Always Be Forever

Chapter 14: Ellie

2089, BCE, June 15

"Hello?"

I had asked into my phone. Jasmine was on the other end of the line. "Ellie? It's been so long since I've talked to you!" She exclaimed. "Yeah it has been. I was wondering if we could meet up and talk about the kids. Alex has wanted to see Cashmere for a long time, but he hasn't been able to. So I was wondering if Alex and I could meet up with you and Cashmere, that would be great," I had told her. "Well, it's kind of late for Alex to see Cashmere pregnant, because she just gave birth the other day. I didn't know that Alex wanted to be there," Jasmine had told me. I wanted to see Cashmere before she gave birth. "Okay, and plus I take it that she gave the baby up for adoption. I heard about that from Snow," I had told Jasmine. "How does Snow know about the pregnancy?" Jasmine had asked. I had noticed Hector walking into the dining room with Lily, she had her backpack on and ready to go to school. "Look, can we talk about this later?" I had asked Jasmine. "Yeah of course. Do you want to meet up? How about the park we used to hang out at? In 45 minutes?" She had asked. "Yeah sure. I can do then," I had said before hanging up and putting my phone under the newspaper before Hector could tell what was going on.

"Whom were you talking to?" Hector had asked. "Jasmine. I keep on trying to find the right time when Alex can actually meet Cashmere and his kid, but nothing's working," I had told him, with a big long sigh following it after. "Well hey, I'm sure everything will work out and they'll meet when the time is right. It's best not to force it," Hector had told me before giving me a kiss on the forehead. "Where are you heading?" I had asked. "I'm taking Lily to school. Apparently her teacher wanted to talk to me about her grades. I won't be long," he had told me before putting his coat on and headed out the door with Lily. Guess I'll be taking Alex to school.

Alex had woken up and was grabbing breakfast. He grabbed a bagel, a cup of coffee, and the newspaper, revealing my phone. "Why the coffee?" I had asked. "I have a final today," he had told me, reminding me that he has a final in English today. "Sit with me. Your dad's dropping off Lily. I'll be the one taking you," I had told him. "Perfect," he had let out in a sigh. "Still wish you could see Cashmere?" I had finally asked. "I do. I want to meet my kid. I'm kind of glad I was able to meet Jason and Snow's kid the other day. It's a boy," he had told me. "What did they name him?" I had asked. "I personally find the name weird, but they're keeping him so I can't say anything, but the name is Leandro," he had told me. I giggled a little, almost choking on my own breakfast. "Shouldn't I be allowed to meet my kid?" Alex had asked, slamming his hand on the table. A thought did come into my head, but I didn't want to say it until I heard from Jasmine. My watch had dinged, and I had checked the time. "Shit, you're going to be late if you don't hurry up," I had told him once I realized the time. He had put his coffee in a water bottle, and had eaten his bagel in the car. I had pulled him up to the parking lot at school, and had let him out then.

"Mrs. Harp!" I had heard someone yell out, running from the school and towards me. I had turned my head around to notice that it was Finn. "Finn? What is it?" I had asked. "I just need to know, did Cashmere give birth?" He had asked me once he had caught up, trying to catch his breath after I rolled down the passenger seat window. "Yeah she did. Why do you ask?" I had asked him. "I was going to take Alex to see her if she hadn't. We're too late?" He had asked me. "Yeah we are. Listen, I'm going to be meeting up with Jasmine. I'll give you an update if there's any further news," I had told him. "What about Snow?" He had asked. "She also gave birth. They named their kid Leandro," I had told him before I drove out of there and went to the old park that Jasmine and I used to hang out at when we were in elementary. Kids were already inside and in their classes. I had headed to the Learning Sanctuary in the playground, and waited for Jasmine to show up. Walking around, I remember the good old days when Jasmine and I knew each other very well. We go back to when we were kids, but she had met Erin in junior high. She pulls up, and I see her walk to where I am, walking on the old posts that were never fixed. "Ellie," she had let out when she had saw me walking on top of one of the broken wooden posts. I had stepped down. "Jasmine," I had let out. "It's been a while," Jasmine had told me before I had gone in for a hug. "It truly has been," I had let out. "I need to know, has Cashmere named the kid?" I had asked. "No she hasn't. She said that she originally wanted to name her before she gave her up for adoption, but she can't think of one," Jasmine had told me. "Does Cashmere know that you told me about the pregnancy? Cause Hector and I told Alex," I had asked her. "No she doesn't. And it should stay that way. I was going to take Cashmere to the hospital later to see if she could hold her and see if a name will come, but I doubt it," Jasmine had told me. That gave me an idea.

