by D. Camille
He laughed softly then turned to Victoria. “And look at this pretty daughter she gave me.” Henry leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Thank you Momma and Daddy for standing by me,” she said softly.
Henry touched his daughter’s face. “We’re always here for you Victoria…no matter what.”
Little did Henry know that one day his words would be put to the test.
******
On a cold morning, Victoria woke up to excruciating pain. Calling for her parents, she tried to get out of the bed but could only manage to sit up.
Millie and Henry ran into her room and found her trying to catch her breath. “I’ll get the car ready,” Henry told Millie then rushed out of the room.
Millie went to the bed. “Relax Victoria, try to breathe like we practiced.”
Taking her daughter’s hand, Millie spoke in her professional voice. “You’re fine. How long have you felt the pain?”
Victoria sighed. “I was uncomfortable last night but the pain has gotten worse.”
“Okay, let’s get you ready.”
Millie helped Victoria get dressed before Henry returned to help her down the stairs. In the car, her pain increased until she was screaming. Millie did her best to keep her calm while Henry rushed through the streets of Detroit in the early morning.
At the hospital, Millie left Henry in the waiting room while she went with Victoria. Seven hours later, Miss Tauri Ann Patterson entered the world screaming along with her mother. Millie rubbed her daughter’s head as the nurses took the baby to examine and clean her.
“You did good baby,” Millie told her.
Victoria looked at her mother. “I thought I was going to die.”
Millie laughed softly. “I hear that all the time.”
When they brought the baby over, the nurse smiled at them. “Another one that looks just like you two.”
She handed the baby to Victoria who smiled. “She does look like you Momma.”
Millie stared at the little face that had instantly stolen her heart. “Wait until your Daddy sees her.” She got to her feet. “I’m going to go and get him.”
Victoria nodded before turning her attention back to her daughter.
Millie met Henry in the lobby and he looked at her anxiously. “She’s fine. They’re both fine. We have a beautiful granddaughter.”
Henry hugged Millie tightly. “Another baby girl?” he asked in amazement.
“You want to see her?”
He composed himself and nodded. “Yes ma’am.”
When Henry entered the room, it was like déjà vu walking over and seeing the little honey-toned, brown-eyed baby girl with little plush lips. He reached for his granddaughter and held her gently in his arms staring down at her.
“You see this Millie?” he asked.
“I see it Henry.”
He smiled. “She looks just like my Honey.”
Millie stood next to him. “I think she has your nose.”
He laughed and kissed his wife before turning back to his newest love because there was no doubt that this one was going to turn his world upside down like the first one.
He glanced at Victoria. “How are you pretty daughter?” he asked.
“I’m okay Daddy.”
“She did real good,” Millie told him.
Henry nodded. “She’s a Patterson.”
“Yes, she is.” Millie agreed.
They all looked as Gina entered the room with balloons. “Where’s my great grandbaby?”
Victoria smiled. “Hi Grandma!”
“Hi baby.” She leaned down and kissed Victoria.
“Now let me see this little one.” She walked over to Henry who handed her the baby. “Oh my! Another little Honey.”
She looked at Henry. “What are you gonna do with all these girls?”
“I don’t know Miss Gina,” he told her smiling.
The family stayed with Victoria until visiting hours were over then her parents promised to return in the morning. Alone with her new baby, Victoria studied her sleeping face then her little fingers and toes. An overwhelming fear overtook her as the baby began to squirm and twist. Her little eyes opened and she began to cry until she turned a dark red.
Victoria pushed the button for the nurse who appeared immediately and smiled at the fearful expression on Victoria’s face. She took the baby and began to soothe her.
“It’s okay,” she cooed. “You scared Mommy.”
She looked at Victoria. “It’s feeding time and you have a little fussy one.”
Grabbing a nearby bottle, she prepared it and handed it to Victoria along with her wailing baby.
“Go ahead, she’s ready.” The nurse instructed.
Cautiously, Victoria placed the nipple in the baby’s mouth like Millie had shown her. Instantly, the little girl quieted and greedily drank the formula.
“There you go,” the nurse praised. “She’s fine now.”
Victoria watched the nurse leave then looked down at the baby again. “Oh my god…what have I done?”
******
Millie sat in her living room on the sofa waiting for Henry to arrive home from work. When she looked up, Victoria had come from upstairs and was standing in the doorway with six-month old Tauri.
“Is that Granny’s baby?” Millie smiled as Victoria crossed the room.
Tauri reached for Millie and she took her, kissing her chubby cheek.
“I need to run out to get some more diapers,” Victoria told her mother.
Millie nodded. “Your Daddy should be home soon. He can drive you.”
Victoria shook her head. “I’ve got a ride.”
“Okay, don’t be too long. We’re going to have dinner soon.”
“Okay, bye.” Victoria kissed her mother and daughter then headed out the door.
Henry arrived a short while later and began playing with his granddaughter as they waited for Victoria to return.
Millie frowned. “I told that girl that we would be eating soon.”
Henry held the baby. “Well let’s eat. She can eat when she gets here.”
