by Rachel Burns
“Thanks, Jake.” Brian hung up and debated in his head what he should do. Jake was right the police couldn't do anything to find her. His name alone would make them call in the feds. The feds were already working on everything.
Jake was also right about going back to work, hanging out at home waiting for her to call wasn't helping this situation.
Brian went to bed to try to sleep. He couldn't get the picture of Amelia with her hands tied up, begging her Daddy to come save her, out of his head.
His little girl needed him. He could feel it.
***
Every day I did the same thing. I got up and pretended to be a normal kid in the park, and then I walked around all day. I walked past Daddy's office and debated going in. I regretted this decision to leave so much already.
I was constantly hungry, and I was lonely. I wasn't used to being alone with my thoughts anymore.
As a child, I had made up other children and pretended to play with them. I just needed the same creativity that I had as a child. I needed to make up people who would like me, as I was: poor, homeless and pregnant.
My usual walk took me past Daddy's office. I would hang around the courtyard that was next to his building and hope to see him. I never did.
Sometimes, I went into the building nearby and got myself something to drink for a water fountain. This summer was going to be especially hot. I carried my sweater over my arm and rolled up my sleeves. That made my outfit look less like a school uniform.
I was wondering how long my shoes would last when I saw Daddy coming out of his building. He was talking to another man, and they were laughing.
“Daddy,” I cried out before I could stop and think about what I was saying.
He kept on walking. He hadn't heard me. I tried to hurry over to him. I would beg for forgiveness and beg him to let me keep the baby.
I press through the crowds, but when I got to where Daddy was, he was gone.
“Daddy,” I called out, looking for him in every direction.
I wiped my tears away, promising myself that I would come back again tomorrow. I would even go in and talk to him.
I couldn't let my baby starve. That would probably be worse than what I was trying to protect baby from.
My feet carried me to Tony's Bakery again. I had lost hope of ever finding Cindy, perhaps if I had gotten away sooner.
I figured that she had moved away. Even if she were there, it didn't mean that she would remember me.
It had become part of my routine to go to the Bakery, so I went. They were just about to close. I got in the line to see what they had left.
I peeked over the heads of the people in front of me. It wasn't much today. I might not get anything. That happened sometimes too.
“That's it folks. We're all out.”
The people were pushing past me to leave. I was so hungry and mad at myself. If I hadn't been wasting time staring at Daddy's building, I would have been here on time.
He didn't want me anymore. He had moved on. Nothing was going my way today.
“Hey kid! What do you want?” a voice called out.
I looked over my shoulder to see if he was talking to me. Most of the other customers had already left. At this hour, I was the youngest person standing there. Still, I pointed to myself.
“Yes, you. You come in here every day and ask about my daughter, wearing the same school uniform even though it's summer. What do you want?”
“I didn't mean to be a bother.” Tears sprang to my eyes. I turned to leave, but Cindy's mother was blocking the door.
“When did you see our daughter last?” she asked me.
“Last summer.”
“Where was that?” She spoke so gently.
“At my house.”
“Are you two friends?”
“We just met that one day. They came to visit us.”
“They. Who are they?”
“Her daddy and her,” I answered.
“I'm her daddy,” the older man called out.
Had I said too much? Probably. I was going to get into trouble for this. I was already in so much trouble. “Not that kind of daddy.”
“Like a sugar daddy,” the younger man asked.
“Yes.”
Cindy's mother covered her mouth and began to cry.
“Do you know where she could be now?”
“I was hoping that she would be here. She was free to come and go as she pleased. She told me that she was going to leave him, right away the next day.”
“We haven't heard from her since last summer,” her mother confessed.
“I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bother anyone. I'll leave and never come back.”
“Wait, can you tell us anything about the guy? Anything at all.”
“His first name is Travis. I'm sorry I don't know his last name. I'm not much help, am I?”
“Travis,” her mother repeated. She shook her head and looked at her husband. “She never mentioned a Travis.”
“Is there anything that you could tell us? Even the tiniest bit of information could help us.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “He was her teacher at school, her math teacher at college. They met there.”
“Would you be willing to tell the police that?” the younger Tony asked.
“Again, I'm so sorry. I can't.”
“Why not?” Tony asked.
“I ran away. I don't want to have to go back.”
They said nothing as that sunk in. I had given them the information that they wanted so I headed for the door again.
Cindy's mother stopped me by grabbing onto my wrist and holding me in place. “When you say you ran away, what does that mean?”
“It means that I found a moment when I wasn't locked in, and I took off before anything worse could happen.”
“Do your parents know where you are?”
“My mother died giving birth to me, and my father was the one who gave me to him. He wouldn't help me. He was very clear about that.”
“Where do you live?” Cindy's mother closed her eyes as she asked.
