Page 175 of Seasons of Love
“Yesterday evening, this woman knocked on the door asking for you. She was dressed all nice in expensive clothes. I asked her what she wanted, and she said she wants to talk to you because she’s Sienna’s mother.”
I feel all the blood drain from my body. Ellis tenses next to me as if he can feel my anxiety.
“What…what did you tell her?”
“I told her you were working and you’d be back tomorrow. She didn’t argue with me, just asked if she could leave her phone number. She said she’s in town for a few days and staying at the B&B on Main Street… Milo, I don’t think she knows about Sara.”
“Okay, I’m on my way home.”
I end the call, and for a moment, I can’t move, trying to process what Florrie said and the implications.
“Are you okay? You’re shaking,” Ellis says.
I look at him. “Florrie said Sienna’s mom came to my place last night.”
“Do you know what she wants?” he asks, holding me tight.
“No. Sienna always made it out like she didn’t have any family. Florrie said the woman wants to speak to me.” I run my hands through my hair. “She can’t take Sara from me. She can’t. She’s my only family.”
“She won’t. It’ll be okay. Do you want me to be there with you?”
“Will you?”
He kisses me. “Of course, baby.”
We get dressed quickly, forgoing breakfast because I need to see Sara with my own eyes and know she’s at home.
Florrie comes over to hug me as soon as we’re through the door.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have opened the door, but Sara had just gone to sleep, and I didn’t want her to wake up with the noise.”
“That’s okay, Florrie. You had no way to know. Hell, I didn’t know Sienna had any living family. The way she spoke about them, which was rarely, it sounded like they were all dead.”
She gives me a piece of paper with the woman’s number.
“I’ll be next door. Let me know if you need anything from me, okay?”
“Thanks, Florrie.”
Sara is in her high chair, so I pick her up, inhaling the comforting scent of her baby shampoo. I almost break down when she calls me Dada.
“I have to call her, don’t I?” It’s a rhetorical question, but I want Ellis to say that I don’t have to do anything I don’t want and that Sara is mine.
My hands shake as I dial the number.
Why does it feel as though life always wants to take something from me just as I gained something else? What is it about me that indicates I can’t have it all?
29
ELLIS
I can’t begin to unpack everything that’s happened in the last twelve hours because right now, I need to be strong for Milo.
He doesn’t know how much I feel his pain, and it’s not the right time to tell him.
No. Now is the time to put on a brave face and fight for him and his family.
He hands Sara over to me and dials the number. I know when someone picks up because he tenses and grabs my hand so tight it almost hurts.
