Show Me the Scary Part, page 4
* * *
Nadine woke me up when we got to the hospital, and she was right, her cousin was nice. Of course, I was admitted to the hospital; I just had a baby after all. Nadine stayed with me the entire time, but they took my baby away so that the pediatrician could take a look at him. I didn’t want them to take him at first; I didn’t want him away from me, but Nadine convinced me that he would be okay. She was able to put me at ease, and I was pretty grateful for her in this moment.
Nadine’s cousin, Dr. Heather Weaver, examined me, and she told me that everything looked great and that I was really lucky.
They made me fill out paperwork, and when I got to the birth certificate, I was stumped by, child’s name.
I had no idea what I was going to name him. I skipped it, then I was stuck again when I got to the father. I’m just going to leave that blank. I left the whole thing blank. I didn’t want to fill this stuff out right now; I was exhausted.
“Is everything okay?” Nadine asked.
She was still here; she wouldn’t leave my side. I thought that was pretty admirable.
“I just don’t want to fill these out right now,” I told her from my hospital bed.
“I guess you don’t have to right now,” she says.
“The bill is going to be crazy, I can’t pay for this without my parents’ help, and they can’t know about this.”
“Don’t worry about it, I already fronted the bill.”
I looked at her like she was crazy. “Why would you do that? Why would you do any of this?”
“It’s no big deal, my parents give me more than I could spend. I thought I’d give it to a good cause,” she smiles at me. “Besides, it’s not as much as it would have been if you had given birth in the hospital. So lucky us.”
“That’s insane, I don’t want you to get in trouble for me.”
“I’m not going to get in trouble. I called my mom before I paid. She told me that it was my money and I could do whatever I wanted with it. They’ll probably put it back in my bank account by tomorrow.” It was no big deal to her.
“Well, I’m going to pay you back,” I told her.
“Great ‘cause I was just about to tell you that I wanted every dime back, with interest.”
I frown. “Um, okay.”
“I’m joking, I don’t want you to pay me back. I don’t expect anything in return, just name your firstborn after me.”
I smiled at her. “I would, but I don’t think Nadine will suit him.”
“That was also a joke.”
“I figured. Thank you, Nadine, for everything you did for me tonight.”
“Of course, Whitney.”
“Can you do me a favor and see if they’ll bring the baby in here? He’s been away too long?” I asked her.
“Sure, I’ll be right back.”
She left and got a nurse to bring my baby back to me. Nadine handed him to me, and he was sleeping. He was only gone for an hour, and I missed him. I couldn’t believe how instant the connection was. I never wanted this kid to leave my side.
“Do you know what you’re going to name him?” Nadine asked.
I shook my head. “No, I’m too tired to think of anything right now. I think I’m going to call it a night.”
“You should get your rest,” she says.
“You should, too.” I smile at her.
Nadine put the baby back in the bassinet for me after I kissed his head. Nadine lay down on the cot they brought into the room, and I sank into the hospital bed. I thanked Nadine one last time before we both drifted off. I have no idea what tomorrow will hold, but I was going to get one more night of rest before all hell breaks loose.
* * *
“Give me the names of your closest adoption agencies.”
“Ma’am, we cannot do that, you aren’t the child’s mother, it’s up to her to give up her rights.”
“I don’t give a damn, she is my child and I will not let this ruin her life, get me those names now!”
That sounded a lot like my mother. I thought I was dreaming until I opened my eyes and saw her scolding eyes looking down at me.
I sit up instantly. “Mom, what are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“The better question is, what are you doing here in a hospital in the middle of nowhere? You weren’t home for dinner, and you wouldn’t answer your phone, so I tracked it. Color me shocked when I saw that you were two hours away in some second-rate hospital.” She looked around in clear disgust.
“I can explain.”
“Can you? How in the hell are you supposed to explain this?” She was beyond pissed.
“I couldn’t tell you, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“You didn’t mean to open your legs to some boy? You didn’t mean to whore yourself around and get yourself pregnant?!” She was slicing me with her words.
My tears were immediate. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” I repeated.
“Like I believe that, you’ve always been a disgrace. Of course, you would run off and do something like this,” she snarled.
“Whitney, I brought you some breakfast,” Nadine said, walking into the room.
Nadine took a look at my mom, then she looked at me. She quickly placed the food down and rushed over to me.
“Are you okay? Why are you crying?” she asks.
I looked at my mom.
“Who are you?” Nadine asks.
“I am her mother. And you must be the partner in crime who dragged her here.”
“I didn’t drag anyone anywhere,” Nadine said sharply. “She needed help. I gave it.”
I looked around the room and saw that my baby and the bassinet were gone.
“Where’s my baby?” I said.
I looked at my mother, and she looked egotistical as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“I told them to take it away, you’re not keeping him, Whitney. I told the nurse to bring a list of the best adoption agencies in the area.”
She was so fucking evil.
“No, you can’t do that.”
