But Why Daddy?

Chapter 27

By: Lizzie

©Lizzie 2002-2004

            Then she sat on the bed, picked up the phone, dialed a number and waited for the person to pick up. “Hello?” the person asked

            “Mom, I need a favor…” Paula said

“Paula?” the woman questioned, “I thought that you would have been on your way to New York or over the Atlantic to London.”

            “Plans changed.” Paula said, “And there’s someone you need to meet.”

            “I need to meet?” she asked, “Are you in some kind of trouble?”

            Paula laughed, “No mom.” She said, “You remember that park you used to take me to by our old house here in Orlando?”

            “Yeah.” Her mother said, “But you said you never wanted to go back there…”

            “That was twenty something years ago.” Paula said, “How soon can you be there?”

            “An hour…” she said, “Why can’t you come to the house?”

            “It’s such a pretty day out and I don’t want to be inside.”

            “Okay, I’ll see you at the park in an hour.”

            Okay…we’ll see you then.” Paula said, “Oh and can you not tell dad or anyone. I just want it to be me and you.”

            “Not tell your father?” she asked, “Why?”

            “I just want it to be us girls…the three of us.” She said, “I’ll see you later.” She hung up her phone and looked down at the baby, “We’re going to see Grandma today.”

+*+

            When Liz left Josh’s house she went to her house to drop off her things and then she drove around to clear her head and think. While she was driving around she cell phone rang. She looked at it and didn’t recognize the number so she let it ring. Five minutes later it rang again and the same number appeared. Liz sighed, picked up the phone and answered it, “Hello?”

“Lizanne?” the lady asked, “It’s Jean…”

“Jean…Jean…” Liz said thinking, “Is that name supposed to ring a bell?”

“Paula’s mother…” she said.

When Liz heard that she pulled her car to a stop and started out the windshield, “Jean McCarthy? The same Jean who called me a cold heartless bitch for taking her granddaughter away from her two-months ago?”

Jean sighed, “How many times do I have to apologize for calling you that?” she asked, “I was upset and I shouldn’t have lashed out at you.”

“Then you should have thought about that before you opened your mouth.” Liz said, “But I don’t have time to rehash past conversations. I’m busy.”

“Look, before you hang up, I just talked to Paula and she sounded…off.” Jean said, “More than she usually does.”

“You talked to her?” Liz asked, “How long ago?”

“About twenty minutes ago…why?”

“What did she say?” Liz asked excitedly

“She wants to meet me.” Jean said, “And before you ask me where, I promised her I would say.”

Liz silently cursed, “Did you call to dangle that carrot in front of my face?”

“I wanted to know if you’ve heard anything from her lawyer?” Jean asked, “I have this bad feeling that she’s done something and wants my help.”

“Well, be a good mother and help her.” Liz said, “But like I said earlier, I have to go. Something important just came up.” Liz had a feeling that jean was keeping something from her so before she hung up she added a little reminder, “Jean, I want you to remember that Josh was more that giving when it came to visitations with Kayla, so if you know anything, you need to tell us.”

“You don’t think I know that!?” Jean said, “That’s why I called you and not Robert, Josh or Paula’s lawyer. I was hoping that…never mind.” She hung up the phone.

“Never mind…never mind what!?” Liz asked. But it was too late, the line was dead. Liz put her car in drive and headed back towards Josh’s house. As she was driving, she picked up her cell, dialed Josh’s number and waited for someone to answer.

“Chasez Pizza Company…” the person said when they answered the phone

“Is this Heather or Cynthia?” Liz asked

“Heather…do I know you?”

“It’s Liz, I need to talk to Josh. It’s important.”

“Okay.” Heather handed the phone to Josh, “It’s Liz, and she said it’s important.”

Josh took the phone, “Is everything okay, Liz?”

“I need you to stay at home for the next ten minutes.” Liz said, “I’m on way over.”

“Okay, are you sure everything is okay?”

“I’ll tell you in ten minutes.” Liz said, “In the mean time, I need you to do something. Don’t ask, just listen. Call Lance and tell him I need him to call my Aunt Nona and get Randy’s new number.”

“Okay.” Josh said. Liz ended the call as she turned on the main street that led to Josh’s house.

+*+

            Paula walked over to her suitcase, opened it and pulled out one of the baby outfits that she packed. She walked back over to the bed, changed Kayla into the pink and yellow sundress with matching hat. She walked back to the living area and placed Kayla in the carrier. Once she secured Kayla, she went back to the room, pulled something out for her to wear and changed. She put the things she bought into her other suitcases, closed them up and put them next to the door. Then Paula gave herself the once over in the mirror before going back to the living area, picking up the carrier and leaving her room.

            She left the hotel thirty minutes later. She knew that from the hotel, it was a straight shot down the Boulevard and park was on the right side of the street. She pulled into a spot on the street across from the park and waited until she saw her mother’s car or at the very least, her father’s car.

After waiting for a couple minutes, she saw her mother’s car pull into the parking lot. Paula started her car, made a U-turn and pulled into the parking lot along side her mother’s car. She rolled down her window, “Mom, over here.” She said.

Jean turned around, gave a small smile and walked over to Paula, “I thought we were meeting at the park, not the park’s parking lot.”

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