Chapter 1
Patty sat with her chin resting on the palm of her hand, staring out at the sky. She was sitting in the apartment she shared with her friends, Ella and Prism. A month ago, after graduating from university, she’d departed from her parents with tears in her eyes. They were now living in New York while she was adapting to life in Chicago. It was a much different place from New York, but she found herself enjoying it.
Prism worked at the nursing home near a Day Care center. She’d promised to take her to visit and see how she liked the place since Patty was planning on applying there.
Ella, on the other hand, was the manager of a small interior decorating business. 5 months from now, she would be getting engaged to Calvin, the rich man who owned about 4 famous hotels.
The stars were out, filling the sky that night. Giving out a yawn, Patty got up from the ground pulling the curtains closed, turned off the light, and then got into bed.
+++
The baby was stirring in the next room, and the noise he made was waking Bob Reynolds. Bob had come to develop good hearing after the baby arrived, and in a way, the baby was his alarm clock. Whenever Deshi cried in the middle of the night, Bob helplessly got up from bed and made a bottle for him. Sometimes he sat in the middle of the night with Deshi in his arms, gently rocking him back and forth, staring out of the long rectangular window, wondering if mothers felt like he did. Tired of taking care of the children, but glad that they were there so that they had someone to take care of and not have to feel so lonely. Before, he’d never imagined that having a baby would be so difficult, but after Deshi arrived, he knew he was ready to be a responsible father, and a responsible father he was.
Throwing off the covers, Bob walked into the next room, turning the light on. The light bounced off the baby blue walls with clusters of clouds decorated on them. The room used to be his favorite, but now it was just the room where the baby was.
Deshi’s eyes were opened and he was rolling and moving around in his crib. His big head seemed to be too heavy for him to move. Bob picked the helpless baby up and turned off the light, going into the living room of his small apartment to sit.
His parents lived in Australia and were too far out of reach to come every so often to take care of Deshi, so he held two jobs to support himself and his precious gem. He was an assistant clerk during the day, and during the night, he would help with the construction team that went around town. Though his parents had offered to help him with financial support, he’d refused. He felt better and more responsible if he was able to do things by himself; this kind of independent feeling, pride, was what he held only. This was how he lived. In a small apartment with two small rooms, a couch, a TV, and a kitchen right next to it.
“What are you still awake for, huh?” Bob asked as he looked down at the baby, who looked back at him, an amused look radiating in his eyes.
Bob shook the baby a little, and before he realized it, he’d drifted off into a slumber with the baby in his arms.
+++
“Patty, hurry up, will you?” Prism called from the doorway with her boots already on and all set to go.
Patty was still in her room, fumbling with what to bring with her and what to wear. As every other girl she’d known, style was the most important, even if she were to wake up half an hour late for a meeting. After 10 more minutes, she was out and ready to go. Ella, who had prepared breakfast for them, had already left beforehand.
A while later, Prism stopped her car in front of the Day Care Center, and Patty got out, admiring its structure at once. It was a welcoming building made out of red and brown bricks with a sturdy playground outside to the left. Its roof was the color of maroon, and the doors were thick brown with a little window at the top.
“It’s cute,” Patty exclaimed.
“Isn’t it?” Prism agreed. “My friend is inside. I’ll introduce you to her.”
The inside was carpeted with different colored squares as patterns. Blocks and a bunch of toys were already scattered around. Toddlers and babies were already crawling all over the place. Patty couldn’t help but marvel at how playful and fun everything seemed.
“Genie.” Prism waved to her.
A woman dressed in green overalls walked over excitedly. She seemed to enjoy coming to the Day Care every day.
“She’s the boss,” Prism whispered to Patty. “But very friendly.”
Genie smiled brightly, extending a hand out to Patty, “You must be Patty. Prism told me so much about you. You must be excited.”
Patty shook her hand, “I am.”
“Why don’t you stay here for today, and you can come back starting tomorrow?” asked Genie.
“Really? I can start tomorrow?” Patty asked with wide eyes.
Genie laughed playfully, “Well, if you can be patient with the kids. Wait till you see how horrible they can get.”
+++
Bob was running late again. Finding a quick outfit, he’d undressed Deshi and dressed him. He had started a fit again that morning. Sometimes Bob wondered if he had been that bad a child to his parents.
He stopped at the Day Care and dropped off Deshi, hurrying off to work. Running through the doors, he apologized for being late and ran over to his desk to see a pile of binders with information he needed to store into the computer. Taking off his jacket, he started work.
+++
“Oh no, not this kid again,” one of the girls whined.
Patty turned to look over to see a baby boy making a fit. His face was totally wet with tears, and his loud cries echoed through the room.
“What’s the matter?” Genie asked, walking over.
“This baby boy always cries,” the girl told, “I tried holding him, and I checked his diaper. I guess he doesn’t like anyone here. Last week, two of the other girls tried him, but he didn’t like them either.”
“Oh…Deshi, it’s ok,” Genie tried to coax the baby, patting him on the back gently, but he cried even more.
Patty turned back to the toddlers and patted their backs comfortingly. She was glad that they weren’t making a fuss over the baby, who was crying.
“Patty, why don’t you try?” Genie asked.
Patty turned around, surprised.
“Me? I don’t know…” came Patty’s unsure answer.
“Maybe he’ll like you,” Genie suggested.
Deciding to give it a try, Patty got up and walked toward them.
“Should I try to pick him up first?” Patty questioned.
“Sure,” Genie replied.
Patty lifted the baby and patted his back. Immediately, he became silent as he clutched her shirt with his small fists. He looked up at her with his big, wet eyes, and Patty quickly guessed he belonged to a very handsome father.
Genie and the girl looked at her, shocked.
“No one’s been able to make him go quiet,” the girl gasped. “Are you sure you aren’t his mother?”
“What? No.” Patty protested. “I haven’t had a kid ever.”
Genie smiled, “He’s yours from now on.”
“What?” Patty questioned. “No way. Here, take him.”
Both Genie and the girl backed away. Patty’s face filled with a helpless expression as Deshi leaned against her.
+++
Bob rushed down the streets in his car after Jack Abbott had phoned that he wouldn’t be able to pick up Deshi from the Day Care. The Day Care would be closing any minute.
+++
Genie bit her lip as Patty stood by the doorway with Deshi in her arms.
“He’s always late,” Genie muttered, then turned back to Patty. “Are you sure the baby isn’t yours?”
“No,” Patty said loudly. “I already said no. I’m still very pure.”
Genie smirked, “Why don’t you take the baby with you? I’ll leave a note for his father.”
“Why can’t you…” Patty started.
Was it right for Genie to just leave the baby with her? What if someone thought she was kidnapping the baby? What if the father assumed that she had kidnapped the baby? Momentous scenes of being dragged into the police station bombarded her small head.
“I have a very urgent appointment in a few minutes. Here, give me your address,” Genie urged, breaking her imagination.
In the end, Patty gave up as she gave Genie her address. Prism hadn’t come back either, so she took a taxi back to the appointment. Strangely, the baby held onto her tightly, making her wonder who in the world gave birth to such a baby.
+++
Bob arrived in the empty parking lot, stopping his car abruptly. He dashed out of his car and ran up to the door, only to find a white piece of paper tucked neatly. Bob took the paper out and read the quick message. He sighed and turned back around. As always, Genie had left first.
