And Baby Makes...?

Chapter 37

Samantha POV

I liked talking to Mark and Benjamin and Emma. They were really nice.

Something told me that Dad wasn't completely comfortable with them. I guess I could understand. I mean, before the DNA test came back, I was scared he'd be related to Stanley or something.  And I guess partially in the back of my mind, I'm still a little worried he might not be completely safe.

After we talked I went up to my room to put my computer away and I heard Rosie babbling in her room.

"Hey Rosie posey!" I said  going into her room. "Who has a stinky bum?" I asked.

"SaSa!" Rosie said lifting her arms for me.

I love Rosie. I can't explain it, but I swear, she understands me most when I talk to her. And she always calms down when I'm holding her.

Mom and Dad told me when she was born and I was still in a coma, she would settle as soon as they lay her in the crook of my arm. And when I started waking up, and the nurses were loud and scared her they put her in my arms and she calmed down immediately.

I changed Rosie's diaper and put her back in a sleeper. I sang to her as I carried her downstairs. Mom was still napping, and Dad was downstairs getting ready for tour, so I sat on the couch with Rosie and bounced her on my knee as I sang to her.  

When I sing to her she always watches with such awe. 

"SaSa," she smiled at me as I sang one of Dad's songs to her.

"Rosie, I don't know. But you seem to just, get me. And I love you to bits. When you're old enough to go to school, I swear if anyone is ever mean to you, I will always protect you. And you can always talk to me about anything. I mean, when you can talk."

"That's beautiful, Sam," I heard behind me. I turned around and Mom was standing in the doorway with tears in her eyes.

"Uh, hi Mom," I said, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Sam," Mom said, coming into the living room and sitting beside me. "I don't know what it is, but there is something between you and Rosie. It's special and I don't know if you've realized it even, but there's just... something between you two."

"Yeah. I know. I can't explain it, really, either," I said. "I mean, I tried to explain it in the hospital after that first seizure? I swear. I think we met before she was born."

"Yeah. I remember you telling us that. Whatever it is. Rosie is lucky to have you as a big sister. You're going to be such a great influence for her," Mom said, hugging me.

"Mom?" I asked.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Do you think, if..." I stopped. I wasn't sure I wanted to even entertain this thought.

"What, baby? You can or tell me or Dad anything."

I took a breath.

"Okay. Maybe this is stupid. But, do you think if Mark wants me to come live with him, do you think I could say I want to stay here?"

"Oh, baby," Mom said, a sound in her voice that made me think she might start crying. Stupid me. Of course I upset her.

"Forget it. That was stupid," I said.

"No,  no. Not at all. Part of me worried that you might want to go live with Mark and his family because he's your mom's brother."

I looked at Mom.

"But I don't know him. You're my family. You already know me better than Stanley ever did. You take care of me. Mark doesn't know that much about me. I mean, he asks and we talk, but he never knew what I was like as a baby."

"Neither do we," Mom said.

"Well, no. But you've known me over a year, and he's only known me a few weeks. And mostly over Zoom."

"Samantha, if Mark wants you to live with him and even tried to take us to court to do that, you're nearly 15. The courts will take into account that your entire life is here. Your family is here, your friends are here. I am pretty confident that a judge would look at everything that's happened in your life and see that making you move to a country you don't know, with a family you barely know, would be extremely traumatic. I can't imagine a judge that would rule you have to leave the life you know for one you don't. And Dad and I will fight tooth and nail to make sure you don't have to."

I leaned into Mom.

"I love you, Mom," I said.

She wrapped her arms around me again and kissed me on the head.

"I love you too, Samantha Joseph. More than you might ever be able to understand."