“You don’t have a choice; no daughter of mine will be a teenage mother. What will people say?”
I started to sob.
“Please don’t do this, Mom, don’t make me give up my baby. I’ll do anything, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, don’t do this.” I pleaded.
I knew something like this would happen if she found out.
“Begging is very unbecoming of a young lady. Pull yourself together at once. Unfortunately, you are my child, and I have a reputation to uphold. I am not the mother of an unwed teenage mom. When we leave this hospital, it will be as if none of this ever happened. We will not speak of this once we’ve left this one-horse town.”
I just balled up into myself and started crying. She was pretty much ripping my baby out of my arms, and I couldn’t do shit about it.
“I’ll come back once you’ve composed yourself,” she hissed before leaving the room.
“Whitney, calm down. Shh, it’ll be okay.” Nadine said, rubbing my back.
“Nothing will ever be okay again. I’m never going to see him again.” I sobbed.
“She can’t make you give him up for adoption,” she says.
“She can make me do whatever she wants. What other choices do I have? I can’t take care of a child without my parents’ support. She doesn’t want me to keep this child, and she’ll do everything in her power to make sure I don’t. It’s over. I don’t know why I thought this would turn out any differently. My life is just a shit show.”
“There must be something I can do,” she ponders.
“There’s nothing you can do, thank you for everything anyway.”
“Come home with me,” she blurted.
“What? I can’t do that, Nadine, my mother would never allow it.” I tell her.
“This isn’t about what she’ll allow; you’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you give your son up. I’m sorry, but fuck her; she doesn’t have your best interest at heart, all she’s thinking about is herself. You and your son can stay with my parents and me. You have a lot to lose if you give your son up I’m just giving you an alternative. So what do you say?”
I wanted to say yes. I wanted to believe it could work. But my mother’s voice echoed in my head — her control, her rules, her reputation.
I wasn’t just her daughter. I was her property.
And escaping her wouldn’t be that easy.
FIVE
Nadine
“So what do you say?”
“My mother won’t let me just walk out of this hospital with you. It’s impossible what you’re asking me,” she says.
Her mother’s claws were buried deep in her. Whatever she says to her is law; her grip is strong, and I doubt that I would be able to get through to Whitney. She’s scared shitless of her mother and didn’t want to awaken her wrath.
That woman was truly hateful, and Whitney was a sweet girl who didn’t deserve to be treated this way. My heart went out to her. I just knew I had to help her, and it’s going to take a lot more than just offering her a place to stay.
“I’m sorry that I can’t help Whitney, I want to. I can’t fight for you, and it’s obvious that you can’t fight for yourself.” I expressed.
The way her face contorted, I knew she took offense, but that’s exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to see if she had any type of fight in her.
“You don’t know me, you don’t know what it’s like to grow up the way I did. Always being talked down to or told you’re not good enough. I never had any fight because it was forced out of me long ago.” Tears streamed down her face steadily.
“That’s true, I can see that, but it’s not just you anymore. You’ve stopped fighting for yourself, but you can fight for your son.”
“I’ll lose.”
“You can’t lose,” I took her hand. “I’m on your side, and I never lose,” I smirked at her.
She grips my hand. “Can you get my baby, please?”
“Sure,” I said.
“Thank you,” she says quietly.
“I’ll be right back,” I told her.
I left the room, but not before taking another glance at Whitney. She looked defeated. But I did see it, a little sliver of fight in her. There might be a little hope after all.
She lay back down on her pillow, and tears flowed down her face.
Right then and there, I knew I had to protect her, no matter what the cost.
I went to the nursery and was relieved when I saw the no-name little boy sleeping soundly in the clear bassinet. I was afraid that Whitney’s evil mother would have snatched him and sold the beautiful baby on the black market.
I have an overactive imagination at times, but god, she reminded me of a Bond villain.
“How can I help you?” asked a nurse.
“His mother wants him back,” I said, pointing to Whitney’s son.
“Of course, he’s probably going to want to eat soon,” she says. “Does she have everything she needs to take him home? I heard she was being discharged today.”
“Everything like what?” I asked as she started wheeling him out of the room, and I followed beside her.
“A car seat, a diaper bag, things like that. She can’t leave the hospital without a car seat,” she tells me.
“I’ll take care of it,” I said.
She smiles at me. “You’re a good friend; you two must have been friends for a long time.”
I chuckled. “I only met her formally last night.”
“Oh, well, she’s lucky to have you. Her mother is a nightmare.”
“Yes, she’s awful,” I agreed.
We made it to the room, and Whitney’s spirits lifted the moment she saw the baby. I took the little guy out of the bassinet and handed him to her, and she kissed his forehead.
“I missed him,” she says, tracing a finger over his round cheek.
I smile at her.
Before the nurse left, I asked her to page Heather.
“So you thought of a name yet?” I asked.
She just looks at me and shakes her head.
“I just can’t think of anything.”
