Chapter Listings
Part Eleven
Harry wasn’t sure what to expect when he was told the police had located Dean. The boy had been an asset greater than Harry’s money throughout all this and he chose now to rebel. Now, of all times. This was a time that Harry would need someone here with him to help consol him while his daughter was unconscious.
The police had called not too long ago with word that they had Dean in custody and were bringing him in. When Harry asked about the baby, they said that there was no baby with the boy. This gave Harry a glimmer of hope, hoping that Dean had just taken the baby away and had forgotten to check back to let him know.
However, that wasn’t the case when Snitch was brought in. He was cooperative, but there was proof enough in his expression that he hadn’t carried out Harry’s wishes of getting rid of the child. Tucking away all of his feelings of resentment and anger, Harry approached Snitch, then addressed the officers.
“Stand outside.” He ordered. “I’d like to speak to this young man in private.”
“Are you sure this is wise?” one officer questioned.
“What I have to say does not need to be overheard. It’s just between him and I.”
“Very well.” The officer removed Snitch’s restraints. “If you need us, we’ll be outside the door.”
“I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.”
The officers left, and Snitch concealed all his bitterness and fear for both Camilla and her baby’s sake. Any word said in the wrong way could ruin everything. Snitch needed to be collected and completely stolid as well as firm without any disrespect.
“Where’s the child?” Harry interrogated first.
“She’s in a safe place.”
“Where, exactly?”
“Why?”
“Do not turn my questions around! You will answer when I speak to you!”
Snitch squared his shoulders. “The kid is with a woman who’s takin’ care of ‘er.”
“I want specifics.”
“And what then? Ya gonna send them bulls t’ arrest ‘er too, jus’ for bein’ born?”
“You will not speak to me in that manner, young man!”
“It’s about time I did! All ya’ve done is do all ya can to get rid of that poor liddle girl when th’ only thing she’s guilty of is bein’ born in a world that doesn’t see ‘er as a victim.”
“Camilla’s the victim, not that child!”
“Yes, she is!” his voice raised to a great extent. “That liddle baby, whether ya like it or not, is you granddaughter. She didn’t ask t’ be made th’ way she was, she jus’ was. She had no power over what happened! It’s not her fault!”
“But she’s completely ruined my daughter! Isn’t it enough that she’s upstairs, in a coma since the surgery? She could still die, Dean. If she dies, it’s that child’s fault! That baby does not deserve to live!”
“Then Camilla doesn’t either.”
“What does that mean?”
“Camilla’s momma died havin’ ‘er. Or did you forget? If ya want that baby gone cuz ‘f th’ fact that Camilla ain’t that strong, then I guess Camilla deserves t’ die, don’t she?”
Harry’s face blazed red. “You know very well that those circumstances were different! Her mother and I were married, we had spent years trying to have a baby! Camilla was a miracle, and there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t regret the fact that her mother never got to know her!”
“An’ Camilla’s baby is a miracle too.”
“How much of a miracle is a child conceived by a lust-driven man enticed by an innocent girl?”
“She’s a miracle because she led Camilla back t’ me. Did ya ever think ‘bout that? She told me ya looked at several diff’rent opportunities that wouldn’t been bedder for ya but they was too close to town. She said ya took this job ‘ere in New Yawk t’ keep ‘er away from people gossipin’ about her. If this kid hadn’t been born, we never woulda met up again.”
Harry was silent, though he was trying to say something. All the noises that came out of his mouth were stammers of words that couldn’t be said.
“That’s right.” Snitch nodded. “Ya know I love Camilla. An’ ya know somethin’? We was plannin’ on keepin’ ‘er baby. We was gonna get married after she had th’ baby.”
“You…would want to be the…father of a child who wasn’t yours?”
“Yeah, I would. An’ I’m tellin’ ya this now: I love that kid. I love ‘er like she was my own. An’ she is. Maybe not by blood, but by my heart. Th’ only thing that matters ‘bout her is that she is Camilla’s. She belongs t’ her, an’ that’s all I need t’ accept ‘er. She’s beautiful, Harry. She’s an exact replica of Camilla.”
“How would you know? You’ve never seen the man who violated her.”
