Chapter Forty-Nine
Autumn was in full swing and the leaves had turned a golden brown colour. The weather was changing as well, going from long, hot summer days to milder, more bearable weather. Mason lay awake in his bed and listened to the rhythmic breathing coming from Kelley, across the room from him. He smiled then as he thought about their brotherhood and how he’d never thought he’d be friends with him.
So much had happened in the past couple of months and he realized that Kelley was the brother he had lost. He trusted him with his life and he was proud to call Kelley his family. Life had a funny way of showing you just how wrong you could be.
A baby’s cry cut through the silence, it was faint but Mason had still heard it. None of their neighbours had a baby. It was with that thought that he got out of bed and headed downstairs. It was still early, only five am and normally he wouldn’t even be awake so early. He yawned and stretched as he walked down the stairs.
‘Maybe that’s what woke me,’ he thought to himself.
The house was still quiet and dark as he switched on the lights downstairs. He heard the baby again, closer this time and a chill ran down his spine. He opened the front door and nestled on the porch was a small bassinette with a baby inside. For a few seconds, Mason stood frozen in the doorway until the baby cried again.
Mason picked the bassinet up carefully and looked around before he brought it inside. The baby’s cheeks were red from the cold and its eyes were screwed shut as the motion temporarily lulled the baby. He placed the bassinette on the coffee table and looked at the baby.
A pink blanket swaddled the baby and Mason smiled gently as the baby’s mouth moved in a sucking motion. There was a baby bag tied to the bassinet and Mason opened it carefully. Inside he found diapers, nappy cream, baby powder, baby wipes, four bottles, a tin of milk and an envelope. He had no idea what to do with the baby, so small and innocent and already rejected and left on someone's doorstep.
“What’s that?” Kelley asked from behind him and he almost jumped out of his skin. He hadn't heard Kelley coming down the stairs.
“I found a baby on our porch.”
Kelley appeared next to him and he smiled gently as he looked at the baby. The baby’s bottom lip quivered and Kelley picked the baby up. He cradled the baby in his arms and then slowly started rocking his whole body.
“She’s probably hungry, make her a bottle, Mason.”
“How?”
Kelley rolled his eyes. “Check how much water’s in the bottle and see what the tin says and add the scoops and shake it.”
Mason grabbed a bottle and the tin of the milk from the bag and Kelley followed him to the kitchen. Mason looked at the bottle and the tin and then at Kelley. “You do it.”
Kelley cracked a grin and handed the baby to Mason. He quickly placed the powdered milk into the bottle and then shook it until it was well mixed. He boiled the kettle and then placed the bottle into a jug with the boiled water.
He tested the milk on his wrist twice before sitting down at the table. “Give her to me.” Mason gave the baby back to Kelley so quickly that he had to smile and took out two cups from the cupboard to make coffee.
“How do you know all this shit?”
“Norah’s cousin had a baby and she visited two summers ago. I got roped into a lot of things back then when I thought I loved her.”
Mason watched in fascination as Kelley placed the bottle near the baby’s mouth and the sucking motion increased. Kelley looked so at ease and comfortable as the baby drank, at times dozing off before waking up again to continue feeding.
“Who’s baby do you think it is?”
Mason scratched the back of his neck. “No clue, there’s an envelope in the bag.”
“And you haven’t opened it yet?”
Mason shrugged because he didn’t really know if he should. “We should call the cops, Kelley, or protective services.”
“Your mom will know what to do with her.”
“How old do you think she is?”
Kelley’s gaze softened as he looked at the baby. “A week at most. Hand me that bag.”
“What are you looking for?” Mason stood up and took the bag from the counter and placed it on the table in front of Kelley.
“A burping cloth.”
Kelley found what he was looking for and draped the cloth over his shoulder. He lifted the baby and placed her against his chest and started to rub her back gently. Mason watched him with an amused look in his eye.
“Fine, I’m opening the envelope but only because information about the mother might be in there.”
Kelley smiled as the small baby burped loudly. Mason tore the envelope open and sat down before he opened the sheet of paper that had to be a letter. Mason’s face was his normal stoic as he read the letter, looked at Kelley and then read the letter again.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Mase.”
The baby was asleep again, having burped a few times and Kelley walked back to the living room and placed her in the bassinette. He tucked the blanket in around her and went back to the kitchen where Mason still sat as if frozen.
“Dear Mason,
I know I should’ve told you earlier but this is Grace and she’s yours. You know what my life is like at home and I can’t keep her. You need to look after her. She was born six days ago and I haven’t registered her yet, you can do it.
I won’t be coming back for her because I know she’ll be better off with you and your mom. Just know that I love her enough to give her a better life. Please look after her, you’re all she has now.
I’m sorry.
Andrea.”
