue. “What are they?” I finally ask.

  “One was he is asking that the Madison, not be allowed to leave the country, on vacation or otherwise.”

  “I hope he doesn’t do business overseas. But, why would Bruce care if they leave the country?” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I understand why. “He thinks they’ll take Madison and never come back.”

  Robert is still watching me. “Yes, that did cross his mind.”

  “Oh, God, Robert. All this time I was sitting here waiting for them to contact us, they could have been planning on taking Madison to some unknown island.”

  “But they didn’t, Leah.”

  “How do you know? You can’t be sure of that. Maybe they are already gone. Bruce needs to do something, now.” The baby kicks aggressively and I place my hand on my belly to calm her.

  “Don’t get upset, she doesn’t like it,” he says.

  “I know and I’m trying not to.”

  “Gus drove by their house and Drake’s office today. They’re still in town.”

  “He did what? Robert, he can’t stalk them, it’s illegal.”

  “Leah, calm down. He isn’t stalking them. He just drove by.”

  I pause for a minute and think about what I want to say. I have no idea what to do about the situation with Madison. “Robert? How did he get their address? How does he know where they live and work?”

  Robert looks away and says, “I gave him the addresses and since I couldn’t leave you, I asked him to drive by for me. I had to make sure they were still in town.”

  I admit only to myself that I’m glad to know they are still around. I understand Robert’s thinking, but there must be a better way of doing this. Robert and I talk about Bruce filing the motion and how long it will take. I voice my concern about Drake and his anger. I try to not think about it, but it’s all I can think about. I remind myself it’s out of love for Madison and it helps to relax me. I also remind myself of how sweet Chelsea is and that she wouldn’t be with a man who wasn’t kind and loving in return. Robert promises me that he and Gus won’t stalk the Sinclairs and I promise to try to remain calm and concentrate on staying pregnant. Robert informs me that he did an extensive search on the Sinclairs. He also adds that he needed to know that his daughter was being taken care of and was loved. I get that. I also considered doing that myself.

  Robert stands up and walks out of the bedroom. When he returns, he is carrying a wrapped gift. “I forgot, but Bruce gave me this yesterday.”

  “He bought the baby a gift?” I ask.

  “No. It’s from the Sinclairs. They bought Jamie a gift when they thought she was still…”

  Robert doesn’t finish his sentence. He doesn’t have to. “Should we open it?” I take the gift from him and shake it. It doesn’t rattle.

  “I think we should and whatever it is, I can take it to the cemetery and leave it for her.”

  I carefully open the gift and inside is a stunning doll. “Oh, this is gorgeous,” I say as I lightly touch her soft brown hair.

  “It looks expensive, not what I thought it was going to be,” he says examining the doll. “I was expecting to see a baby doll.”

  I ask, “What kind of doll is this?” Robert takes the baby from me and then takes his laptop off of his nightstand. He looks at the box and then types in Lee Middleton into his computer. “Feel her skin, she is soft just like a newborn baby.”

  Robert touches the dolls face and then her hands. “She is very soft,” he says as he pulls his hands away from the doll. “Well, she is definitely not a toy and is very collectible.” Robert reads to me what the website says about the baby doll. We learn the dolls have been around for a few decades and the dolls are made of vinyl, not plastic. We decide we’ll offer the gift back to the Sinclairs since Jamie isn’t here to enjoy it.

  Drake Sinclair

  “Mr. Sinclair, Mr. Reed is here to see you.”

  “Send him in, Carolyn,” I say over the intercom. We don’t have a scheduled meeting, so this can’t be good. I pick up the framed family photo that sits on my desk of Chelsea, Caden, and Madison, and me. It was taken during a family outing to the Sarasota Jungle Gardens at Christmastime. I keep the framed picture close by while I work to always remind me of what is important in life.

  I place the picture back on my desk and walk towards the large double oak doors. There is a knock at the door before the door opens revealing Carolyn and my
attorney. “Thank you, Carolyn,” I say, dismissing her. I extend my right hand out to shake Mr. Reed’s. “This is a surprise.” He returns my handshake but not before I notice the manila envelope in his left hand. “Should I assume there is a problem?”

  “Problem? No, I wouldn’t call it a problem. But we do need to talk.”

