The senator's car

Anna.

Jenna Hart was a very bubbly one year old. She would laugh and smile while speaking words no one understood. Whenever I went to the baby’s home, she’d follow me around like I was her real mother, which made me want to stay with her all the time.

I watched as she stuck up some blocks, occasionally glancing at me to ensure I didn’t disappear. Poor girl always knew I would at one point or another, and I hated those moments more than anything. If only I had enough money to adopt her. Suddenly a finger touched one of the blocks and the whole thing came toppling down. The little blonde didn’t scream. She just got up and ran to me, abandoning the whole project.

I lifted her up and kissed her forehead. “How are you, Jenna babe?” I asked playfully in baby voice.

Jenna was standing on my lap, reaching out to put touch the red band in my hair when my phone rang.

I picked up it up immediately I saw the caller ID.

“Yes, Marina.”

“Come home now,” Marina, who babysat for me, said. “Emmy is very unwell. She needs to get to the hospital. I’ve called an ambulance. Not sure where they’ll take her but I’ll update you.”

I glanced at Jenna who was looking at me with a worried look and felt bad that I had to leave her. “I’m so sorry, my dear. This is not how I expected the day to go at all.”

Standing up, I hurried back to the building and placed Jenna in the hands of one of the nurses.

“My daughter is ill,” I told her. “I have to go.”

She nodded in understanding. Jenna didn’t understand. She started crying as I walked away from her. I felt my heart break but Emmy needed me more. Before I could get in the car, Marina called to inform me that the ambulance had arrived. She gave me the name of the hospital they were taking her to so I went there.

I drove as fast as possible, my thoughts on Emmy. On arrival, I parked and leapt out of the car, before running to the building.

“I’m looking for my daughter,” I said to the woman at the reception desk. “She was brought in by ambulance. Her name is Emmy. Sorry, Emilia Peller.”

The receptionist typed quickly on the computer. “Emergency,” she said. “She’s in the pediatric wing on the second floor.”

I ran to the elevator and paced about until it opened. The ride up felt unbearably slow so when the doors finally opened, I flew out. Marina was standing in the hallway.

“She collapsed,” Marina said. “Because her fever went up suddenly. She was barely responsive when the ambulance arrived.”

My knees nearly gave out so I grabbed the wall to steady myself. “Where is she?”

“They’re still running some tests and the doctor will come to speak to us soon. That’s what they told me.”

A few minutes later, a door finally opened, and a doctor stepped out. He was a calm middle-aged man.

“Ms. Peller?” he asked.

I nodded. I didn’t waste time correcting him. Emmy had taken Robert’s surname even though we were not married.

“I’m Dr. Hayes. Your daughter is stable for now but it she has a severe chest infection that caused her temperature to rise fast. We’ve given her some antibiotics and fluids.”

“Can I see her?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said with some hesitation. “But she’s still unconscious.”

He led me into the room. Seeing Emmys small body on white sheets with wires attached to her body and machines humming softly beside her broke me. A clear tube went into her nose. I sat on the bed and took her fragile arm. I had seen her in such situations so many times but could never get used to it.

“I’m here,” I whispered to my little girl. I brushed her hair back, fighting the tears welling in my eyes.

“The next twenty-four hours are important. We’ll monitor her closely.” The doctor said. He told me everything I could do to help. While we were still talking, Robert came into the room. Standing up. I hugged him before we sat together on the bed.

Robert and I stayed together in silence for a long time after the doctor left. A few minutes later, the door opened and a man walked in. He was the man I had met in the club, the one who spoke to me. What’s he doing here? I wondered.

“I need to see her,” he said. “That’s my daughter.”

What? Was this man on drugs or what?

“That’s not possible,” Robert replied, standing up in front of the bed. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“It’s you who shouldn’t be here,” he told Robert.

Robert frowned. “Security will escort you out if you don’t leave now.”

The man took a step forward. “I’m not here to fight with you. I just want to see the little girl. I have the right as her biological father.”

“You don’t,” Robert said coldly. “I’m her legal father. I’ve been here since she was born. How do you just show up make unverified claims after rejecting her and her mother?”

“I didn’t reject her,” he snapped, glaring at me. “This wicked woman took her away from me.”

Huh? Before I could say anything, the monitor next to the bed beeped faster and a nurse peeked in.

“Sir,” she said gently, “you’ll need to lower your voice.”

“She’s my blood,” the man insisted, louder now. “Look at her. She has my eyes. My face.”

“That’s enough,” I cut in. My voice was shaking with anger. My daughter was in danger and the only thing they could think of was to fight. “You’re upsetting my daughter. We don’t know you and there’s no proof of what you’re saying. Please leave.”

“Please. Just one minute. I won’t touch her. I just need to know she’s okay.”

For a moment, I hesitated. Something in his voice sounded sincere and I wanted to believe him. Emmy stirred.

“You’re done here,” Robert decided.

When the man took another step, two doctors and a security officer entered the room.

“What’s going on?” Dr. Hayes asked, eyes moving between us.

“This man is bothering us” I said. “And he refuses to leave.”

“I’m her father,” he said again “You can’t keep me away from my own child.”

Dr. Hayes’ glared at him. “Sir, unless you’re listed as a guardian, you are not authorized to be here.”

“I am her father!” he shouted.

The security officer stepped forward. “Sir, you need to come with me.”

He tried to resist but they escorted him out of the room. When the door closed, I wondered if he was telling the truth. What if he was really the father? But why hadn’t he looked for us all these years?

“I don’t want to see that man anywhere near you again,” Robert said.

All I could do was nod and climb on to the small space next to my daughter. Sometime later, I fell asleep. The next thing I remember was feeling a warm squeeze around my finger.

“Mummy?”

My eyes opened and I smiled immediately I saw Emmy looking at me. Her dry lips curved into a sweet smile and I sighed with relief.

“I’m here,” I whispered, laughing and crying at the same time. I felt the same emotions I felt the day I gave birth to her. “I’m right here, sweetheart.”

She frowned. “Why are you crying, mummy? Is something going to happen to me?”

I pressed my forehead to hers, staying mindful of the wires. “You scared us. That’s all.”

A second later, Robert came and leaned in. “Hey, superstar.”

“Daddy!” Emmy shrieked as her eyes brightened. She tried to sit up, failed, and then pouted. “i want to go home. This bed is rude.”

Despite everything, Robert and I laughed. He brushed her hair back gently. That was the best version of him. He was very patient and gentle with her. Watching them together made me feel happy. But I couldn’t stop thinking about that man’s voice, the way he had referred to Emmy as his daughter. He had looked at Emmy like she meant everything to him.

I pushed the stupid thoughts away and focused on my daughter. Emmy made us promise to make her pancakes for breakfast, and demanded her stuffed rabbit back. When the doctor came in, she informed him very seriously that she was “finished being sick now.”

By morning, she was well enough to go home. Walking out of the hospital with her hand made me feel like everything was perfect in the world. Even the sun seemed brighter that morning.

But when we pulled into the driveway, I frowned. A black car was parked outside our house. It was a familiar car with a small flag placed near the hood.

“That’s…” I started.

“The senator’s car,” Robert finished.

Why was a powerful man like the senator waiting for us? Was this about Emmy or the man that had tried claim her as his?

I felt angry. That man was going to see the ugly side of me if he thought he could use a powerful family to take away my child.