Stork Page 2

  The part that worried me the most was when Olga told me she was whispering my name as if pleading with her to make sure I was OK. I kept imagining and feeling the fear when she realized that she was dying and leaving me behind. She knew I would be devastated at the news, and she died being afraid. I had no way of letting her know that I would be OK and that she taught me, and made preparations for me to survive on my own.

  I could not continue the meal that was sitting in front of me, full of tears. I reached for my phone and called the one person I needed at this moment.

  “Hi, babe. I was just wondering why it was taking so long for you to call me,” Rachel said and when she realized that I was not responding, she knew something was wrong. “Lea? Lea, honey, what’s wrong?”

  “I miss you,” I cried.

  “Oh sweetheart, I will be done here before you know it. You are cooped up inside the house and that is why you are getting sad and feeling lonely. Why don’t you call up a few of the girls and have lunch or go by the office...when was the last time you went there?”

  “I don’t know,” I replied. “I miss...I miss my mom.”

  I burst into tears and I needed the comfort of human arms but I had no one.

  “Oh Lea…”

  “I want you to come home,” I cried. “I want to see you.”

  “OK, baby. I...let me see what I can do. But you have to stop crying, Ok?”

  “OK,” I cried. “Are you going to try?”

  “I am looking into it as we speak...Samantha, I need to go home for a couple of days. Lea is not feeling well and I need to go check on her. How does it look?” she asked someone and I could hear the woman responding but I was not sure exactly what she was saying. “OK, baby. I’m on my way.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. No more crying OK?”

  “OK,” I replied with a smile on my face.

  “Love you, babe. See you soon.”

  “Love you too.”

  How could they see Rachel any other way than her being the most wonderful partner for me? She had never disappointed me and went out of her way to ensure my happiness. I was no longer going to allow my friends or family to cause me to doubt Rachel’s commitment to me. She was flying all the way from China just to comfort me when she could have given it a few hours for the moment to pass. I loved her and the way she made me feel. All those who had a problem with us, too bad for them. I really should revise the invitation list for our wedding because I did not want anyone who was not there to celebrate us and wish us well. Rachel would be my wife, whether they liked it or not.

  CHAPTER 2

  It had been a beautiful too days and I was trying hard to hide my disappointment at the fact that Rachel was returning to China for two more months. As I laid in her arms naked and trying to catch my breath from our passionate lovemaking, I wanted to beg her to stay another day but her ticket was booked and scheduled to leave in four hours. She was very thoughtful to come all this way to comfort me, although by the time she got here, my focus had shift from wanting comfort to wanting to see her and making love to her. When she walked into our living room, she didn’t make it beyond the sofa before I had her out of her clothes fucking her senseless.

  We were wild in our lovemaking because Rachel was very experienced and she did not do soft and smooth. She knew what she wanted and she took it. I was only too eager to let her because, by her demanding satisfaction, I also got what I wanted. I didn’t recall Rachel making an effort to make sure I was satisfied; it just happened because she enjoyed all the things that were required to make me cum. She loved eating pussy, so much that I had to pull her away each time because long after I came, she would still be eating and moaning. She loved sucking and squeezing my breasts, even when we are driving she would stop by the side of the road to get her hand in there...or her lips.

  I loved how healthy her sexual appetite was and my ability to get her there every time. I looked up at her and caught her watching me. She was an exquisite woman, confident, and intelligent. She was not as laid back as I was. She was a fighter and a go-getter, but with me, she was most gentle and had expressed that after her years of running wild, she had finally found home.

  “What are you thinking, my love?” she asked caressing my brown curls.

  “About how good you make me feel,” I whispered.

  “So...we are thinking the same things now. We are becoming one. I can’t wait to marry you,” she said and pulled me to her lips.

  Her kiss was gentle and sweet. I went deeper, trying to take us to another round of lovemaking so that she didn’t realize she had to leave, then maybe she would automatically spend another day.

  “Babe...no, honey, we can’t. I am going to be late for my flight and I have a meeting first thing in the morning.”

  “But…,” I said sucking on to her neck, “I thought you wanted more...for me to lick your clit until you…”

  “Oh my God...you know you can’t resist...please, Lea,” she begged as I made my way to her breasts.

  Rachel wiggled from under me and got off the bed.

  “Rachel Campbell...refusing sex?”

  “Please don’t let me get back in the bed. I have to get in the shower...and don’t look so attractive…,” she grunted and headed into the bathroom.