When Victoria hadn’t returned after dinner, Henry and Millie became worried.
“Where did she say she was going?” Henry asked.
“She said to get some more diapers for Tauri,” she explained.
Henry frowned. “Who was she with?”
Millie shrugged. “I don’t know. She said she had a ride.” She stood to her feet. “I’m checking the hospitals, maybe she was in an accident or something.”
They both looked at one another as Millie picked up the phone. After making numerous calls, they still had no idea of Victoria’s whereabouts.
“I’m going out to look for her,” Henry announced.
“I’m going with you.”
Henry shook his head. “No ma’am. You need to stay here with the baby.”
“I can’t just sit here Henry,” she told her with her voice shaking.
“Okay, let’s get Tauri dressed and we can drive around,” he conceded knowing his wife.
They headed upstairs to the baby’s room and inside the crib they found a note. Laying the baby down, Millie picked it up and began to read.
Dear Momma and Daddy,
I just can’t do this anymore. I’m not a good mother and I don’t want to be here. I’m leaving to get myself together and when I do, I’ll come back for her. I know that you will love and take care of her like you loved and took care of me. I’m so sorry I’ve been such a disappointment to you. I know that you raised me better than this, but I can’t help my feelings. I love you both so much and I thank you for everything you’ve done for me.
Victoria
When she finished reading, Millie dropped to the floor unable to breathe.
“Millie!” Henry dropped to his knees taking her in his arms. “Millie!”
“She’s gone Henry,” Millie sobbed holding her chest. “She’s gone!”
Henry rubbed her back. “I know.” He choked
out trying to hold back his own tears.
They held one another unable to speak until they both looked over at the baby staring at them from the bed. Henry and Millie watched her silently, their hearts breaking that her mother had decided to abandon her.
“What are we going to do?” Millie asked softly, looking at him.
Henry shook his head. “We’re going to make sure this baby is taken care of all her life.”
Slowly, he helped Millie to her feet and she stared up at him. “What is she thinking?” Millie asked.
“Why would she do this?”
“She’s not thinking clearly. We can look for her, but if she doesn’t want to be here what’s the point?” Henry asked sadly.
Millie looked down in the crib at the smiling little girl who raised her arms to her. Lifting her and holding her close, Millie closed her eyes. “It’s okay precious. We’ll never leave you.”
Henry kissed his wife and then his granddaughter who smiled at him. “She’s ours Millie and I’m not going to let anyone ever hurt her…not even her mother.”
Chapter 20
The nineties…
Millie stood in the arms of her husband on the dance floor in front of a room full of friends and family. She looked into the handsome face that she had fallen in love with and had married twenty-five years ago today.
Henry had planned this elaborate affair for his pretty bride who still made his heart jump with one of her smiles. Smoothly, he maneuvered her around the dance floor to the live band dressed in his black tuxedo with purple tie and cummerbund.
Millie’s matching purple dress swirled as Henry spun her around then pulled her back into his arms.
Looking down, he smiled at her. “Happy Anniversary, Mrs. Henry Patterson.”
“Thank you Mr. Patterson.” She looked around the room. “This is so beautiful.”
“Just like my Honey,” he whispered then kissed her cheek.
A flash of purple caught their attention before they were rushed by a little person. “Granny! Granddaddy!”
Henry laughed and lifted her into his arms. “Here’s my baby girl!”
Five-year old Tauri wrapped her arms around Henry while Millie kissed her cheek. “What have you been doing?” Millie asked her.
“Looking for you,” Tauri answered. “I thought you left me.”
Millie looked at Henry before responding. “We’re never leaving you precious.”
Tauri smiled and hugged her grandfather. “I’m never leaving you either!”
In the nearly five years that Henry and Millie had raised the little girl, she had developed a deep attachment to her grandparents. They had heard from Victoria via mail, still stating that she had plans to come back for her daughter, but the older Tauri got, it worried Henry and Millie about moving her.
Tauri’s grandparents were the only family she knew and she loved them to death. Her fears of them leaving her also worried them. They made a point of constantly reassuring her that she was safe and secure with them. Although, she’d never spoken with her mother, Henry and Millie had told her about Victoria and even showed her pictures. Tauri knew who her mother was, but to her, Henry and Millie were her parents.
Henry continued to dance with two of his favorite girls. It had been important to him for Millie to have this celebration. The past years had not been easy on her and she still held feelings about not being a good enough mother to Victoria.
He tried to explain that Victoria had made her own choices and there was nothing else either of them could have done. He looked down at Tauri, who resembled his wife so much, even the raspy little voice. Although the heartbreak of losing Victoria was tremendous, having Tauri in their lives eased the burden. She was the sunshine they woke up to each day.
“I swear that child looks like you two made her.”
Millie and Henry turned to the voice.
“She does look a lot like Millie,” Henry commented.
“Well it doesn’t help that Honey still looks like she’s in her twenties.”
Millie laughed. “Irma stop. You know I haven’t seen twenties in a while.”
Irma shrugged. “I guess that’s what having a good man taking care of you does for you.”
“Is that why you look so good?” a male voice asked as he put a hand around Irma’s waist.