“Here in New York.” I wanted to leave now. I had helped them. It was only fair that they let me go now.
“Where exactly?”
“Not far from here. I have to go now.”
“You're not going anywhere. You are going to stay right here until I am satisfied that you have a roof over your head tonight.”
“I have a roof,” I told her.
She looked into my eyes for a moment before she declared that I was lying.
“I really have to be leaving now. I hope you find your daughter.” I stepped past her and opened the door.
“Please don't go. Stay. I'll cook you a big meal. All you have to do is tell us everything that you can about Cindy. I'll cook you whatever you want.”
“I shouldn't.” I wanted to, but I didn't want to use them.
“You will stay and tell us everything that you can.” Cindy's mother linked her arm in mine. “You’ll take a shower and wash your hair, and I’ll find you something clean to wear. Tonight, you’ll sleep in a warm bed. How does that sound?”
“Too good to be true,” I replied.
I had once already sold my soul for those exact things. It hadn't gone well.
Angelina, Cindy's mother had walked me up the backstairs to their apartment, which was over the bakery. She showed me Cindy's room and whispered that Cindy might be home soon because of me. She gave me some of Cindy's clothes and a couple of fresh towels before she showed me where the bathroom was.
Tony Senior was on the phone with the police. He was trying to convince them to call the officer in charge of Cindy's case at home. From the sound of things they were refusing.
I hurried in the shower and felt stupid as I slipped into Cindy's underwear and her other things. The apartment was starting to smell mouthwateringly delicious.
My nose carried my feet to the wonderful smell. The family was talking loudly about the police. They fel
t that they weren't being taken seriously enough. Tomorrow morning the bakery would stay closed, and they would go to the station personally.
“I can do the baking,” Tony Junior told his parents.
“I could help,” I offered.
“You have already helped us so much. You are our guest. Tell us more about Cindy.”
I told them all about our meeting. They wanted to know everything. They asked about my life, and I told them as I ate.
Tony Junior was completely disgusted. He didn't like the idea of men beating on women for whatever reason. He was really nice.
I answered all their questions, but I didn't tell them any names. They asked me how old I was, and why I was wearing a uniform. I told them that had been what my daddy preferred me to wear.
They wanted to know if Cindy also had to wear one. I didn't know. I had less and less information to give them.
“You will come with us to the police station tomorrow.” Angelina informed me. “I want you to tell them everything that you told me. You will get a divorce and half of your husband's money. You can have a nice roof over your head that way.”
“I'm sorry, I can't do that.”
“Why not?”
“I love him. I wouldn't have left him if it hadn't been for – the baby.” I explained about my fears and told them that my daddy had powerful friends. I didn't stand a chance. He had lawyer friends, and they would see to it that I regretted saying anything.
They figured that a college professor wouldn't have power like that. They were glad that Cindy would be home soon.
Chapter 12 – Sarah
“Hello.” It was late. Who would be calling at this hour? I didn't recognize the number. Could it be my precious Amelia?
“Brian, here's Travis. I'm just calling because I'm leaving the country. Cindy's family found out where she was.”
“How did they find out?”
“I don't know. Your friend called me and warned me. I have some property in South America. We are going there. I just wanted to thank you. Without your contact, I would have lost my little girl. I can't even imagine what that must be like. I hope you find yours soon. I gotta go. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Travis. I'll try to visit you.”
“Do that. I owe you, big time.”
Brian hung up.
A moment later, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
Nanny Prim came in and closed the door behind her, not wanting the servants to hear them. “Was that about Amelia, sir?”
“No, it wasn't.” Brian had made it clear that he blamed Nanny for all of this. It had been her idea to drag Amelia to that damn school.
“Oh,” Nanny sighed disappointed. “I'm so sorry. I never meant for anything to happen to her.” Nanny left then. She went up to Amelia's room to cry. Everything had happened so suddenly. The child had been happy. There was no reason for her to run away.
Nanny believed that Amelia had been kidnapped and was being kept hostage somewhere. She knew that her little girl had been happy with them.
There was a huge hole in Nanny's heart that only Amelia could fill.
Out of all the young ladies who had been her charges Amelia was her favorite. She was a true little girl who never had to pretend.
Her baby was out there all alone and needed her. Nanny longed to know where her baby was.
Brian felt that everything was falling apart, the school was closed, and his friends seemed to be avoiding him. They just didn't know what to say to him.
Everyone thought that she had run away. Brian feared that someone had kidnapped her and killed her. She was the thing that meant the most to him.
Who hated him enough to do that to him?
Brian needed to talk to someone who would understand.
He called his brother. Thanks to the time difference it wasn't too late to talk.
Besides, Brian didn't feel like going up to their room. It was so empty without her, emptier than what it had been before he got married.
“Martin, it's me.”