“Maybe you oughta look at ‘er. She captured my heart th’ first time I laid eyes on ‘er. Want me t’ bring ‘er by?”
Harry’s eyes narrowed. “How do I know you won’t run away with her?”
“An’ how do I know ya won’t summon some nuns t’ take th’ kid from me? I’m keepin’ ‘er. Camilla would want me to. Doesn’t Camilla’s opinion matter t’ ya?”
“I’ll make you a deal.” He forced lowly. “You bring her here, and you won’t leave until I say you can. If you do this, I will not have her taken to an orphanage.”
This was the only chance, so Snitch nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll get ‘er.”
“But you’d better be back in one half hour. Any later, and I’m sending the police after you again.”
“I’ll be back in twenty-eight minutes.”
As Snitch left, Harry summoned the officers and told them to wait for thirty minutes before he gave them any further instructions. Then he sat down in his favorite chair and lit a match to his favorite pipe. Then he heard a thundering noise from above him, trailing down the stairs and finally to the parlor.
Jenny had run downstairs, and her face was red and flushed. Harry threw his pipe aside.
“Jenny? What is it?”
“You…need to get upstairs.” She panted. “Now.”
* * *
Snitch knew when he arrived at Pie Eater and Kay’s apartment that they would want to know what was going on and probably wouldn’t give him Camilla’s baby so willingly. So he prepared what he was going to say ahead of time, convincing them to trust him. He was back at the Henderson’s house in twenty-eight minutes, as he had told Harry.
By the time he arrived, the police officers were gone. And Harry was seated on his couch, hunched over like an old man. For what reason, Snitch didn’t know, but he held the baby closer to himself on a protective instinct. Harry glanced up at him, then cast his site to the floor.
“Twenty-eight minutes.”
“I toldja.”
Harry raised his sight again to the baby in Snitch’s arms. “Is that her?”
Snitch nodded.
“Are you going to let me see her?”
He nodded again, but very cautiously. Slowly, he approached Harry and squatted down so Harry could take the baby from his arms. As he withdrew, Harry cradled the little baby as she snuggled close to him.
In an instant, Harry’s heart melted. Snitch could see the tears in his eyes as he scanned over the little baby, his granddaughter. She was so innocent and precious. And she looked so much like Camilla. When Harry looked at her, he couldn’t bring himself to remind him of how this baby came to be. All he could see was what Snitch had told him: an innocent victim herself.
“She…she…”
“Looks exactly like Camilla.” Snitch finished.
“She does.” He stared at Snitch. “I can’t see what she is when I look at her. All I can see is Camilla.”
“I told ya, it’s-”
“Not her fault.” He heaved a shuddering sigh. “You’re right. It’s not her fault.”
“I know ya thought it’d be hard t’ think of it like that, but now it ain’t. I felt that way too for a liddle while. But th’ thing is to move on. Camilla was gonna. I think it’d be best if you did too.”
“I wish you wouldn’t spoken to me about this before she was born. It would’ve made things much more easier.”
“I did try.”
“I guess then I should’ve listened better.”
“I wish ya would’ve too, that way I wouldn’ta hadta dodge th’ bulls.”
“I’m sorry for everything, Dean. Can you forgive me?”
“No problem.” He replied, nodding. “So, what’s Camilla’s condition?” he paused. “Am I gonna hafta take care ‘f th’ baby?”
Harry shook his head. “No. Believe it or not, right when you left, Jenny came downstairs to tell me that Camilla just woke up.”
Snitch’s eyes widened. “She…she did? So she’s okay?”
“Apparently. She’s still a little weak from her surgery, but Jenny helped her to a bath. I take it you’ll want to see her when she’s decent.”
“Oh yes, Harry. Th’ kid still doesn’t have a name.”
“You didn’t name her?”
“I figured if I din’t give ‘er a name then it’d be Camilla’s job t’ do it. That’s kinda my way of not givin’ up.”
“Jenny said she’d tell me when Camilla was ready. But I’d like to see her first.”
“Sure.” He held his arms out. “But I’d like t’ be th’ one t’ bring ‘er th’ baby.”
Harry nodded. “And I believe it’s your divine right to do so.”
