In A Loving Way

In A Loving Way (5)

Slightly longer, I hope.

Chapter Five

            Jeff awoke with the startling sound of a knock at the door. He stumbled to his feet, sleepy confusion taking hold of his body. He fell over what he assumed were moving boxes, and quickly caught himself on his elbows. Stupid boxes.

            He got up and made a beeline for the door, and got there just as the person began knocking furiously. Well, good morning to you too, Jeff thought as he whipped the door open, a little too fast. He fell, to put it bluntly, on his ass. He cursed, before looking up to meet a man’s hand. A very strong, muscled, hairy arm in fact. And, as Jeff grasped the hand, and was hoisted up to meet the man’s gaze, he realized that this man was indeed a policeman. A big, fat, unruly glob of a man, his past most likely buried in doughnuts and coffee.

            The man, balding, and in his early fifties, read his clipboard, “Jeffrey Chandler?”

            Jeff nodded. “Yes sir. May I ask what this is about?”

            The policeman rubbed the bridge of his nose, “Well, I’m going to ignore the fact that you don’t have a middle name and that you’re so jumpy, and just get down to business. Are you familiar with Carolynn Stephanie Carston?”

            “Yes. She and I hooked up a while back.” He decided to leave out the fact that they had a son together. “Why?”

            “Are you aware that yourself and Ms. Carston had a son together?” Damn, he was right on top of things.

            Jeff hesitated, before spilling the truth, “She told me when she was pregnant that we had created a baby. Then, she lied and told me she had…” He gulped before continuing, “Terminated the pregnancy.”

            The policeman studied Jeff, clad in a baggy sweatshirt and pajama pants. “So you weren’t aware at all?”

            Jeff smiled guilty, “No, I was. I ran into her a week ago, and she told me all about our baby as I put two and two together. She told me I was never allowed to see him, but I did get a picture. And I know his name.”

            “Good. Because it would be very suspicious if the child had your last name and you weren’t aware. Now, may I come in?” The thought of a big, sweaty, doughnut eating policeman sitting on his furniture gave him the creeps, but he obliged, nodding once. The man stumbled in, and surveyed the room, before sitting on Jeff’s couch. “May I ask why all the moving boxes?”

            Jeff closed his front door. It was insanely cold. “I start college in Ireland in a week.” He pulled up his padded computer chair opposite the officer, and sat, wicked tense.

            “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that.” The officer said aloud.

            Jeff got a little ticked, “And why’s that?”

            The officer held out a hand, “Before I break the news to you, I would love to formally introduce myself. I’m Officer Jerry Buck.” Jeff shook his hand quickly, aware of how much the man was sweating. Jerry sat back, “Now, I want to inform you that your girlfriend, Lynn…”

            “We never dated.” Jeff stated blankly, not liking where this was going.

            “Err, Right. Well, she was a very bad girl. She gambled constantly, partied hard, left your kid alone all the time, took her anger out on him when she got that mad, had intercourse right in front of him, and all in all, stole anything she could get her hands on.” He tossed Jeff his wallet. Jeff looked up, shock written on his face. “We arrested her after stopping the car she was driving out of state, supposedly yours. With a wallet full of your cash and credit card, and a black and blue baby in the back. She pulled a gun out on us. We had no choice but to…”

            Jeff heaved himself out of the comfortable chair, “You shot her?”

            “We tried to take the gun away, Jeffrey. She put it in her mouth, and squeezed the trigger.”

            His head spun. What the hell? Lynn did need help, he was right. But… “What’s going to happen to Andrew?” Jeff asked, tears begging to spill.

            Jerry smiled, “That’s why I’m here. Since the child is legally yours and hers, and you’re old enough, you aren’t a minor, and well, she offed herself…the only logical option is if you take him.”

            “What happens if I don’t?” Jeff’s voice was worn, barely above a whisper.

            “Then he’ll be placed in a foster family until someone new adopts him. There isn’t a lot we can do. He’s only two months old, if that.”

            The thought of his kid being passed along like a ragdoll brought Jeff to tears. Silently, ever so quietly, he urged, “I want my son.”

            Officer Jerry nodded understandingly, “I see. We’ll have to get him cleaned up and monitor him in the hospital for a couple days. I’m actually going there now if you’d like to see him?”

            Jeff nodded, “My baby. I finally get to see my baby.” The officer motioned for Jeff to come along, but before he went, he grabbed his shoes and camera. He was finally getting his child. After ten months, the child would be his.

            And his life would change for good.