Against the Odds Read online

  “Adam and Raelynn are at the church setting up for a play for tomorrow.” Molly adds, “She wanted to come.”

  “You should have brought her; I would have loved to see her.”

  “Thank you, you’ll have to go to church tomorrow; she and James are in the play.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  I hug everyone and Brea opens the tailgate of the truck. “Bobby, can you help with this?”

  “What’s going on?” I ask as I walk with Robert to the back of the truck.

  Angel says, “Don’t be mad. But we’re here to get the nursery ready.”

  “What? Why?”

  “When are you due?” she asks.

  “In a couple months.”

  “Is it ready for the baby?”

  “No,” I admit.

  “This is what I do. I decorate. And we wanted to do something nice for you. So, here we are.”

  I watch as Robert removes the gallon cans of paint from the back of the truck. My eyes get teary and my lip begins to quiver as I say, “Thank you.”

  After a group hug, we all walk into the bare nursery.

  “What color paint did you guys get?” I ask.

  Sara holds up a paint sample and it’s the same sage green color that Robert and I talked about.

  “If this isn’t right, blame Bobby,” she laughs.

  “You did this?” I ask, hugging him.

  “I wish I thought of this. I can’t take the credit. This was their idea; I just told them what we were thinking of.”

  “Thank you, I just hope you got it right.” I joke. I look around the room at our friends, who are all dressed in work clothes, and say, “Thank you all for everything. This is so thoughtful and generous of all of you.”

  “I wish that were true, but the truth is, we needed a break from the kids.”

  Everyone laughs and Angel says, “It really is kind of selfish on our part.”

  I don’t believe them for one minute.

  “Let me change and we can start painting.”

  “Oh no you don’t,” Angel says. “If you help, it’ll speed up my day away from the twins. You and Bobby are leaving and we are staying.”

  “Come on, Sweets. We have plans for today.”

  Robert

  Leah and I leave the house and let the girls do their thing. I moved the ladder and supplies they said they would need near the basement door. I also got Jamie’s baby bed put together so it’ll be ready for them. When Emma called me and she said they wanted to do this, I was reluctant at first. Leah and I don’t really have friends and this is such a selfless gift. To give up their entire Saturday to paint and decorate. Emma told me to call Angel with the exact paint color and style of baby bedding we wanted. Since we didn’t know if it is a boy or a girl, the style was difficult. I saw some of Angel’s work and she has excellent taste. I told her kind of what Leah was thinking, but we didn’t decide on anything for certain.

  I rented a room at the Marriot Grand Resort for the night. We have never been there and we plan on going back soon. We went to the marketplace and bought stuff to make breakfast. We had dinner at the restaurant called the Grill. It was nice and relaxing. We walked around, holding hands and watching the various activities the resort had planned for the kids. They had open fire pits where the children and adults made s’mores — so called because after you eat one, you want some more — and then they watched The Little Mermaid on a big outside movie screen.

  “Jamie would have loved this,” Leah says.

  “Yes, she would have.”

  “Maybe we can bring…”

  Leah stops in the middle of her sentence. I know she is talking about our other daughter. It sounds so odd to say that. We have another daughter, our daughter. I don’t know if she stopped because she didn’t want to finish the sentence, or because she doesn’t know what to call her. We have a daughter and we don’t even know her name.

  “I think that is an excellent idea.”

  “Who doesn’t love The Little Mermaid?” she smiles.

  Later that night we sit on the balcony that overlooks the lake. The moon was full and the reflection glistened off of the water.

  “This is nice,” she says, sipping her hot tea.

  “It is.”

  “Do you wanna go home?” she asks.

  I look over at her and ask, “You don’t want to stay?”

  “I do, but I can’t wait to see the nursery.”

  I smile, stand and take her hand in mine. “Come on, Sweets. If you want to go home, we’ll go home.”

