Chapter 22

Mia had just walked in from work and not two seconds later Amber came through the door.

“You dropped Amiyah off at her grandmother’s?” She dropped down on the couch next to Mia. Mia nodded, the urge to keep her eyes close also ruling whether she wanted to speak. She was just too tired.

“I dropped her off after I picked her up from kindergarden; Marina wanted to be able to continue babysitting.” Mia responded.

“It’s her granddaughter, she probably misses her.” Amber leaned against her sister and sighed.

“Are you ready to tell me what happened at the lawyer’s office?” Amber straightened and turned to look at Mia.

“Are you ready to tell *us*?” Nate walked in and took a seat on a couch opposite to them. “I am also invested in this story.” He forced himself to only look at Mia.

Amber couldn’t stop staring at him; she needed him to look at her, to acknowledge her. In all their years together every time she came home from work he’d wrap her up in a warm hug and kiss her forehead. Today was the only exception. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck raised, a mixture of cold and hot running down her spine.
Mia inhaled a huge breath and allowed the words to roll out quickly. “There is a chance that Amiyah will be taken away from me.” There was a chance that if she kept waiting, she’d never tell them anything.

Nate’s eyes darkened, “No one will take her or you away.” He said determinedly.

“You don’t understand.” Her voice began to break. It was even harder saying this out loud.

“Then tell us.” Amber finally found her voice.

“The attorney said that Gabriel has the advantage due to his wealth and he can, if he desires, to exclude me from Amiyah’s life.” She couldn’t look at either of them; she didn’t want to see their disappointment. She was failing at her life, she could barely dream to hold on to her own daughter.

“Are they any other options?” Nate was the only one capable of pushing aside his growing concern to try and find a solution. Amber had starting shaking along with Mia, their minds to emotional to think clearly.

“She advised I speak to Gabriel to reach a consensus but he has no intentions of letting me see her.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “Not if I leave him.” She finished softly.

“Bastard.” Nate muttered, “Let’s take a few days to come up with some other options and to really think on the situation.” He tried to find Mia’s gaze, but her head hung low.

“For now, Amiyah is safe and in our custody.” He leaned back in his seat.

“I am sorry for dragging you both into this.” She looked at them this time.

“Mia, no.” Amber shook her head.

“Why are you saying such things? We are your family.” Nate questioned, walking over to kneel at her feet. He took her hands in his and looked in her eyes. “You are not dragging us into anything.” He assured her.

******
Mia’s eyes were protesting against her, their owner, their cries becoming more and more instant since she’d refused to give into their demands for sleep.

“Some coffee may do me well.” She muttered to herself. Shit! Coffee. She had completely forgotten about Harvey. Then again, wasn’t it okay to just not show up? She never did give him an answer.

*You literally have to pass that coffee shop on your way to pick up Amiyah.* Her subconscious drawled irritably and before she knew it she was pulling up in a parking space. She switched off her car and wondered what she was going to say to him.

“I’ll figure it out when I get there.” She declared to the voices in her head. She grabbed up her purse, the vibration in it causing her to rummage through it to find her cell phone. The caller ID indicated that it was Marina.

“Hey,” she answered, “I’ll be around to pick up Amiyah in thirty minutes.” She said before Marina had an opportunity to speak. She was pushing open her door to slide out when Marina responded.

“He took her away, Mia.” Her voice was small, a slight sob reaching Mia’s ears. Mia’s hand pulled her door back in, a cloud of silence forming around her.

“What?” she breathed into the phone. It was obvious the ‘her’ referred to her daughter.

“Gabriel came and took her away; he said his lawyer told him he was well within his rights.” She spoke so quickly that Mia needed a few seconds for the sentence to make sense. Her body went numb.

“He didn’t.” she was in denial. How could he?

“I am sorry I couldn’t stop him.” Marina said but Mia was already hanging up the call and dialling Gabriel’s number.
He answered on the second ring, “Where is my daughter?” her voice was low and steady, a drastic contrast to the rise and fall of her chest.

“Our daughter.” He corrected, “and she is safe with me, isn’t that right hunny?” Mia could hear the sound of Amiyah giggling and talking excitedly in the background. Her mind eased slightly, at least she was comfortable. That, however, didn’t change the growing anxiety in Mia’s chest.