"Let me do that, but with Alex. He wants to meet his daughter," I had told her. "Okay. This is a picture of what she looks like," Jasmine had told me before pulling up a picture of Cashmere holding her. "Awe, she's so cute," I had let out. "Yeah she is," she had told me. "I'll take Alex after school. If possible, can you send me the picture so I can remember?" I had asked. I don't want to be confused with another baby when I get there. "Yeah of course," Jasmine had told me before she had sent the picture right then. "I better head home. The place is a mess," I had told Jasmine before I hugged her again. "I will see you again," I had told her before I headed to my car and drove home. Once I was home, I had started cleaning in the kitchen. There were piles of crap everywhere that I had started with the dishes. Dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and clean ones away, even though there were barely any of them. The place was already looking better. When the entire house was clean, which took me about a good two hours; I looked at the picture of my granddaughter held in her mother's arms. That had then reminded me to call up Finn. It was lunch hour now, so I was good for time.

"Finn?" I had asked once he had answered his phone. "I didn't learn much from Jasmine, but just so you know I will be the one taking Alex to the hospital," I had started. "Even though she's given birth already?" Finn had asked, confused. "Cashmere was originally going to name her, but she can't think of one. Now I'm thinking I could take Alex to the hospital and name her, since he can do that. He is the father," I had told him. "You are right. I got to go here, Fiona is here. Don't worry, I won't say anything until I get the name he gives to her. Give me an update on the name if he's lucky to name her," Finn had told me before hanging up. Well that was quick. I didn't do much for the rest of the day. I sat around and watched TV with popcorn in hand in the basement. Lily must've been watching one of the Ice Age movies before that I had put something else on. After my movie, I had just slept there, and waited for the time of when to pick up Alex.

Time went ticking by quickly. When I opened my eyes, it was 2:45. It takes 15 minutes to get to the school, and school ends in 15 minutes. Hurrying out of there, I grabbed my phone, went to the car, and drove to Archbishop Macbeth High School right away. I was sleep-deprived, so I couldn't keep my eyes open and on the road. "Honk!" One of the cars behind me went, before I realized that I was going 40 in a 70, and I cranked up the speed. Turn right here, go straight, take a left, go straight, turn right, and turn left... "This is taking forever!" I had let out without thinking, once I realized I was really close to the school. I could see Alex in the distance waiting for me by the parking lot. I drove in, and Alex had got into the car right away.

"How was the test?" I had asked. "It was hard, but I was able to do it," he had told me. "And how's Michael?" I had asked. It's been awhile since I've seen him. "I don't want to talk about him, can we just go?" Alex had asked. Well that was different. "Yeah sure. Listen, I talked to Cashmere's mom, and since Cashmere wanted to name the kid before she gave the kid up for adoption she's having some trouble," I had started. "And you're telling me this because you want me to help her?" He had asked. "You said you want to meet your kid. Now is your chance. Take it or leave it," I had told him. "I want to meet my kid," he had let out before we drove to the hospital. We had parked in the parking lot, and we had headed into the area where the babies were kept. I had pulled up my phone with the picture, so I could find the kid. "There she is," I had told Alex once I had found her, wrapped up in a blanket, and waving her hand at him. "My daughter," Alex had let out relieved. I had let him watch her for a little longer so that he didn't see me walk away and ask the nurse if he could hold her. "Wait, where's she going?" Alex had asked when he had seen that she was no longer there. The nurse had come out holding her, and Alex had held her. I had shown the position for him to hold her, and he was able to do it no problem. "Hello," he had told her before she waved her hand at him again, and he had brought his hand to her. She had grabbed his finger, and I could tell how he felt. It's the father's touch when they first truly realize the amazement of having a kid. Hector had felt the same way when I had given birth to Alex, and Jason had probably felt the same when Snow had given birth to Leandro. Now Alex feels it with her.

"Rose," he had let out. "Pardon?" I had asked. I was confused as to why he would be saying a type of flower. "Her name is Rose," Alex had told me. I knew he would be able to name her. I had grabbed my phone out and had sent a text to Finn, saying that Alex had named her Rose.

"I want to keep her"