  Leah practically runs into the house and up the stairs to see the nursery. I’m further behind her down the hallway when I hear her say, “Aww.” She stands outside in the hall looking into the bedroom with her hand over her mouth. I walk behind Leah and look inside the nursery. The walls are painted sage green, a large, thick white area rug is in the center of the floor, and Jamie’s white baby bed is set up under the large double window. The room is decorated in sage green and white circles. These are Leah’s favorite colors and they go well with a boy or a girl. In the nursery are also a dressing table, a dresser, a white rocking chair, and a bookshelf.

  Leah and I slowly walk into the room and she begins to cry. She lightly touches the items on the bookshelf and I realize they are items from Jamie’s bedroom. Jamie’s books, a small picture frame holding a photograph of Jamie and a large picture frame holding a photograph of all three of us. Jamie’s ballerina music box is on the top of the bookshelf. I wonder if Leah will be upset about Jamie’s things being moved but then I realize they are tears of joy. I am also happy they incorporated Jamie’s things into the new nursery. She will always be our daughter and she will always be a part of this family.

  “I can’t believe how beautiful this looks,” she says.

  “They did a fantastic job.” I walk over to the baby bed and see Jack strategically placed in the center of the bed. He looks clean and new. I pick him up and realize it is new.

  “Leah,” I say, showing her the stuffed rabbit.

  “How did they get Jack so clean?” she asks as she walks over to take him from me. She looks at him and smells him. “He’s new. Where did they get this from?”

  I smile, “I have no idea, but this is a nice surprise.”

  Leah wraps her small arms around me. I rub her back with my large hands. “We need to do something special for them and call them all to thank them.”

  Leah says, “They did so much more than just paint and decorate — they brought life into this room.” I know what Leah means. This was just an empty room before, but now, it has a part of Jamie living in it. “This will make such a great nursery for our baby,” she says excitedly.

  “It will.” I look around the room at the lamp on the dresser and the curtains. They are all sage green with white circles. I have to wonder how long they planned on doing this. Everything matches and fits this room perfectly. I walk over and crack open the window to let the room air out. Although the paint fumes are faint, I don’t want Leah breathing them in all night.

  “Come on, Sweets, let’s get you and my baby to bed.”

  Leah reaches for my hand and says, “I don’t think I can sleep. I’m so excited about this room.”

  “Looks like I’ll have to burn off some of that excitement.” I wink at her and lead her out of the nursery.

  Leah

  The next morning when I get up Robert isn’t in bed. I never hear Robert when he gets up. I, on the other hand, moan, groan, and waddle out of bed. I think that I could possibly even wake the neighbors. Before leaving the bedroom, I write out thank you cards to our friends for everything they did yesterday. I would like to do something special for them, but with the impending news from the attorney, it’s just not a good time.

  I walk out of the bedroom in search of stamps and Robert. I stop at Jamie’s bedroom. The door is open and her room is bright. The sunshine shines through her windows, bringing life into the room. When Jamie died, we left the cu
rtains and door closed; it was just too sad to look in. Now, when I walk past and see her bed and her personal things, I am reminded of how much I love her, how much I loved having her here. Looking on the nightstand, I see her pictures are missing. They have been moved into the nursery for the new baby to enjoy. I smile. It’s probably the first I had been near Jamie’s room in a long time.

  I say, “I love you, baby girl,” before turning towards the nursery across the hall. I look into the sage green and white nursery. I smile. It is so inviting, beautiful, and sweet. I place my hand on my belly and walk into the room. Walking around the room, I look at and touch everything. I open the dresser drawers and they are empty. It saddens me. I open the closet and it is also empty. I have less than two months, and this baby doesn’t have anything to wear. I’ve been in mourning over Jamie and trying to accept that we may — we do — have a five-year-old daughter, and so I haven’t focused on this baby. I know what I need to do and I decide that today I’ll do it.

