The Ledore Girl

Chapter 1

It was just days after the disappearance of Randall Ascot that the doorbell rang.

Randall’s adoptive brother, Henry Ledore was the one who answered the door.

And what was on the other side of the door was a shock.

Lying in a small cradle, a young baby was crying out, and a letter was on its chest. Confused with what was happening, Henry lightly lifted the letter of the infant, and read it:

Dear Henry,

You remember me, don’t you? It’s me, Madeline, your old girlfriend’s sister.

Soon after you and Georgina broke up, she found out she was pregnant. These two events were so close to eachother, that we could easily confirm you were the father.

Unfortunately, Georgina didn’t manage to pull through giving birth, she died a maternal death. According to her will, despite you two not being together anymore, she wished for your child to go to you, seeing as you’re her other parent.

 This baby girl at your doorstep is Mia Ledore, your daughter. I know what happened to your adoptive brother, Randall, but please, for my niece’s sake, look after her and treat her like any other father would.

Yours sincerely,

 Madeline Mae

Henry just stared at her silently as his daughter cried out. She must have only been a few weeks old, maybe even days. Slowly taking her from her cradle, Henry took Mia in his arms. She was only whimpering now instead of crying. She wants her mum, Henry thought. As Madeline said in the letter, even though Randall had left, he was the father and had to look after her. Randall’s death was a complete accident, everyone had said that. The police, the reporters on his death, even the witness of his death, Hershel Layton, who had left due to being so grief-stricken over the loss of his closest friend.

After his thoughts had flown through him, Henry took the young child into the house. That was when Mrs Ascot, Randall’s mother and Henry’s adoptive mother, saw him and stared at the bundle in his arms. Walking over to him, it took her only a few seconds to realise that the bundle was in-fact a living being. “Henry, who on earth is that?” she asked, slightly surprised.

Looking up to the ceiling and then to Mia, Henry took a few seconds to reply. “My daughter…” he said, trying not to make his adoptive mother blow her top off. She had become very hot-headed after the loss of her son.

“You have a daughter, and you didn’t tell us?” she breathed. She looked stunned more than angry, but Henry wasn’t out of the woods yet.

“Well, I didn’t know my old girlfriend Georgina was pregnant, and apparently she died a maternal death, and I just found young Mia on the doorstep with a note explaining what had gone on” Henry said calmly. “I’m sorry Mrs Ascot”

Mrs Ascot looked extremely calm, despite the shocking news of her becoming a grandparent. “Henry, you do know what parenthood is like, don’t you? It’s a big commitment. Are you sure you can go through with this?”

Henry slowly nodded. “I don’t want anything to happen to her”

Mrs Ascot smiled slightly. “You’ll make a great father, Henry; your own father has been saying that since you were fourteen”

“Really?” Henry breathed. Mr Ascot was not one for giving out compliments.

“Yes, he was stunned how good you were with young children. I remember him saying the day after your fourteenth birthday, that Henry would be a brilliant father. I could definitely trust our grandchildren with him. He stands out as a better parent from Randall a mile off”

Henry was stunned. He was never complimented. A compliment this level was like receiving a medal. “Do you want me to take her?” Mrs Ascot asked.

Carefully passing Mia to his adoptive mother, Henry thought about everything that had gone on in the last month. Randall’s disappearance, the police spending half their time at the house asking questions, and now Mia’s entry into the household. It was a quite fast change, but it seemed to flow so well, despite all the scenario’s being so unexpected. Henry then thought of Angela, a regular visitor to the house. She and Randall were like lovebirds; Angela was in floods of tears after finding out about Randall. Henry had never really liked Angela as a friend, but just an acquaintance, but they had become closer after Randall’s disappearance as they were both close to him and they found it comforting to share their thoughts with another person close to him. Mia suddenly started crying then, but Mrs Ascot soothed her. “I’ll put her in the old nursery, it’s still safe enough for a young child to stay in” she said, walking up the stairs to the nursery.

Henry sighed then. My life is going to completely change now, whether I like it or not.