Irma smiled at him. “I guess so Jimmy.”
“If you wouldn’t have been playing hard to get, we could be celebrating our twenty-fifth anniversary too,” Jimmy told her.
“Well we’re almost at twenty, so I’m good.”
Henry looked at Jimmy. “How’re things in Chi Town?”
“Good, Irma and the kids like it there. I’m at the plant and she’s at the hospital.”
Irma looked at Millie. “It’s so good to see you Honey!”
Millie smiled. “You too Irma. I’ve missed you, we have to see each other more.”
The two women hugged and then the group headed to get some of the catered food. Guests greeted and congratulated the happy couple with the pretty little girl.
Finding seats at an empty table, Henry sat with Tauri on his lap. Millie took the seat next to him and placed a napkin over the little girl whose eyes were already on the plate in front of her.
“Somebody is hungry,” Henry commented smiling.
Millie laughed and handed a fork to Tauri. “Somebody’s always hungry.”
“She knows it’s her favorite.” Henry watched as she dug into the homemade spaghetti on the plate dropping noodles on the tablecloth.
Henry placed his hand over her little one and helped guide the food to her open mouth. Tauri chewed and swallowed with a big smile. “Mmmm… it’s good Granddaddy.”
“It’s good baby girl?” he asked.
She nodded and reached for more as Millie watched them together. Henry was so good and patient with her.
“Why aren’t you eating pretty woman? I paid for all this food.” Henry told Millie.
“Thank you Henry. This is all so wonderful.”
“Only the best for my Millie.”
Millie picked up a utensil. “Twenty-five years. It’s seems like just yesterday I fell for a tall, handsome country boy.”
Henry took her free hand. “We’ve been through a lot.”
“And we’re still here,” Millie added squeezing his hand in return.
“I can’t wait to get you home.”
Millie blushed. “I know what that means.”
“You should by now.” Henry agreed.
“We have to make sure that little ears are asleep,” Millie warned, as Tauri was prone to interrupt her grandparents’ private time.
Henry helped Tauri feed herself more of the food. “I’m going to make sure she tires herself out tonight.”
The little girl then reached for a piece of fried chicken and took a big bite.
“Because tonight I’m enjoying my Honey with whipped cream.”
Millie looked around. “Henry!”
He leaned over and kissed her soundly. “You don’t want whipped cream? I remember you requested it on our wedding night.”
She looked into sexy dark brown eyes. “I remember too,” she whispered.
Henry whispered in her ear. “I can taste you already.”
Millie turned her mouth to him. “I can taste you too,” she whispered back before opening her mouth over his.
“Hey! This is not a private party,” Irma admonished coming to take a seat with her husband.
Millie wrinkled her nose at her old friend. “It will be later.”
All the adults laughed as Tauri finished the rest of her food and washed it down with a cup of punch. Millie reached over and wiped her mouth with a napkin. She did the same with her hands then kissed her little fingers. “What a big girl,” Millie praised her.
Tauri snuggled into Henry’s lap and laid her head on his chest while he gently stroked her back.
“You guys are doing a great job with her,” Irma commented. “She looks
so content.”
Millie stroked Tauri’s head. “She’s a sweetheart. We don’t know what we’d do without her.”
“Victoria did the best thing, leaving her with you.”
“It was about the only smart thing she did,” Henry commented.
Millie shook her head. “She’s still chasing that dream of finding the perfect place.”
“Is she still talking about coming back for her?” Irma asked.
Henry nodded, glancing down at the sleepy little girl. “I can’t let her do that though.”
Millie shook her head. “I won’t be like my momma wondering if her grandbaby is safe and taken care of. When Maggie ran off with Amber, it nearly drove Momma crazy with worry.”
“How is Mrs. Gaines?” Irma asked.
“She wanted to be here tonight, but she just wasn’t feeling up to it,” Millie explained.
Irma nodded her head. “Well send her my love.”
“I will,” Millie assured her.
Henry and Millie sat watching everyone having a good time as they held onto their little treasure in her little lavender dress and patent leather slippers.
“I can’t believe she’s sleeping through all of this,” Henry commented.
Millie smiled. “She’ll be getting into everything tomorrow.”
Henry took Millie’s hand again. “I told you I’d tell you this in fifty years, but I’m going tell you now at twenty-five.”
“You’re the girl of my dreams and my first love, Millie Patterson. Everything that we’ve been through, I’d go through it all again, as long as I’m with you,” Henry vowed.
Her eyes watered. “I love you Henry Patterson. Always have and always will.”
He brought her hand to his lips. “I love you.”
Millie laid her head on his shoulder as he held Tauri in his arms and together they watched everyone celebrate a quarter-century of their love.
Henry and Millie returned home late that night and put a very tired Tauri to bed. Removing her party dress and shoes, they slipped her into pajamas and tucked her in. Looking down at her, they both smiled before leaving the room.
In their bedroom, Millie slipped her arms around his neck. “Thank you again for a wonderful anniversary.”
“You know it’s not over.”
She gave him her wicked grin and stepped back. “I know.”