  I expect to find Robert working out, but I find him at the kitchen table, instead. He is sitting there shirtless, wearing his gray sleep pants. Sitting in front of him is a box that holds Jamie’s things. A locket of her hair, her baptism dress, and the records from the hospital, among other things. I get a knot in my belly, almost like a feeling of doom. He looks up at me with sadness spread across his face. I know my Robert tries to hold it together, but I also know he struggles with it. I need to be strong for him, although the black cloud is hovering.

  “Good morning, Ace,” I say as I walk over to sit next to him at the table.

  He tries to smile, but his smile is weak. “Good morning, Sweets.” He clears his throat and says, “We got a call today.”

  He doesn’t have to say anything else. I know it’s from the attorney. Before, when he said that I would have thought it was a call from Gus about a fight. But today, I know it’s from Bruce and it is about the baby swap. Keep it together, Leah.

  “When do we meet with them?” I try to make my voice stay monotone. I don’t want my voice to reflect my inner hysteria.

  “Tomorrow morning. Bruce said the parents and child are supposed to be there with their attorneys.”

  Keep it together, Leah. “Good, I’m ready to meet our daughter,” I say honestly. That came out unexpectedly, but it’s the truth.

  “You are?” Robert looks up and I can see hope in his eyes.

  I’m never the strong one in the family and it feels good. “I am.” Am I? Don’t wiggle out now, Leah. Hold it together for Robert. I can do this. “We have another daughter and I want to be involved in her life. I’m ready for us to be her parents.” This honesty thing is working out. To verbally say what you really think, it feels good. “I’m ready to be her mom. But I have some things that need to get done today.”

  The sadness is leaving Robert’s face and he asks, “Like what?”

  “Like mail these,” I say, holding up the thank you cards. “I want to shop for our five-year-old daughter.”

  “Some clothes and toys to make her feel welcome when she comes. That sounds like a good idea.”

  “And I want to shop online for the baby. He has nothing to wear when he gets here.”

  “He?” he asks.

  “Or she.”

  “Or she,” he repeats. “It would be nice if we knew what to shop for. Pale pinks or baby blues.”

  I ponder his words. It would be nice. Will we have another daughter or will it be a son?

  “I think we should find out what we’re having,” I blurt out.

  “You do?”

  I look at him and smile. “I think it would be nice. I know the gender isn’t important, but wouldn’t it be nice to know who will be sleeping in the nursery?”

  “It would. We already have two daughters, and a son may be nice to add to our growing family.”

  I am relieved that Robert’s sadness is vanishing. “Or another girl to add to our already increasing estrogen level.”

  Robert pulls on his hair and says, “Another girl? That’ll make three girls and a wife. I’m recently hoping for a boy,” he jokes.

  “You’ll be just as thrilled with a girl.”

  “I will be.”

  “So we can find out?” I ask hopefully.

  “We can.”

  I clap my hands and say, “Can we have a gender reveal party, too?”

  “I have no idea what that is, but if you want a party, we can have a party.”

  I explain to him what a gender reveal party is and then I call Mom and Margie. Robert and I get online and buy some girls clothing in size five and some in size six. We also buy a few age-appropriate toys and board games for a five-year-old. Robert and I also shop for some baby things: towels, washcloths, baby shampoos, and lotions. We have a good day at home together.

  Mom calls and said that she called my doctor and got the sex of the baby. She said he was at his office and she didn’t have any problem getting it from him. Since he is also her doctor, he already knew our hesitation about learning our baby’s gender.

  “Do you want to have a gender reveal party next weekend?” Mom asks.

  “Next weekend would be good. We meet with the attorney tomorrow morning with the other family.”

  “You get to meet your daughter tomorrow? Can we go with you?”

  My belly does a somersault at the thought. Stay strong, Leah. You’re doing great so far. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to bombard her with too many people. I don’t want to frighten her.”

  “I understand that. I guess you’re right. You and Robert go and meet your daughter in the morning and next weekend you can find out if you are going to welcome a son or another daughter into your family.”

  My mother can be very persistent. I tell her, “Next weekend will be good.”

  “Perfect, I have plans to put into action, a party to get ready for and a granddaughter to impress.”

