Reunion

Chapter 2

My partner and I run as fast as we can, consoling each other on the way. Our poor baby didn't deserve this horrible fate. Louis grabs my hand to comfort me and the tears that stream down my face. I look down at the 'D' inscribed on my wrist and it brings back such powerful memories of my daughter. It was the third year of our marriage and we decided that since One Direction split, we needed something to fill that void in our lives. I always wanted a child but Louis was hesitant, insisting that we didn't have nearly the experience we needed to raise a child. But I persisted. We went through London to find a surrogate mother, but it just didn't feel right with Louis. As we walked and talked about this disagreement, we passed the Home for Girls. He shrugged and looked at me. He told me it'd be like Despicable Me but in a much friendlier environment. I just laughed and we entered the home. Instantly a feeling came over me and I knew we had to adopt. Even as I said this, a small, maybe two years old, curly-haired girl emerged from the back playroom. She really could have been my own daughter. She had my same hazel eyes and the dimple when she smiled. She was perfect.

When my eyes met hers, she smiled brightly and leaped into my arms. The orphanage director didn't even try to stop us, it was clearly evident that this was an inseparable match. Louis took her little hand and she reached for his mouth. "Daddy!" She said in an ecstatic voice. The director laughed and admitted that this happens a lot, and there's no way you can say no to that. Louis and I agreed and promised to return as soon as possible with the required paperwork. Later that night, we were scrambling to get them done. It was a lengthy process. Just as Louis would exclaim he was finished with one part of the task, we'd realized we had filled it out improperly. My eyes drooped with sleepiness and I finally blacked out at my desk, my pen still in my hand. It was morning when Louis shook me awake and offered me a cup of coffee. We gathered the paperwork and flew out the door, our precious new child had waited for us for too long. We laid it all out in front of the director, but there was solemn uneasiness within her complexion. She looked up at us and said she was deeply sorry, but the bobbies showed up and took her away, claiming that her real mother had shown up. Louis and I look at each other; we were devastated. I let my tears fall and so did he. He took my hand and tried to ease our sorrows. This couldn't be happening. We thanked the woman for her time and left our contact information should anything come up. And so we walked, heartbroken and hopeless, back to our small flat in Westminster.

Three weeks went by, and every day we anxiously checked our phones for missed calls and tuned into the news for any breaking stories that might have anything to do with her. We hoped and longed in vain, or so we thought. 26 days after the first time we met her, we received a phone call. Not from the orphanage, but from a woman I thought I would never seen again. I picked up the phone, and gave an exasperated hello. Then she spoke. Her voice sounded just as it did 20 years ago. Calm, lovely, beautiful as ever. She first apologized and said she was sorry. I was confused, but she went on, talking faster this time. She went on about New York, how it brings back memories for her. That one night we had together, and something about a baby girl. Wait, a baby girl? And in that moment I remember it all. I remember that New Year's; it all went by so fast. We were partying with the lads, drinking a little more than we should have. Then she took my hand and told me it would be fun. That's really all I remember, but as she keeps talking to me, I remember the one cold truth. The curly haired girl was my daughter. She tells me that after I left, she had to give the baby up for adoption, but recently she had been trying to find her again. And then she did. She had no idea I had found her, too. Then she says she wants to get together and talk about things. I look over at Louis, his face painted with anxiousness and worry for our girl. I agree that we must meet again and we set a date. I say goodbye, she says I love you, and then I hang up.

I turn to Louis and take his hands in mine. I walk him over to the couch and we sit. I ask him to remember New Year's six years ago. He wasn't there with me, but I know he remembers. Everyone remembers, after all, they showed it on the tele. I kissed her, even though I didn't want to. Louis knew that; we talked for quite a long time that night, because he knew exactly how I felt about her and about us. So I told him that she would be coming over, and I saw the hatred flicker in his eyes. He was the jealous type, and always spoke his mind. But then I saw the kindness return to his demeanor as I said that she would be bringing our daughter. Louis asks me if she would be returning her to us, but all I could give was a blank and worried stare. I had forgotten to ask her. I bury my face in my hands for forgetting this important detail. Louis places his hand on my back and rubs it comfortingly. He reassures me that it would be okay, and that at least we would be able to see her again. I knew he was talking about our girl, but all I could think of now was the mother of my child.

Our doorbell rings and I fix my curly hair before answering it. Louis sits on the couch, casually watching football and eating the Chinese takeout we had gotten earlier. I open the door, and I first see her. Her blonde hair was as beautiful as ever, and her blue eyes reflected the blue of the sky to make them even more stunning. Then I see our little girl, and she sees me. I take her in my arms and she wraps her little ones around me. Louis comes to greet them and says hello to Taylor, our little girl's mother. He talks with apathy, hiding his real feelings toward her. Without thinking, I call our little girl Darcy and tell her to hug Louis. Taylor looked astonished and began to inform us that her name was Princilla, but Louis interjected and reiterated that, no, her name is Darcy. I look over at Louis and smile cheekily at him. He winks at me. Then he says to Taylor that if that's all she needed, she was free to leave at any time. I try to lighten the mood and invite everyone in for some ice cream, but Taylor insists she has a meeting later this afternoon. We nod out heads and I ask for Darcy's belongings, which she reluctantly hands over. But she wants something out of the deal, too. Louis can see where this is going and takes the back and asks Darcy if she wanted to go see her new room. "Okay, bye Mommy and Daddy!" She says. I give her a kiss on the cheek and then Louis takes her on a tour through the place. Taylor starts her short bargain as soon as they leave, demanding $10,000 a year for complete custody of the child. I calmly and kindly inform her that we use euros over here and for a second, she's baffled. I tell her it'd be about 7,600 euros. She says whatever and informs me that her lawyer will be mailing me the paperwork. I thank her for her time and she leaves out the door.

I close the door and stand there, flabbergasted. How did a sweet angel of my past become so petty and self-centered? Then I remember Louis, and the other lads of the old band and how we have hardly changed all these years. I give a silent thank you to God above and then go to find my sweet partner and our baby girl. I ask her if she wants to go shopping for things for her new room, and her eyes perk up and a smile crosses her beautiful face. And so we headed to London. Together, as a new, inseparable family.