  I laughed and started getting dressed to go downstairs to get Rachel’s coffee. With one leg in my pants I heard the doorbell. Who could that be? It must be Jill...oh wait...definitely Stewart. I ran down the stairs to the front door. I opened it but nobody was there, but in a split second my head was turned downward and there was a bag opened with a baby wrapped up inside! I looked around but there was no one. I opened the bag wider to see if my eyes were deceiving me but there it was asleep. I could not just leave it there so...but who the fuck could do something like this?! I brought it inside and closed the door then put it on the rug in front of the sofa. What was I going to do?

  I wanted to run to get Rachel but I did not want to leave it because I did not want it to die. It moved a little and I jumped. I was not sure if it was a boy or a girl. I had to call the police. I reached for the phone on the holder, but as I was about to dial 911, its eyes started to open. I was not sure if it could see me but it seemed to be looking right at me. I hung up, cutting off the dial tone. I looked around not knowing what was my next step...I had to call the police, I didn’t have a choice, but it was so beautiful and delicate...and the police were rough and...not delicate...with guns. It did not belong with them...maybe I could just wait to see if the mother would come back.

  As my eyes roamed around the bag, I saw a yellow paper sticking out. I retrieved it and read.

  You don’t know me but I am begging you to take care of my baby just until I get back on my feet. Please do not call the police. I do not want them to take her away. All her papers from the hospital is in the outside pocket and my number is there too, only call me if you are going to call the police. But if you could find it in your heart to help me for six months until I complete my college degree, I will repay you any way you want. Please, I am desperate. Thank you.

  My tears fell onto the paper and my hands shook with I read the note again. The mother was not hiding; she needed help. But this is serious. It was a baby. I picked up the phone again...then looked at her...and again I couldn’t. She was looking at me...pleading for me to protect her...and she had my heart instantly.

  I was not sure how long we were there looking at each other but suddenly Rachel was hurrying down the stairs, dressed and ready to go.

  “Rachel! Oh my God! You are not going to believe this,” I said kneeling in front of the bag. “I heard the doorbell and when I opened it, there was a baby on my doorstep.” When I said it, she froze mid-stride. “Come look.”

  “Why are you not calling the police?”

  “Come, honey. Come look at her,” I beamed.

  “No,” she said but walked over to us anyway. She looked inside the bag and stepped away. “What the fuck is that?!
Where...who left it here?”

  “I have no idea but there is a note begging us to take care of her…”

  “Us?!” she shouted. “Call the fucking cops, Lea!”

  “No...I can’t. Not yet. She is desperate…”

  “I don’t give a fuck! Get the idea out of your head that we will be keeping this baby...or any baby for that matter. Call them!”

  “I will...but let’s wait and see if the mother comes back...she left a number.”

  “Call her and tell her to come and get her fucking child,” Rachel was so angry and terrified of a little baby.

  I picked up the phone and called the number but there was no answer. I didn’t want to leave a message because I did not know who it was.

  “She is not answering...maybe she is scared and need a little more time.”

  “If you don’t call the police, I will,” Rachel said and went for the phone on the wall.

  “No! Rachel! Put the phone down!”

  “What is wrong with you? That baby is not staying here.”

  “I swear to God, if you call the cops, I will never speak to you again. Put the phone down Rachel!” It was my turn to get angry. “Why are you so heartless?”

  “I am not a bad person, Lea. Yes, a few women have gotten hurt because if they are not right for me, I’m out. I met you and I have found what I was looking for, and that was with you not having a baby in our life. So tell me right now, if I made a mistake, Lea.”

  “You did not make a mistake. I love you. This baby is not in our life. All I am asking is for some time to figure out what to do.”

  “Are you hearing yourself? I don’t want it here even for a more minute. You either call the cops or I am leaving.”

  “For...for China?”

  “For good!”

  I did not want to lose Rachel. I wanted us to get married and continue to live this happy, wonderful life that we had.

  “Don’t ask me to choose.”

  “What the fuck did you say?” she looked at me in disbelief. “You would choose the baby over me? And you don’t even know whose the fuck it is?”

  “It is a helpless little baby,” I said as tears ran down my face.

  “Your tears have always worked on me but not this time, Lea. You need to get that baby out of this house. I am going to be late for my flight if I don’t leave now,” she said and looked at me with her hands at her waist. She sighed and hung her head. “OK, fine. I will be gone for a little less than two months. That’s the time you have. Make sure that when I return, that baby is not in this house.”

  “She won’t be. I promise,” I said throwing my arms around her. “Thanks, Rachel.”

  “Listen, you need to know what you are doing because I don’t want to be in China and get word that my fiancée is in jail.”

  “Don’t worry. I will take care of everything and I will be careful. If it looks dangerous then I will call the police.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yes. I promise.”

  “OK. I have to go. Call you when I get there.”

  “OK,” I said, praying that the baby did not cry before Rachel left.

