Forever Right Now

Alice smiled sadly.

“Molly was always the rebellious girl but when she turned eighteen, she began to drink pretty heavily. It was like she’d been stricken with a disease. That’s what they say it is, don’t they? A disease.”

I shifted in my seat, blue and red lights dancing across my vision.

“She had a happy childhood, or so we thought,” Gerald said.

Alice smiled weakly. She handed Olivia a block and Olivia stacked it on top of another. “Did she mention us at all?”

I shook my head slowly. “I did not know Molly very well.”

She and Gerald nodded in silent understanding.

“We did our best,” Gerald said, “but whatever was driving her away from us got worse. She called and texted us occasionally, but we didn’t see her for two years. She never said anything about a baby or even being pregnant.”

“A friend of hers got in touch with us,” Alice said. “She told us about Olivia and gave us your name. I guess Molly had told her about you.”

My cold silence created another look between them, and then Gerald continued.

“We’re renting a condo by the Marina. We’ve talked about retiring to the Bay Area.”

“We’ve always loved San Francisco,” Alice said, “and when we found out you were here it seems like the right thing to do.”

I swallowed hard. “What was the right thing to do?” My voice sounded cold and hard but I couldn’t help it. The fear had tightened me up inside so I could hardly breathe.

“To be a part of Olivia’s life. An important part.”

There was pity in Alice’s eyes, which scared me more than anything else.

“We want to make sure she’s provided for,” Gerald said. “And ensure she has everything she needs for a happy and healthy life.”

“Well, she does,” I snapped. “I’m giving her that.”

Jackson put a hand on my arm. I fought for calm, and tried to see these people as something other than the enemy. “I’m sorry, but I’ve been raising Olivia on my own for the last ten months and I’d begun to believe it was always going to be just her and me.”

“But it’s not,” Gerald said, in a low voice. He stood up and put his hands in his pocket and looked at Holloway. “We have rights. And some information…”

My gaze jumped to Holloway who was making a negating motion with his hand.

“What kind of information?” Jackson asked.

Holloway reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope. Now we were all on our feet but Alice who clapped hands with Olivia, tears in her eyes.

The Abbotts attorney handed Jackson the envelope. “Now, I really must insist we depart,” he said to his clients. “Everything will be elucidated at the Family Court in two days’ time.”

Gerald helped Alice to her feet.

“Bye-bye, sweetheart,” Alice said to Olivia. “We’ll see you again.”

“Bye-bye,” Olivia said and babbled in a sing-song voice. “Bye-bye-bye-bye...”

“She’s darling,” Alice said to me, and that pitying look was there again. She opened her mouth to say something more, and her husband gently took her by the shoulders and guided her toward the door.

I shut it after them while Jackson opened the envelope.

“What is it?” I asked. I could hardly hear my own words for the blood rushing in my ears.

“A hearing notice. For Friday.” He raised his eyes to mine. “They’ve filed an Order to Show Cause for custody of Olivia.”