  “Please, sit down.” I point to the chair on the other side of my mahogany desk. As I walk to take my seat I ask, “What’s going on?” I already know this has to do with Madison. I have a legal team that works for me for my business, but Ryland Reed is my one and only attorney to handle anything and everything that has to do with Madison. Actually, Reed was my second choice; Bruce Myles was my first pick. I was mad as hell when I learned that the Grethers had already hired him as counsel.

  “I received this in the mail today and thought you would want to see it.” He hands me two manila envelopes. He instructs, “Open the one on top first.”

  He waits patiently as I read the short and to the point legal document. “I guess we’ll have to cancel our cruise next month,” I joke. I know they did this because they think we’ll run with Madison. If I thought for a split second that I would lose her, I would have.

  “I’m glad you’re not planning on moving to Europe with her. Now read the other one,” he nods to the second manila envelope.

  I open it up and lean back in my black leather desk chair to read it. I feel my blood pressure rise and a tic in my jaw. I rock back and forth as I continue to read the letter from the Family Court. My brows furrow together and my head becomes hot. I am pissed! “The Grethers are seeking full custody of my Madison.”

  “It’s just a ploy.”

  “How can you be sure?”

  “It’s a result of the lack of communication between us and them. I have done as you asked, against my better judgment, and this is their retaliation.”

  “And you think you should have been compliant with their demands every time they called?” I ask in a calmer tone than I would usually use.

  “Civil, yes. I explained to you that we need to keep the upper hand when it comes to Madison. You have her; now we need to keep her.”

  “Set up an appointment with them and let’s see what they want.”

  “Okay, and Drake, if you don’t let me do my job, you’ll lose her, forever.”

  I nob and that is my dismissal to him. I watch as he stands to leave and I say just before he opens the door, “Ryland?” He turns to look at me and I say slow, steady, and in a firm voice, “You do what you have to. You dig deep and find any dirt you can on Leah and on her husband, Bobby. I WILL NOT lose Madison.”

  He nods and walks out the door.

  Robert

  Leah and I have been alternating rooms for her to lie in. She goes from the bedroom, family room, and the patio. I watch as she looks in the nursery every time we walk by. Strict doctor instructions prohibit Leah from standing or sitting for any length of time.

  As soon as we are in bed, I open up the laptop and Google chaise lounge. Soon the screen is covered with images of fainting couch, recliners, and lounge chairs. “What are you looking for?” Leah asks.

  “I thought we could get you a chaise for the baby’s room. Maybe you can start to spend some time in there. Let our daughter get used to her room.”

  “We would love that,” Leah admits. “Can you go to Coconis Furniture so we can see what they have?”

  “Never heard of it, but whatever you want.”

  “Thank you. Sara and Brea were talking about it awhile back. It’s a non-franchise, family-owned and operated furniture store in their hometown. From what they were saying, their furniture is better quality than any place around here.” We shop and Leah decides on a sage green color chaise.

  Leah and I talk some about Madison and I don’t tell her that I had Bruce file for full custody of her. She gets upset every time Madison or the Sinclairs are mentioned. I’ll need to tell her sometime, but not now. She’ll either be upset or…she’ll be upset. Leah and her pregnancy hormones, I’m sure Leah won’t be happy. It’s best I wait to tell her.

  I watch Leah sleep and I find comfort in knowing she and the baby are safe. I thank God and talk to Jamie and tell her that Leah and the baby have made it through another day of pregnancy. One day at a time, I keep reminding myself.

  The next morning Mom comes over and stays with Leah while I go to Upper Cut for my workout. I run to the cemetery first before I run across town to the gym. “The Eye of the Tiger” blasts through my ear drums and the adrenaline rushes through my veins. It is an incredible feeling.

  As I run I see someone standing at the entrance of a vacant parking lot. I slow down as I get closer to him and I stop when I realize it’s Drake Sinclair. I remove the earbuds from my ears and walk the short distance to where he stands. He is wearing a midnight black suit, crisp white shirt and a black tie. His Rolex watch sparkles in the sunlight with every twist of his wrist. He looks like a powerful man. If I weren’t Robert Grether, I might be intimidated by him, but I’m not.

  “Bobby,” Drake says curtly.

  “Drake.”

  “Do you have a minute?” he asks.

  I look around and the only car I see in the vacant parking lot is a black Mercedes. “Sure, what’s on your mind?”

  He starts walking away from the street and in the direction of his car. He begins by saying, “I received some paperwork the other day from the Clerk of Courts.”

  “I see my attorney is doing what I’m paying him to do.”

