“Let’s go for a walk baby.”

Just the mention of the word had the little terrier wagging its tail stub and jumping on Nichelle’s leg. She grabbed the dog leash and tried desperately to keep Baby still long enough to hook it onto her collar. With that accomplished Nichelle grabbed her keys and journal. She figured that while Baby was marking her territory on an unsuspecting tree she could take some time out and observe people.

They walked through the neighborhood and down the pathway that led her to the park. She hadn’t had the simple pleasure of just wasting time in so long. The fact that she truly didn’t have any time of her own to just survey the things around her, sent a sense of longing through her system. She looked up toward the sky. It’s been so long since I’ve done this, she thought, watching the clouds pass and pointing out a very disfigured rabbit. She grinned as she realized for the fist time in months that she was doing something for herself; something that didn’t have a time limit or dead line.

The trees swayed in the summer breeze as she continued to brood her thoughts of maybe doing the same thing tomorrow.

After picking out a buffalo, a semi-truck and what looked to be Kermit the frog she noticed Baby was no longer sniffing at trees and no where to be seen. Panic ran cold down her spine. All sorts of images circled through her head as she fought to keep her composure.

Oh my god, where is she? What if she ran into the street and…?

“No no, Nichelle stay calm. She probably just went to….sniff at someone’s crotch, Yea that’s it. She’s with someone I bet. But what if they ran off with her? Oh no.” She ran down the path dodging joggers and small children who were crowded around a small barking excited little...

“Baby! Get over here now you dumb dog.” She scorned pointing to her feet. With its head bowed, little stub tucked between its legs and the leash dragging behind the dog obeyed.

“Don’t ever do that! You hear me.” She hugged baby to her chest and kissed the puppy’s head. She started to turn from the disappointed children, who had lost their entertainment, when she heard the voice of a little girl speak up.

“Your dog is cute. What’s her name?” The child asked.

When Nichelle looked upon the girl she could not believe her eyes. She was the prettiest little thing she had ever seen. She couldn’t have been more then 4 years old. Her straight blond hair fell to her small waist and curled some at the ends. Her eyes were a clear cobalt with speckles of brown thrown in. The freckles splashed over her cheeks and the shade of crimson in them gave a natural blush.

“Baby, Her names Baby.” She smiled forgetting her immense distress moments before.

The little girl reached up to give Baby a small pat on the head, which erupted a fit from the dog. Nichelle decided to place her down on the ground and talk some with the girl.

“What’s your name?”

“Niche...ah Nicky, what’s yours?” she corrected. She couldn’t let it get out that she was the infamous ‘Nasty’ Nichelle Channing.

“Elaina. I learned how to spell it today. E-L-A-I…” she thought for a moment sounding it out silently. “N-A. Elaina!” she smiled, proud of herself. While the other children played with baby Elaina sat talking with Nichelle. She didn’t know why she was so drawn to the child but her presence made her want to be that small again. No worries or responsibilities at that age, she thought.

“Where are your parents at Elaina? I bet your mommy’s looking for you”

“My mommy’s in heaven with the angels.” Nichelle’s heart stopped. Stupid! Stupid! Her head screamed. Hurt the little girls feelings Nichelle. It's bad enough you’re a bitch to the rest of the world, let's try to be nice huh? “I’m with my Nana though. I left her by the swings. There she is! I have to go. My daddy is coming home and we’re going to Chuckie Cheese! Bye Nicky!” She waved animatedly and ran in the direction of a woman asleep on a bench. Nichelle smiled to herself as she watched the little girl from a distance. “Ok kids time for us to go. See you guys later.” With a few moans of protest they reluctantly let Nichelle take the puppy into her arms once again and walk home.
*********

“Daddy! Daddy! Me and Nana are home.” The child screamed frantically running up the white spiral staircase. Her mass of blond hair tumbled in the way of her vision causing her to slip on a step.

“Baby, are you ok?” Her father came running from his upstairs office to tend his whimpering daughter.

She sniffled in response and pointed toward her knee where a bruise had started to form. “I felled down daddy.” Her bottom lip poked out and began to tremble causing the corners of his lips to twitch. He picked her up heroically and carried her the rest of the way.

“Is she alright? Lana baby are you ok?” Her Grandmother asked as she came upon her son nursing his daughter. “What happened?”

“I felled down Nana.” She pointed out the bruise again; this time with a smile. “I bet if I show this to Pop-pop, he’ll give me a dollar for not crying!” She exclaimed excitedly wiggling from her father’s arms and taking off down stairs calling out to her Grandfather.

“Just like you at that age.” She smiled wistfully.

“Me?” The young man inquired. “I don’t think dad ever gave me money for my bruises. Does he give John money?!” He asked in mock distress.

“Oh stop that.” His mother laughed and smacked him lightly with an oven mitt. “I mean she’s just as energetic as you were. We had a hard time keeping you from killing yourself. Remember that time you thought it would be fun to be like Mary Poppins?”

He laughed at the fond memory “Man, that movie is the bomb! I thought if she could jump off the roof with only an umbrella then so could I. Plus it was Trace’s idea.”

“Oh how are Trace and…Kristen? That’s it right?”

“Kir-sten Mom, don’t say Kristen in front of her or you’ll get it bad. I know from experience, believe me.” He sighed at that not so fond memory. She laughed at her distraught son and descended the stairs.

“Don’t like her much I gather then, huh?”

“It’s not that. I just…I don’t know. Sometimes I think with Trace getting married and all he’s not going to have any time for me. That sounds really stupid I know.”

“Of course not baby. It’s understandable. You’ll find someone for you and won’t even remember Trace’s name. You know, Mrs. Tessa’s granddaughter is coming home this week. Maybe…”

Knowing exactly where his mother was going with the conversation, he held up a hand to stop her. “Mom no, don’t even go there ok. I’m not being hooked up with anymore of your friend’s daughters, cousins, granddaughters, or their baby’s momma’s best friends!”

“Justin. Since Mira…”

Hearing her name stung still, even after fours years. He turned abruptly with a warning look in his eye. “Don’t even say it. If you say one more word about her I swear I’m takin’ Lana and we’re going home.”

She stood in shock as she watched her son’s back disappear into the kitchen. She knew he still hurt from the loss of his daughter’s mother. But, she thought, isn’t it a mothers job to help their children move on with their lives? She wasn’t doing anything any normal concerned parent wouldn’t do, she decided. And she would be damned if she watched him bring in every hussy in town to his bed; as a means to cover up the pain she could still see in his eyes. She was going to help him move on weather he liked it or not.

<< chapter 1 | stories index | chapter 3 >>