That's My Girl

It has been 3 week since the ‘incident’. I avoided him at all costs. I mean who does he think he is? Just kidnapping my child, scaring me half to death! Who does that?

My trail of thoughts was interrupted by my phone ringing. It was Mark.

“Hello, is this Liz Spalding?” A voice asked me.

“Me speaking.” My heart was racing.

“Mark Ellis is in the hospital due to a crash and you were his emergency contact. We need you come to the hospital.”

My heart dropped. My Mark. In the hospital. Crash? Oh god. I quickly ran to Chloe’s room and picked her up. I grabbed my purse and sprinted out the door. Wait. I can’t take Chloe with me. She can’t see Mark hurt. I closed my eyes. Think. Think. I tried to push the thought away but it was the only choice. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

The door opened and the shock on his face was present. I gulped and kept my composure but I was sure my makeup was running from my tears. “Tyler. I have to go to the hospital. I didn’t know where else to go. Can you watch Chloe for a few hours?” I waited for his answer.

He smiled. “Of course. Hi Chloe.” He looked at her gently. He took her out of my arms.

“Chloe, you be good ok?” She nodded and I waved goodbye.

I drive silently to the hospital as the tears stream down my face. When I get there the nurse guides me to his room. He lays there, looking so peaceful. I broke down in tears. I hugged him for what seemed like hours, crying, praying that he’s okay.

“Ms. Spalding.” A voice behind me says. I look up to see a doctor. I stand up and smooth over my clothes.

“I’m here to talk about the next steps in Mark’s treatment.” I nod. “He’s still unconscious and should wake up soon. He was hit by a semi truck while he was walking across the street. As you see, he was hit hard. When he wakes, we need to do a few tests to make sure he’s ok. We just need you to sign a few papers.” I nod again and do what I’m told. I stay with Mark all afternoon, hoping for the chance that he’ll wake up. At 7, I decide to go home and check up on Chloe and make sure Tyler didn’t kill her.

***

I set Chloe down on my couch, still flabbergasted that Liz brought her here. I looked at Chloe, who was occupying herself with the tv. I walked into my bedroom.

“What’s wrong, Tyler?” Ali asked.

“Uhh..my neighbour just asked me to watch her kid. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” I say, not giving away who she really is.

She just laughed. “It’s fine. I wanna meet her.” She gets up and walks into the living room. That was something I liked about Ali. I met her a few days after I moved to Dallas and she was the first girl that I felt that could be more than just a fuck. I watched from afar as she interacted with Chloe and I smiled. Maybe this could work out. Of course, Liz will always be a part of my life but I think I’m ready to move on. I could tell Ali about Chloe and Liz and maybe Liz will see that I have matured and I can take care of Chloe. Then maybe she’ll let me spend more time with her.

Ali starts to walk back to me and she wraps her arms around my torso. “She’s so cute! Can we keep her?” she joked. I laughed.

We spent the rest of the afternoon, the three of us watching movies, and getting to know Chloe better. We just finished dinner when the doorbell rang. I stood up to open the door. It was Liz and she looked like she was crying and exhausted. I pulled her into a hug and she surprisingly didn’t pull away. She just cried into my shoulder.

She followed me to the living room where Ali and Chloe sat. They both look up when we walk in.
“Mommy!” Chloe jumped into Liz’s arms. Ali stands up too.

“Ali, this is Liz, my neighbour and Chloe’s mom. Liz, this is Ali, my girlfriend.” I say, awkwardly.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you.” Liz says and shakes Ali’s hand and smiles.

“You too. Chloe is so cute.” Ali replies, also smiling. There was no awkwardness between them.
Liz turns to me. “Thanks for watching her.” I just nod. “And it was nice meeting you, Ali!” She waves goodbye.

“Bye Ali! Bye Tyler!” Chloe exclaims before both her and her mom leave the apartment. We smile and wave.

“Today was fun! We should babysit more often.” Ali says once they leave. I press my lips on hers.

“I have to tell you something.” I say, seriously.

Her face is concerned. “What is it?”

I take a deep breath. “Chloe. She’s my daughter.” I pause to give time for her to process. “It was years ago. Liz and I grew up together and we broke up a few years ago and she never told me until one day I bumped into her in the hallway.”

She looks at me, confused. Then she laughs.

I look at her like she’s crazy. “What’s so funny?”

“The moment I saw her, I thought she looked like you! And it’s true!” She just continued to laugh.

I laughed with her too. “Yeah. Liz just asked me to watch her and said she had to go to the hospital or something.”

She stops laughing. “The hospital? Why?”

I shrug. “I’m not sure. She doesn’t really trust me that much since I kinda kidnapped Chloe a few weeks ago.”

“What?? You kidnapped her? I can see why she doesn’t trust you!” She laughs. “Seriously, Ty, you can be really stupid sometimes.” I smile. “But you’re my stupid goof.”

***

“Mommy where did you go today?” Chloe asks me, once she’s in her bed.

“Mommy had work to do. Were you good for Tyler and Ali?”

She rolls her eyes. “Mommy, you ask that all the time! Of course I was good!”

I laugh. “I just care about you, Chlo. Now go to sleep, sweetheart.”

I turn off the lights. I start to sit down on my bed but there’s a knock at the door. I open the door to see Ali.

“Ali? Is something wrong?” I ask, confused of why she’s here.

“Oh, no. I just wanted to talk to you.”

“Oh. Come on in.” We sit on the couch. “Chloe just went to bed.”

She nods. “Tyler told me.”

I’m shocked for a moment. “Oh.” Is all I can say. I sigh. “Well, you were bound to find out.”

“Yeah. I just wanted to ask, why were you at the hospital?” She asks, with a concerned look on her face.

“Oh. My fiance.” Is all I can get out before I start to cry. “H-he’s in the ho-hospital.” I stutter.

“Oh my.” She says and hugs me. “I’m so sorry. Is he going to be ok?”

“I don’t know. He hasn’t woke up yet.” I sniffle.

She doesn’t say anything. We just sit there, hugging as I cry into her shoulder. I don’t know how much time has passed but my eyes start to droop and I drift into sleep.

Notes