“Have you heard anything? If they are demanding more money, than what you have, let me know. That isn't a problem.”
“I haven't heard anything. A friend of mine just called. The police want to arrest him. Her family found out where she was.”
“Oh.” Martin didn't know what to say about that. He didn't like the idea that the women were locked up without a decent reason.
He only locked Nancy in for health reasons. Martin had her doctor's approval. It wouldn't help her if everyone knew about her problems. They wanted to keep this out of the tabloids.
“I have a feeling like this is all coming down. If you think that it would be best, I'll sign everything over to you.”
“No, you don't have to do that. We have more than enough, and the oil fields keep me busy here. I trust you. I'll stand by you no matter what.”
“Thank you, Martin. How is Nancy doing?”
“She's good. Her psychologist got her to admit that she knew that she couldn't have kids before we got married. The guilt has been eating away at her. We are going to look into adoption, but she has to be back on her feet first. Looks like neither one of us will be able to continue our line.”
“If you adopt a child then it will be one of us. In fact, that might mean that it has a chance to be normal.” Brian laughed for the first time since Amelia was gone.
The thought made him break down and cry. “I miss her so much.”
Martin hadn't been able to make him feel better, but he had listened. That was worth a lot. He was the only person he could show his weakness to.
Amelia was his one weak spot. He would do anything to get her back.
***
Cindy's mother had proclaimed that I would be living with them from now on. When Cindy hadn't been found, they figured that, she too, was now owned by a rich man.
It was clear to everyone that Travis Rothbourne had been tipped off. They left the night Cindy's parents took me in. Even the officer had said that it was all very fishy.
Apparently, the professor came from a very wealthy family. He had been the sole heir when his father passed away two years ago.
He had the kind of money that allowed then to just disappear. It was clear that they were never going to see their daughter again.
Angelina had stayed in bed for a week after that.
Cindy's older sister, Carol, was over here all the time. She did the cooking, and the men did the baking.
When Angelina got up, she was up. Her depression was over. She walked out of her room giving orders, and everyone obeyed her. She was the head of the family.
When she pointed at me and told me that I would be working in the bakery from now on, I nodded my head. I was more than happy to earn my keep.
“You will help out, nothing that would be too much for the baby. When it is time for the baby to be born, Carol will give you her insurance card. You will memorize all the important dates and her address. Once you are out of the hospital, Carol will call and report that it was stolen. You and your baby will live with us until you can get a place of your own.”
“But, I can't let you risk that just for me,” I protested.
“I decided.” That said she went to the kitchen and started to cook.
Summer was quickly over. Time flew by because I had something to do every day. Autumn replaced summer, and people sought out a warm cup of coffee and something delicious, directly from the oven.
My days started early in the bakery. In the evenings, I watched TV on the sofa with the family. If they needed help out front, I helped.
Carol had already had two children, and I was borrowing her maternity clothes. She was very generous. The whole family was very giving.
Tony treated me like a brother treated his sister. He liked to pull pranks on me. He saw me as his sister. If anyone asked who I was, they were told I was the daughter of a sister who had moved out west many years ago.
When people asked abo
ut my husband, they told them that he was a soldier who was missing in action. The lies were so well practiced that I started to believe them.
People told me that they would pray for my husband, and I thanked them wholeheartedly.
I was working in the front more often until one day when Angelina announced that my baby would be born in a few days. She told me that she just knew these things, and that she was always right.
I stayed in their apartment and waited. Carol and Angelina would whisper to me about the birth. I was scared stiff to go into the hospital and lie like that. I feared that I couldn't do it.
When I shared my fears, they told me that I had to do it for my child. They said it wouldn't be a problem at the time. A mother would do what was right for her child.
They were perfect mothers; loving, kind, great cooks and strong willed. The opposite of what Cindy had been. But they were Italian. I wasn't. Did I have it in me to go through with something like this?
The contractions started in the middle of the night.
I didn't want to wake anyone, but I guessed that Angelina was listening for me. She had laid her hand on my enormous rounded tummy before I went to bed. “Very soon.” She had said.
“It's time, isn't it?” The door opened, and Angelina walked in. “Here is money for the cab. I'll call one for you while you take a shower. There is enough money for the ride home. As soon as you get the birth certificate, take off. Come right home. Don't call us. We'll wait.” She left then.
I hurried in the shower. It was suddenly easier to move. I had hardly been able to breathe before. Now I was moving gracefully.
I came out and Angelina hugged me. “You can do this for your baby.”
I nodded at her. I still wasn't certain. I had often tried to call daddy. I had the telephone book in my hands, and I had looked up the number of his office.
Tony had caught me sitting at the kitchen table in the middle of the night a couple of times. He liked to get up and snack on things.
Tony was a little flabby, but he was very nice, especially on those nights. He talked me out of calling Daddy.
