Road To Forever...

Chapter 22

Rydel's POV

I wake up to find Ratliff gone, I start to panic and shoot up from the bed. I check the bathroom, kitchen, living room... he's not there. Just then I see him standing at the front door. I walk over to him worriedly and tap his shoulder.

"Ratliff... what's going on?"-Rydel

He just bends down and picks something off of the floor. When I see what it is I'm confused and I wonder what it's doing here.

Ratliff brings it inside and we both walk into the living room, not making a sound.

"Rydel? What do we do with it?"-Ratliff

"I don't know but we can't just leave it here..."-Rydel

"Why would anybody leave it here?"-Ratliff

"I'm not sure, but we'll have to figure it out later..."-Rydel

We place it down and sit on the sofa, staring at it.

"Is this some kind of sick joke? Who does this?"-Ratliff

"I don't know honey... I honestly don't know..."-Rydel

"Should we wake the others?"-Ratliff

"Not yet..."-Rydel

"Delly... what do we do?"-Ratliff

"I have no idea Ell..."-Rydel

"Hey... there's a note..."-Ratliff

I take the note and begin reading it, leaving Ratliff waiting anxiously.

-Tristan

By the time you read this letter, ill be gone. I'm so sorry for everything that's happened, but it isn't safe for me to have her anymore... she needs to stay with you! This is your daughter... Her name is Lola Jane Ratliff... Her birth certificate is in the other envelope along with instructions and information. I'm so sorry for just leaving her with you... but I had to, it's better she is with her father than with a total stranger. I've included some money to help you for a while. I know your famous and raise a lot of money but it's the least I could do. Please do not give her up for adoption. She needs her dad. I hope you understand and I want you to make sure she understands when she is old enough. Just please... take care of our baby...

-Jessica

Oh my god... This is my granddaughter!

I hand the note to Ratliff and I pull the blanket down to reveal her face and slowly lift her out of the basket. I hold her in my arms and start crying.

"Hey Baby, Im Your Grandmother!"-Rydel

When Ratliff finishes reading the note he takes the baby from me...

"Hey, I'm your Daddy's Daddy!"-Ratliff

"What are we gonna do?"-Ratliff

"We can set up another crib in the nursery and all the babies are already sharing clothes, so everything works out!"-Rydel

"I guess...what about Tristan? How are we gonna tell him?"- Ratliff

"Lets just see in the morning... for now we gotta take care of Lola!"-Rydel

I lay Lola on my bump and she falls instantly asleep.

I fall asleep with Lola and I guess Ratliff does too, because when I wake up his arm is around me and Lola is in the middle of us. I lean over and kiss Ratliff, waking him up.

"Morning Honey..."-Ratliff

"Morning..."-Rydel

Just then Lola started to whimper, so Ratliff ran into the kitchen and quickly made her a bottle as I attempted to calm her down. Ratliff gave her the bottle as I read the instructions.

"She's only 2 days old..."-Rydel

"That means she needs her jabs...right?"-Ratliff

I nod and he sighs.

"Well today we need to go get her some bits from the store."-Rydel

We hear shuffling upstairs and we brace ourselves for who it is.

Ratliff finishes feeding Lola & burps her.

We hear footsteps and we turn around to face the stairs.

Just then Nicole appeared.

"Is it me or is there a baby in your arms?"-Nicole

"It's Tristans baby... but he doesn't know... ill explain later."-Ratliff

She just nods.

"C-can I hold her?"-Nicole

I nod and Ratliff passes Lola to Nicole!

Just then Tristan comes downstairs.

"Hey Mum, Dad, Nicole..."-Tristan

"Morning Son..."-Ratliff

"Nicole had her baby? That's so cool, congratulations!"- Tristan

We all give each other a look.

"Actually...can I tell him?"-Nicole

We nod and she sighs.

"This is your baby..."-Nicole

"Nicole... I think I would of remembered if we..."-Tristan

"NO! We never did... you know... and incase you can't see, I'm still pregnant... Rydel would you like to explain?"-Nicole

"This morning at 5AM there was knocking at the door and this baby... your baby was on the doorstep. Your Father and I took her in and here we are now!"-Rydel

"Here's the note if you don't believe us..."-Ratliff

His eyes scanned the note multiple times as his facial expression changed.

"So your trying to say... That the baby is mine... all mine? As in I'm a single father?"- Tristan

I nod

"But we will all help you out..."-Ratliff

"I-I don't know what to say..."-Tristan

We all sigh and he walks over to Nicole.

"C-can I hold my daughter please?"-Tristan

"Of course, you don't have to ask!"-Nicole

"Don't forget to hold her head!"-Rydel

He picks her up and holds her against his chest.

He starts crying as he cradles her in his arms.

"She's so tiny!"-Tristan

We all nod, I get my camera out and start taking pictures of them 2 together.

"Hey... what's that smell?"- Tristan

"I think Lola needs a diaper change..."-Rydel

"Can somebody help me?"-Tristan

"I will... c'mon, let's go."-Nicole

They go upstairs to the nursery and Ratliff and I go to make breakfast.