“Can I help?”
Her thick, manicured eyebrows arched up.“You want to help me name my baby?”
I took a seat at the foot of her bed.
“Sure, but that’s only if you want me to.”
“Um, yeah. You can help.”
“Okay, let’s see? You can name him after one of your favorite TV characters,” I suggested.
“I don’t watch TV; my mother doesn’t allow it,” she says.
She’s hopeless.
“Alright, scratch that. How about a character from your favorite book? She does let you read, doesn’t she?”
She nods. “Nothing stands out to me, though.”
“You have to help me out a little bit, Whitney. Is there something you’re passionate about? You can name him something related to your passion.”
“I’m passionate about horseback riding,” she perked up.
I’ve seen her riding horses before, and it makes sense that she’s passionate about it.
I smiled. “Perfect, now let’s find him a name.” I pulled out my phone and looked for names inspired by horses.
“Marshall, it means ‘caretaker of horses’.” I read.
She smiles widely and then looks at her son.
“That’s so perfect.”
“So does he finally have a name?” I questioned.
“Yes, you did well. Thank you,” she laughs to herself. “I can’t believe Nadine Thornton named my baby.”
I laughed as well because I couldn’t believe it either.
“You paged me, Nadine,” Heather said, entering the room.
“I did.” I got up and walked over to her. “Are you busy right now?”
“No, I just finished my shift.”
“Can you do me a huge favor?”
“Sure, anything for you.”
“Great, I need you to take my card, go to the store. We’ll need a car seat, some clothes, and diapers. Basically, the essentials of what a baby needs and bring them back here.” I said, taking my card out of my pocket and handing it to her.
“Okay, I’ll be back shortly,” she says with a smile.
“Thank you.”
Heather left the room, closing the door behind her. I turned around to meet Whitney’s disapproving glare.
“What? You can’t leave the hospital without a car seat.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” she fussed.
“Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
She was about to say something when Marshall started crying.
“Don’t look, I’m going to feed him.”
I rolled my eyes. “I won’t look.”
The door opened, and there stood Whitney’s mother. She looked at Whitney nursing her baby with an icy glare.
“Maybe that’s the reason you’re so defiant. I never breastfed you. You were a stubborn child from the day you were born; you refused to feed from me.”
I almost laughed. Whitney was smart as a baby; I wouldn’t suck from the devil’s teat either.
Whitney didn’t respond because who the fuck says things like that?
This woman was unreal, and I couldn’t believe she was treating her daughter this way.
“I’ve found an adoption agency, and they have a family ready to receive a baby. You have a few minutes with him before they take him away, say your goodbyes now.”
She had no emotion in her voice whatsoever; she was like ice. The entire room went cold the second she walked in. I felt a literal chill.
Whitney didn’t need this; she just had a baby. I know that her hormones were all out of whack, and she didn’t need the stress.
“She doesn’t want to give her son up for adoption,” I spoke up. I’m not afraid of her, no matter how piercing her gaze.
She turns to me, and if looks could kill, I’d be a corpse right now. But I’d rather have her eyes on me than on Whitney.
“This doesn’t concern you, child,” she practically hissed.
“If you think I’m just going to sit by while you snatch this baby from her arms, you have another thing coming. You do not take a child away from a mother who wants them. You may think it doesn’t concern me, but it does. You will not touch that child, is that clear?” I didn’t bat an eye.
It’s clear to me that she isn’t used to anyone challenging her; she’s met her match today.
“I don’t know why I’m entertaining you. I’ll just call security and have you thrown out. Simple as that.”
I rolled my eyes, like I didn’t see that coming.
“Why don’t you go and get them?”
“I will do just that.”
She stomped out of the room.
I immediately turned to Whitney.
“Give me the baby, get dressed quickly. We’re getting out of here.” I said.
Whitney looked confused. “What? We can’t leave.”
“I will not let her do this to you. If you can’t fight, then I will do it for you. Come on, let’s go.”
“But—”
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
She nods without hesitation.
“Let’s go.”
Whitney takes the baby from her breast, then covers herself up, then I took him from her arms and cradled him in mine.
She gets out of bed and puts on the dress she had on last night. She grabbed her paperwork and shoved it in the duffel bag. I handed the baby back to her and took the duffel bag.
I saw her grab her cell phone, but told her to leave it there.
We sneaked out of the room, and the hallway was quiet, luckily. Whitney cradled the baby in one arm, and I took her free hand and led her to the stairwell. We descended the three flights of stairs and kept a lookout for her mother as we made our way to the exit.
When we didn’t see her mother, we went right out of the door, and if anyone noticed us, they didn’t say anything.
I didn’t let go of Whitney’s hands until we got to my car. I honestly didn’t want to let her go; I wanted to protect her. I opened the passenger door, and she slid into the seat, the baby secured in her arms.
I closed the door once she was inside, I placed the duffel bag in the backseat, and got into the driver’s seat.