* * *
Harry had been in Camilla’s room for nearly ten minutes now, but Camilla’s baby was still sleeping soundly. She hardly stirred at all as Snitch waited outside the door for his cue to come in.
Once Harry finally appeared, Snitch’s stomach leapt and trembled. He suddenly became scared. He was presenting Camilla to her daughter. How was this going to turn out? Of course, she would be happy, but what else could Snitch expect? Harry patted him on the shoulder as he left as a sign of encouragement.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Snitch gathered all his courage, held the baby a little tighter and entered Camilla’s room.
She was sitting upright on her canopy bed, wearing a hefty royal purple robe. Her hair was wet and tangled, and she seemed so anxious. Her head turned quickly when she was aware of his presence, and her face lit up. She swallowed when she saw the bundle in his arms.
“Is…is that her?” she choked hoarsely.
“Yep, got your baby girl right here.” Snitch announced with an enormous grin.
Seating himself on the bed, he handed the baby over to her mother. Camilla’s hands were trembling as she cradled the infant close to her body, then her lower lip began to tremble and tears flowed from her eyes.
“Oh Dean.” She breathed, almost silently. “She’s so, so beautiful.”
“That she is. Looks jus’ like ‘er momma.”
Camilla blushed. “Does she?”
“Every inch of ‘er. Even in th’ eyes.”
She swallowed again to force the lump in her throat away. “Papa told me everything, how you ran off with her after she was born and sheltered her.” She looked at him. “What would I have done if you weren’t here?”
“I was ‘ere, an’ that’s all that matters.”
“You’re right. That is all that matters.” And wide smile spread. “So, what did you name her?”
“I din’t.”
“Why not?”
“Cuz it’s your job t’ name ‘er, not mine. I figured if ya made it, ya’d better name ‘er. So she’s all yours t’ name.”
Her smile grew. “I want to name her after you.”
Snitch blushed. “Me?”
“You’re the one who saved her for me. You’re the one who stayed by my side the whole time. You’re the one who gave me hope when I had none. And you’re the one to show me what a miracle really is.” If her smile were any bigger, it would fill her entire face. “How else can I always remind myself than to name her after you?”
“S-so ya’ll name ‘er…Deena?”
Her smile dropped. “Oh. Actually, I don’t like that way that sounds completely.”
“Oh.”
“But wait.” Her smile returned. “I have a better solution.” She cuddled her baby closer. “Not Deena, but Deanna.”
He nodded. “Deanna. That’s pretty.”
“It is. And this way, it’s spelled like your name.”
“It is, ain’t it?”
Camilla tenderly caressed her baby’s cheek. “Yes. Deanna. Deanna Camille.”
“Camille?”
“After you, after me. For both of us.”
“Oh. I…guess I’m honored.”
“Well, if you’re going to be her father, you should have the honor.” She grinned. “Papa told me you told him about us.”
“I did.”
“Then I’m ready when you are.”
“Does next week sound okay?”
“That’s rather soon.”
“I nabbed some extra money yestaday. I won th’ bet.”
“Which one?”
“Th’ one where I said Seven ‘n’ Bumlets was gonna have a kid within five months.”
Camilla laughed loudly, and with it was the old smile she used to use all the time when she was a child. And this was proof enough to Snitch: the Camilla he loved then and the Camilla he loved now were one and the same. He never felt so wonderful before.
“Camilla, I haven’t heard ya laugh or seen that smile in years.” He said. “I love you, an’ there ain’t another man on th’ planet as happy as me t’ be marryin’ ya.”
“I love you too.” She returned. “And I believe what you said.”
Cautious of her sleeping baby, Snitch leaned over and kissed Camilla’s lip. She returned the kiss, but they had to break apart when Deanna began to whine. Camilla tended to her as Snitch drew away, and when the baby settled, Camilla looked up.
“So is there another bet going on just yet?”
“Y’ mean ‘bout Seven ‘n’ Bumlets?”
“Yes.”
“Actually, yep. They got one going on ‘bout what th’ kid’s gonna be.”
“Can I get a piece of the action?”
“Don’t see why not.”
She grinned. “Tell Race to put me down for four bits on twins.”
They laughed together, and Snitch knew now that Camilla was back, one hundred percent. It was the beginning of a wonderful life together.