  “You’re suing us for full custody?”

  I stop walking and take my stance before saying, “I have a daughter and I want to know her.”

  He turns to face me and says, “And where is my daughter?” I don’t say anything — what can I say? I see a twitch in his jaw before he says, “Madison is my daughter and don’t you ever forget it.”

  I take a step closer and say, “Madison is my daughter and I’m coming for her.”

  Drake also takes a step closer, puffs his chest out and whispers, “Over my dead body.” He turns to leave and I watch him drive off.

  I get to Upper Cut later than I intended to. When I walk in, Dad, Tim, and Gus are already there. I nod before I go to the water cooler and rehydrate. Looking around the room, I can see my sparring partner is ready and waiting for me in the ring. Dad and Tim tape my hands and glove me up as Gus instructs me and coaches me on my boxing technique.

  After 12 solid rounds in the ring, I pretend that the punching bag is Drake Sinclair, instead of Abel Kennedy. Recently I haven’t worked out nearly enough and I almost forgot what a stress reliever it is. The lights flicker off and on and it’s my cue to shower up. I don’t run home tonight, Dad takes me. We stop by and pick up Italian food for dinner. I’m happy to see Mom and Leah laughing and having a good time when we get there.

  Mom places all the food on the coffee table and I get the plates and silverware. It looks like a small buffet-style dinner. We all have dinner together and I don’t mention my encounter with Drake this morning. In fact, we don’t mention my workout either.

  When everything is cleaned up and my parents leave, Leah and I go to bed. “I got an e-mail saying the chaise lounge was shipped,” Leah says excitedly.

  “That’s great. It’ll give you another room to hang out in.”

  “I think I’ll like to hang out in there,” she giggles. “She’s a nice and relaxing room,” she says, seriously.

  “That it is. I think we need to add some pink in there. You know, make it a girl’s room for… ‘her,’” I say, using air quotes.

  She laughs. “She really does need a name. I think pink will go well with the sage green color that’s in there. I also think that once we start using pink clothing and pink blankets it’ll be a lot of pink.”

  “It’s a good thing I like pink,” I tease.

  She snuggles into him and says, “Yes, it is. Maybe one day you’ll have a reason to like blue.”

  Leah

&nbs
p; Robert kisses my forehead and says, “I love blue.” We never discussed having another baby after this one. I think if we knew about the baby swap before this pregnancy, I never would have conceived this baby. Jamie would have certainly been our one and only child. We always wanted a big family and although that is no longer our wish, I would like to give Robert a son. I’d like to give myself a son, too.

  Robert avoids all conversations about Madison and about his upcoming fight with Kennedy. There are things I want to know, yet there is never a good time to ask. Every time I think about asking, this baby starts kicking me like crazy. I know the baby can feel my emotions, so I do my best to remain calm with peaceful thoughts. The dark cloud still hovers, but it’s at a distance. It’s just waiting for the time and place it can swoop in and claim me. I’m keeping my eye on it, making sure it stays away.

  “Story time?” Robert asks.

  “Yes, please.”

  He picks up Jamie’s bedtime book and removes the bookmark. “Tonight we have ‘Lady and the Tramp.’”

  “I loved that movie when I was little.”

  “Really,” he asks.

  “I did. Mom, Dad, and I watch it all the time. I think Mom liked it as much as I did.”

  “Well, let’s take you back to your childhood. Shall we?”

  “Yes, please and thank you.” I pull the covers up, fold them over, and flatten them out before he begins reading.

  “Comfortable?”

  “As comfortable as I’m going to get.”

  Later that night I get up to pee. It’s one of the few times that Robert doesn’t wake up. I try to get up out of bed without disturbing his light snoring. I waddle the short distance to the bathroom and realize my panties are wet. I knew I had to pee, but I didn’t think I had to go that bad. Another great side effect of pregnancy. I may need to wear Depends before this pregnancy is over. I sit on the toilet and scream when I see the amount of blood on my panties. It’s not just on my panties, it’s on my nightgown and running down my legs.

  Robert rushes in and he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to. I can see the fear spread across his face. “Stay here,” he says before he disappears back into the bedroom. I can hear him talking to someone and I hope it’s a 911 operator. I try to wipe the blood away, but the toilet paper isn’t enough. I’ll need a towel for all of this blood. I begin to cramp and squint my eyes shut and try to breathe through it. I also attempt to do a Kegel exercise thinking it might hold the baby in.