  I laugh and we both hang up.

  Chapter Two: Meeting Our Daughter

  Robert

  Leah’s inner strength started to come out today. I use to see it daily, but since Jamie’s death, it’s been less and less. I don’t know if it’s pretend or if she is becoming more like her old self. I don’t know and I don’t care. If she can put on a smile and a happy face, so can I.

  Leah and I shop for baby items and things for a five-year-old girl. We buy items from home and share the laptop. We each put items in the cart and it turns out to be very therapeutic. She laughs and in turn, it makes me laugh.

  She tells me that Sue knows the sex of the baby and that the gender reveal party is being planned for next weekend. Leah and I are both excited to know the sex of the baby.

  “Do you think you’ll be up to it?”

  “I do. I’m not dreading tomorrow. God gave us another daughter, and we get to meet her tomorrow. I’m happy about that.”

  I want Leah to be able to handle the emotions that a day like that tomorrow will bring. But I don’t want to upset her, either.

  “It’s going to be very emotional tomorrow.”

  “I know that and I’m prepared for it. Ace, don’t worry about me, I can handle this.”

  I look at Leah and she looks strong. I can see something in her eyes that I haven’t seen in a while. Determination? Willpower? Strength? I can’t tell. But it does let me know that she can handle it.

  “Okay, we’ll meet our Lil girl in the morning and find out if we have a son or another daughter next week.”

  Leah walks over to me and hugs and kisses me. “I love you, Robert.”

  “I love you too, Sweets.”

  The day is filled with laughter and happiness. We place stamps on the envelopes and get them ready to be mailed. I hope the meeting with the attorney and the other family goes well. After dinner, Leah and I attempt to sneak out through the gate. We want to pick up a baby doll for our daughter. We want something to have for her when we meet her. We also wish to go to the cemetery and spend some time with Jamie. More news va
ns are parked outside the gate today than there was yesterday. They see the dark Jeep with nearly black windows and start walking towards the gate.

  “Don’t they have anything better to do than sit there and wait?” Leah says.

  “I guess not, I’m sorry.” I drive past the gate towards home.

  “It’s like they know this is our rental car. Where do they get their information from?”

  “I have no idea. I’ll call Mom and have her pick us up something for tomorrow.”

  “That’s nice, but I was hoping to pick it ourselves.” She looks sad and then adds, “You know what?” Before I can answer, she says, “A gift from the grandmas and grandpas will be perfect. I’ll call my Mom and Dad. Maybe they’ll want to get her something, too.”

  “Problem solved.” I pull up to the house and I swear I can see something different in Leah. She’s trying so hard to be strong. We walk to the mailbox and mail the thank-you cards that she made out for everyone. Once we are inside the house, she tells me she needs to make some phone calls. Good, because I need to make some phone calls, too. I call Bruce and ask him if he can somehow have the cemetery cleared tomorrow of the news crews so Leah and I can see Jamie without being harassed. I explain that we aren’t able to leave without being followed. He tells me he’ll pick us up tomorrow and he’ll do what he can about the cemetery. I explain that Leah and I will need to go to the cemetery before we meet everyone at the hospital. He tells me he understands and it’s not a problem for him to wait. He tells me to take all the time we need at the cemetery.

  Drake Sinclair

  “Be there, and don’t be late! This is my family we’re talking about and I have no intentions of giving her up.” I slam the phone down so hard that it makes my coffee cup rattled against the saucer. I know my temper gets out of control at times and I am trying to maintain it. I know it scares my wife and our children to see me mad. Ever since we heard that the girls who were switched at birth were ours — our biological daughter and the one we are raising — it has taken all my willpower to not kill someone. Literally, I want to kill whatever dumbass is responsible for this fuck-up.

  A light tap sounds on the door before it creaks open. I am reminded that I am at home and not at my office. I try to replace my scowl and frown lines with a soft smile. I know from the soft tap on the door that it’s one of my children walking in.