Surviving The Aftermath [Book Three]

Thirty Four

Demi

I glanced up as the door opposite me opened and I smiled as Ayla skipped through. She headed straight for me and I just smiled wider as she climbed onto my lap.

"You okay, Peanut?" she nodded, nibbling on her nail.

"Ayla, do you want to go and play for a moment while I just talk to your mommy?" she nodded and headed for the toys that sat in the far corner of the room. Sara headed to her receptionist who nodded to whatever was asked of her. She was probably asked to keep an eye on Ayla. "You want to come in, Demi?" I nodded and pushed myself up from my chair. I settled my hand onto my bump as I headed into the office. We made the decision to send Ayla to see a child therapist after she woke up screaming, convinced that we were going to leave her as soon as baby got here. She's still refusing to see Max and it's becoming a battle. I was hesitant to send her to see a therapist but after I had spoken my concerns to my therapist, she gave me the details to Sara. This is her third session and so far we haven't managed to get Ayla to open up about what's going on with her.

"Has she said anything?" I asked as Sara closed the door.

"No" I sighed, starting to feel a little defeated. "When did all of this start, Demi?" I turned to Sara as she leant back against her desk and watched me with a look of interest.

"She went to see her dad earlier this year and she met his new girlfriend. She came back in a weird mood, saying that she didn't like her. I thought it was just normal behaviour because she's only 4 and that was when the nightmares started."

"We spoke a little about the nightmares, she does seem to be opening up to me, Demi, which is a step in the right direction" I nodded, my fingers combing through my hair as I waited for Sara to continue. "When we spoke about the nightmares, she said that every nightmare was the same. She's fearful that you're going to leave her" a lump formed in my throat and I felt myself beginning to become emotional. "She kept saying that she didn't want to go away and she wanted to stay here" I quickly wiped at my cheek as a tear escaped. "I'm sorry, Demi" I shook my head and sniffled, taking the tissue that she held out to me.

"No, it's just...She's my baby and I hate that she's hurting" I dabbed at my eyes and sniffled.

"Is there anyone who would have spoken to her about going away or anything?"

"I-I don't think so."

"You said the problem started after she came from her dad's?"

"Yeah, it-it was after she met his girlfriend."

"Do you think something could have been said to her while she was there?" I shrugged my shoulders but the ache in my heart I felt earlier began to harden with anger. Max apparently told her that we would forget about her if we ever had a baby, would he tell her that we will leave her behind too? "I think it would be a good idea for you to get with her dad and have a conversation with him, see if anything has been said."

"Yeah, I can do that" Sara gave me a light smile.

"I will see you next week then."

"Thank you, Sara" she gave me a wide smile as we headed for the door. Ayla glanced over to us as we stepped from the office. She pushed herself up from the room and came to me, her hand sliding into mine. "Do you want to go and grab some ice cream before we head home, Peanut?" I gently ran my fingers through her hair, smiling down at her as she glanced up at me. She nodded, giggling as I lightly tapped her on the nose.

"I'll see you next week, Ayla" she sent Sara a wave as we headed from the waiting area and began from the building. Ayla skipped beside me as we headed for the car. I helped her to strap herself in and then climbed into the driver's seat. I connected my phone into the car and clicked on the playlist that I knew Ayla loved listening too. I glanced in the rear view mirror as she squealed at the music that filled the car. I lightly laughed as I pulled from the parking lot and headed into town. We stopped off at our local ice cream parlour. Ayla had a tub of mint chocolate chip and I treated myself to a tub of cookie dough. I'm pregnant, I deserve a treat.

"Mommy?" I glanced in the rear view mirror as we headed home. Ayla was staring out the car window.

"Yes, Peanut?"

"When the baby come, do I have to go?" my eyebrows furrowed as I kept glancing between her and the road in front.

"What do you mean, Baby?" she didn't reply so I glanced in the rear view mirror to see her staring down at her hands. "Baby?" she glanced up and met my gaze in the mirror. "Ayla, has somebody told you that once this baby comes, you need to leave?" she just glanced back down at her hands. I glanced back at the road, my hands tightening around the steering wheel. "You aren't going anywhere, Ayla. I promise. Mommy loves you so much that you leaving would really break my heart" I tried to hold back my tears as I drove.

"Love you too, Mommy" my lips twitched into a smile. If Ayla isn't going to tell me where she got this idea of her leaving into her head, I need to speak to someone who might and if I find out that it was Max who planted this idea into her head, I'm going to start swinging. Pregnant or not.

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