  She would probably get freaked out and call the cops. I hurried her through the door and gave her a kiss as her chauffeur collected her bag and they both head to the car. I closed the door and looked through the window until the car disappeared and then I started freaking out. I opened the thin blanket that she was covered in and she was so small. Her umbilical cord was still attached and she had no extra clothes or diapers. It was as if she came directly here from the hospital. There was no food! What if she starts to cry? What the fuck was I going to do?

  I tried to take her out of the bag but I was afraid to touch her. I had never held a baby before. I picked up the phone and called the one person I could tell without being yelled at to all the police.

  “Hi, Miss Davis. What can I do for you?”

  “Stewart, drop what you are doing right now and come to me. Hurry!”

  This was what I loved about him. He asked no question, just disconnected the call and ran to me. Jill or Scottie or any of the other girls would have a hundred questions. I sat looking at her the beautiful baby who had fallen back asleep. I looked at her chest to see if she was still breathing, she was. I tried to look for the documents that the mother said was in the side of the bag but the baby started to cry!

  “Oh my God! What am I going to do?” I asked running to the window to see if Stewart was there.

  I reached inside the bag and slipped my hands under her and brought her up to my chest. She was wet through the blanket. I carefully climbed the stairs and removed a fresh towel from the closet then laid it on the bed. I placed her on it and removed the wet one she was wrapped in. She was crying and I was shaking. The diaper she had on was dripping wet so I removed it and wrapped her again then held her in my arms. I heard the doorbell and hurried downstairs, holding on to her for dear life, but fearing that I would break her into pieces.

  I opened the door and when Stewart heard the baby crying in my hands he did not want to come in.

  “Get in here, Stewart!”

  “Who... what's that?”

  “Get in!” Finally, he stepped inside. “I need your help, Stewart. What do babies need to survive?”

  “Where did you get that?” he was still in shock.

  “Stewie, please. I will tell you later. She needs food and diapers. Stop at the first place you see... there's a mall just down the road...search on your phone for the best newborn milk…and diapers. What else?”

  “I don't...know.”

  “OK. Do that. Do not ask anyone for help and do not talk to the police. Do not look nervous…”

  “Miss Davis, I...I can't…”

  “OK, hold her and let me go.”

  “What? I don't know how to... it's crying.”

  “She. She is crying. Listen to me, Stewart! Go get the fucking milk and diapers or you are fired! You have a copy of my card, and take up whatever you see; I don't care just bring stuff. Hurry, Stewart!” I shouted and he stumbled over his feet through the door.

  I looked at the crying baby who had started to calm down. I made a soft shushing sound and she seemed to be responding. I could not think about her mother, Rachel, poor Stewart, or anyone else at the moment until I had her changed and fed. I had no idea when her last bottle was and she must be starving. Bottles! Fuck.

  I reached for my phone and dialed Stewart's number.

  “Hello?”

  “Stewart, I need bottles for the milk.”

  “I have them. I...am trying to hurry...I have to go,” he said and disconnected the call.

  I walked around the living room rocking her and praying that she stayed asleep until the food arrived. I looked around at where I would put her when Stewart got here. I could not put her back in the bag because it was wet. I looked at the sofa but I was afraid she would fall off although she could not move. Maybe on my bed. So I went upstairs and gently laid her down. I needed more help, but I couldn't reach out to anyone else because I would be putting the baby at risk with too many people knowing. I had to do something, but I couldn’t until I had her settled. I heard the doorbell and ran downstairs to let Stewart in. He tumbled it with two big bags. Before I had a chance to analyze the contents, I took out the diapers, the bottles, the powder, then I saw two boxes of already prepared milk!

  “Stewart! You are a genius! You got the liquid form…”

  “I didn't know which so I got them both.”

  “Brilliant! What's this? Oh a pacifier...and wipes. I love you, Stewie!”

  “I don't feel loved at the moment. Where is she?”

  “Upstairs in my bed.”

  “With no diaper on? What if she wets it?”

  “I don't care,” I said and removed what I needed immediately from the box.

  I washed the pacifier and put it in some hot water. The nipples for the bottles said to just remove from pack and twist on so those were clean. I took a
pack of wipes, the milk and few diapers upstairs to get her fed and cleaned up.

  “Come with me, Stew. I might need your help.”

  I knew he would like to object and leave but he was afraid of what I might do, so he followed me up the stairs. The baby was still asleep, but I needed to take care of her so I unwrapped her from the soft towel and she started to cry, her little feet kicking and hands in a fist.

  “Oh, baby, it's OK. I just need to get you cleaned,” I talked to her but she did not care about what I had to say.

  I moved as fast as I could, using the wipes to clean her face and entire body before I put the diaper on.