Chapter 8: ~ Lachlan contd

It’s not that I want them to meet, but if she really wanted to see her daughter she would not limit herself with calling once every two years. She should be calling every hour of every day. I picked the phone up and dialed.

It rang twice before the sweetest voice I ever heard spoke to me. « Hello daddy! »

I could not help but smile. « Hello mo bhana-phrionnsa (my princess). »

« When are you coming home Daddy? »

« I will be coming home this weekend. How was school today? »

She went on for a couple of minutes talking about every class she had, her friends at school and even talked to me about her beagles. I got her Elky a couple of weeks after she came into my life. The poor girl cried almost every night asking for her mommy. I tried to give her as much love as a single man of 32 could. Me mother and Rebecca had absolutely dotted on her from the beginning. I don’t even know how I could have made it through those first months even years without the help from me family.

I can remember the day Deborah came into me life. I was still sleeping around like nothing mattered, working hard all day and partying all night. I was coming home one night and I saw Laura waiting for me holding a little girl’s hand. The poor lass was falling asleep and not able to stand. Barely registering her presence Laura put the little girl’s hand in mine.

****

« Finally. I thought you would never get here.” She fidgeted through her bag, searching God knows what. “Well never mind, this is your daughter.” She pointed to a small little girl with beautiful green eyes and dark hair. “I can’t take care of her. You see I finally got my big shot and having her around…well…it’s not the right time. » She turned around and without a single look back she quickly left. Not even saying good bye to her daughter.

Before I realized what had happened she was gone and I stood there with a crying little lass that I didn’t even know her name. I took her inside to my apartment and sat there looking at her cry.

My parents were out of town so there was nae way I could call them and none of my siblings were married or had kids. I paced the room trying to think on what to do and then my eyes fell on the couch the little girl had stopped crying and had fallen asleep. I took the opportunity to look at her closer trying to see if I could find some family resemblance.

Kneeling before her I took her shoes off making sure I did not wake her. Quickly I walked back to my room and rearrange the pillows so that it can be more secured for the child. The lass? My lass? I still could nae believe this was happening. Laura didn’t say much. Not even her age. Not her name. What am I to call her?

I went back to the living room to pick her up and carry her back to bed. I sat on the edge and placed her on my lap while delicately taking off her coat. I placed her back on the bed and covered her up. Before I walked out the room and closed the door I watched her sleep peacefully. Thoughts of her future, our future came through my mind.

When I got back to the the living room I went straight for the bar and served myself a double whiskey. Downed it and served myself a second. I took my drink and sat on the same spot the little lass first fell asleep. Grabbing my lap-top I looked up as much information as I could on how to raise a child. I downloaded a few books on the subject, read the comments and made a list on those I should actually buy. Once done I sent out a few messages, one to my lawyer I needed to know what I should do next, one to our private investigator, yes we have one any good company has to have one, and before sending the last message I decided to call. This was too important to send a message, my parents needed to know this personally.

I clicked on their name and waited for their faces to come up.

And waited

And… « Hello Lad! What time is it? Shouldn’t ye be sleeping? Have ye been out so late again?»

« Mathair (mother) athair (father) when are ye coming back? »

« Normally at the end of the week…why? What’s wrong lad? »

« Uhm… » How in hell am I going to tell them about this?

« Daddy? » I looked up and little girl came in the room. I guess I nae longer needed to find a way to tell them.

« Who’s there? And why is she calling ye daddy? »

« I think ye should come back sooner then planned. It seems that this lass…” I brought her closer to me placing her on me lap. “…is me daughter, her mother thought it was best to drop her off with me earlier tonight. »

My mother’s instinct kicked in even though I could see in that she was worried. « Hello sweetheart now what is yer name? »

« Deborah. »

« That’s a beautiful name and ye should be in bed. Daniel was she sleeping in her dress? »

« Aye. Her mother left her like this. »

« Daniel ye listen to me, ye listen to me now. This is what ye’re going to do. Take that sweet dress off and if she has tights take those off too. Let her sleep in her undies. Maybe put her in one of yer t-shirts. While yer dad is calling for a flight home I will pack and will also send ye a lit of things you might need. » I showed her my list and tell her that I was going to call different stores, but she interrupts me, « For clothing it is best ye take her directly.  Danny go put her back to sleep and call us back. We need to discuss some things. »

It took me more than 30 minutes to get her dress and tights off Deborah. When she was tucked in one of my smallest t-shirts and about to leave she grabbed my hand.

« Would ye tell me a story? »

A story? What kind of story do we tell a child? I thought of all the stories I knew when I was kid and then I remembered the fairy tale book I got from my grandmother. I quickly walked towards my home office and thoroughly searched for the book. As soon as I had found it I walked back and looked through it searching for my favorite story my grandmother would read to me as a child. I sat down next to Deborah and began to read ‘The Wee Bannock.’

« There was once a guid-wife who was married to a guid-man and their favorite thing to do was to eat lots of food. One day… » I read on and on until I finished and when I looked down she was fast asleep with a little smile on her face. Gently I pushed a dark curl away from her face. She was a cute little thing and she was mine. My daughter.

The sun began to rise when I finally finished my conversation with my parents and I just couldn’t go back to sleep there were too many things to do. First things first I needed to take a shower, needed to wash the drinking, the smoking and the sex off of me. As I got out of the shower I heard my phone ring and quickly I ran out of the bathroom to pick it up. Hopping and praying the noise would nae wake the kid up.

« Lachlan, what the hell is going on? I’m downstairs I’ve got coffee and a Danish. Open the door. »

After I unlocked the door I ran back to my room to search for something to wear. As I was pulling my t-shirt on Benjamin walked in.

« Hey Danny where are you? » Hearing his voice my eyes went to Deborah’s little body on the bed. She stirred but seeing that she did nae wake I walked out of my room and closed the door behind.

I ran towards my brother and put my index on my lips. « Shhhh. She’s sleeping. »

Benjamin’s brows shot upwards. « She’s sleeping in your bed? »

« Where else do ye want her to sleep? »

My brother handed me my coffee and sat on the couch. « Are you sure she’s your daughter? Never mind easy to find out. We get you both tested today. »