“You said I had a week to decide what I wanted to do.” She had pressed the cell so close to her ears that she was beginning to feel a soreness developing.

“You do.” He responded casually. “but..”

“Then why have you snatched my daughter away like a thief?” she demanded, interrupting him in the process.

“Our daughter,” he emphasised, “ and you mean the same way you shipped her off to your sister’s house without letting me know?” he scoffed. “Amiyah will stay with me, she stays with me regardless of the decision you make.” He said.

“Gabriel…” she began, her intention was to beg him to bring Amiyah back to her.

“I have to go Mia, our daughter needs supervision,” he said and the called ended. Mia dropped the phone on the passenger seat and screamed. All of her frustration, anger and sadness projecting outwards. Her hands striking blows at the steering wheel, her head on fire. She ignored the curious stares of the passer-by and his dog. He’d slowed down to look into her car window but she had no sanity left to feel embarrassment.
Mia pulled her cell phone back in her hands and typed a text message to Harvey. There was no decision to be made.

*Don’t wait for me, I will not be coming. I’m sorry*

Harvey saw the message, immediately got up and walked outside, taking his coffee to go. He was disappointed but she had made her choice and he had to decide not to waste any time running after someone who wasn’t interested in him. He had no intention of replying, that was until he looked across the street and saw her. She was sitting inside of her car, rubbing her hands over her face until she dropped her head on the steering wheel.
His legs couldn’t move, he sipped his coffee and stared at her. She did come, the question was, ‘why didn’t she make it all the way?’
He noted her large inhale, everyone within sight could, she started her car and drove away. Harvey smiled. The display instilling him with some hope. He pulled out his cell and replied.

*No worries. We shall meet when you are ready*
****

“Are we going to talk about it?” Amber knocked on the slightly ajar bedroom door. Mia had just left to pick up her daughter from her grandmother’s house so she and Nate were alone.

“What?” he didn’t bother to look at her, he was re-packing his overnight bag for his shift at the hospital.

“What you saw…” Her voice lowering as she paused. She’d walked further into the room. He turned to look at her, “on my phone.” Her voice was barely audible.

“My mind is spinning with everything going on with Mia and I am on call at the hospital in two hours.” He’d turned his attention away again, seeing her caused a hole to burn in his chest.

“So that’s a no?” she questioned, her heart sinking. She’d never seen him so detached before, he was always the one willing to solve their problems. This change in his demeanour was troubling. She knew she messed up but she wished he would let her explain.

“I don’t know what to think, Amber.” He zipped his bag shut and spun around, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, the mattress slightly sinking from his weight. She peered at him with two large eyes. “I am trying not to get emotional I have a surgery to perform and I can’t be thinking like this right now.” He clarified. He didn’t know to feel, part of him was hoping he’d wake up and it would all be a sick joke.

“I understand that and I am sorry for hurting you but you really do need to let me expl-” she was pleading, coming closer towards. He instantly stood up, raised the palm of his hand and shook his head to silence her.

“For tonight, we are fine. Tomorrow we will discuss.” He placed a lingering kiss on her forehead, grabbed his overnight bag and made his way to the door.

“You’re leaving now?” She spun around to watch him leave, tears glistening in her eyes.

“I need some space. I’ll get something to eat from the hospital café’.” He didn’t falter or look back at her. Amber sank down on the bed and sighed. She had no one to blame but herself.

Amber didn’t know how long had passed since she’d curled up in a tiny ball. She sighed, rolled off her bed and made her way downstairs in time to see Mia walking through the front door…empty handed.

“Did you not pick Amiyah up yet?” her steps were slowing, her body tensing at the dazed look in Mia’s face. Mia knew if she attempted to speak she would burst into tears. This was going to be the first night she’d ever been away from her daughter and her heart felt empty.

“What’s wrong?” Panic began surging into Amber’s bloodstream as a single tear strolled down Mia’s eyes, her shoulders rising and lowering intensely.

“I have no choice, Amber.” She sniffled, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.

“What are you saying?” Amber was inches away from her now, her hands resting on Mia’s shoulders.

“I have to go back.” She fell against her sister as the full meaning of those words struck her.