My Old Best Friend

Chapter 7

Harmony's POV

Mandy Trance.
August 9th, 2010
Beloved Daughter, Wife, Mother, and Friend

I read as I stare at her grave. She always had a spark of excitement about something, something no one would know but she would.

I remember the day she died, I know the date like the back of my hand, it was the worst day in my life. Having my sister, the only girl to tell it to me straight not worrying about hurting my feelings she was the most honest and grateful person in my life.

"Mom?" Ian places his hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's been a while since I've seen her."

"Mom it's been a while since we've all seen her."

"I know but, I've known her, her entire life. Her ups and downs all of her swings I was there, always. I was there always."

"It's been 5 years."

"It's know how long it's been, her birthday was the day she died. I know exactly how long it's been."

"What happened that day, mom? I never remembered."

"Okay well she was over, obviously and she was having all kinds of contractions. So we took her to the E.R. and of course Rick couldn't make it out of his amazing time to come to his girlfriend giving birth to his kid....."

FLASHBACK

"Harmony!!" Mandy cried out.

"I'm right here babe, I'm right here." I consoled her while gripping her hand.

"I can't do this alone, Har, I can't."

"You can. I'll be right here. You will be able to do this. I believe in you." They started rolling her into the prep room for the birth.

"Can you come with me?"

"I can't but Rick should be here. He will be here."

"He won't fucking be here, oh my god I'm so sorry!!" she covered her mouth and I think she cursed herself for cussing.

"Don't fret you're in pain." I chuckled and rubbed her hand.

"He's never here nor there he's cheating on me and I made him sign off his rights to be the father. My baby deserves a man like you and your husband."

"Thank you peaches." I kissed her hand and they held me back telling me I couldn't go back there with her.

_________

I paced the room back and forth, she been in there for hours and my family stopped by giving me clothes and Ian came in to see me. I would say Mandy had family but the truth is....she didn't. Her mom and dad died when she was 12 and they were both, like her, an only child. She came to live with me and my family and almost changing her name to mine.

Rick finally showed up. "H-Harmony?" He stuttered out.

"Surprised?"

"Yeah."

"Well I mean you weren't here!! You were suppose to be here and you weren't what kind of boyfriend are you?!?!" I yelled at him, releasing some of my anger on him. 

"What kind of best friend are you?!?!?" He began to yell at me.

"What are you talking about?!"

"You're never there!"

"I'm always there!"

"You think you know what she wants and what she thinks you think you know her life and everything but you don't!"

"Oh bite me Rick." He started to walk to me. "If you really bite I swear to everything good I'll knee your private so hard you'll get more brain damage."

"I hate you, Harmony."

"you flatter me Rick." I walked towards him until he was against the wall. "You signed off right and now, by me, you are never allowed in this hospital again." I went close to ear. "Test me I'll fuck you up."

After Rick left the room the nurse came in with the baby and started measuring her. "Where is Mandy?"

"They are doing the best they can." She said while weighing the baby.

"What do you mean? What's wrong with her?!"

"The doctors are doing everything they can to stop a maternal death from happening."

"Maternal death?"

"It's when the mother dies during or after labor."

"Can I hold the baby?" She reluctantly nodded and handed it over to me.

She started crying when I held her and I rocked her back and forth shhing her along the way.

End of Flashback

"And after that the doctor came in and told me that she gave me the rights for her." I wiped a tear that came down. "She didn't even get to hold her baby, she died."

"You mean to tell me that Sammy isn't my real sister?"

I sighed. "Yeah she's not your biological sister but baby, you have to always remember this, DNA doesn't and never will make a family, love does."

He smiled and nodded at me getting up from ground and walking back to the car to drive back to the hotel.

"Bye peaches." I touched her gravestone and walked away.

_______________

I flattened myself on the bed and huffed. I can't believe I just told my son the biggest secret in the world. That is the biggest secret in the world, the only person to know about it is Ryan but he doesn't know the mother, well I mean he knew Mandy he just doesn't know that Sammy was Mandy's kid, he just knows our little Sammy is adopted. Sammy does have some of the family traits, given that Rick is my cousin so it's passable that she's mine.

God knows that I wish I could have had her. She is the most spirited little girl you'd ever meet. It'd be an honor to be her biological mother.

"Mommy?" Sammy said walking through the door.

"Yes baby?" I replied to her as she climbed upon he bed I was laying on.

She snuggled into my arms, "I can't sleep mommy."

"Why is that?"

"Something told me that you aren't my mommy. Are you my mommy?"

"I love you as much as a mommy would."

"Okay." She laid her head on my shoulder and fell asleep.

I couldn't lie to her. I stroked her hair as her breaths evened out, I can't lie to her but I know that she isn't ready yet. As a mother I know she can handle it when she is older maybe 8th grade or 12th or when she graduates college? I chuckled and kissed her head knowing that I will know when to tell her. She will tell me.