Lay Me Down

Part 23

'Georgie, are you ready?' I yelled from the bottom of the stairs. 'Thanks for coming over and watching the baby for us.' I said as I went back into the kitchen to talk to Laura. 'Anything for the little guy.' She replied cradling him in her arms. Just as I was finishing getting everything ready for Laura, Simon walked in from the garden. 'Is it too early for a beer?' He asked opening up the fridge and then closing it. 'A little nervous mate?' Laura asked him as her and I exchanged glances. 'Just ready to get it over with. Where is Georgie by the way. Georgie Belle, we're leaving NOW?' He yelled walking out of the room. 'I'm going to go check on her.'

I made my way upstairs and down the hallway to Georgie's room. When I got there I tried opening the door but something was in front of it and I couldn't get it opened. 'Simon? Simon? Come here, hurry!' I called out for him. He ran up the stairs, 'what's wrong?' He asked. 'I can't get the door open.' I told him as I demonstrated. 'Georgie are you okay?' Simon tried to open and with no luck he tried again but this time with more force. After about five minutes we finally got inside the room where she had managed to move all her toys against the door so that we couldn't open it. But we couldn't find her in the room. 'Georgie? Georgie, come out it's okay.' Simon said as he looked throughout the room. 'Did you check under the bed?' He asked. I pulled up her quilt and then her bed skirt. 'Baby, what are you doing under there?' I said when we finally found her. She was crying curled up in the fetal position with her stuffed animal. 'I don't want to go.' She said through her hysterical cries. Simon and I looked at each other and knew that there was no way we were making her go after seeing her like this. 'Then we won't go.' Simon told her. 'Can you come out for daddy?' He asked reaching out his hand. She grabbed it and came out from hiding. He picked her up and held her tightly in his arms. I walked over to her and wiped her tears from her eyes. 'What's wrong my princess?' She was still heavily crying and we struggled to understand what she was saying but we had never seen her like this. 'I knew this was a mistake.' Simon said as he tried to calm her down. 'Do you want mummy to get you some juice?' I asked her. She nodded her head so I left them in the room and went downstairs to the kitchen. 'Did you find her?' Laura asked. 'She was under the bed and is hysterically crying and we can't get her to calm down.' I told her as I fixed the drink. 'Can you stay with Angelo while we figure this out?' I asked. 'I got everything under control take all the time you need.' She said with a reassuring look. 'Thanks babe.' I said walking to go back upstairs.

When I walked back into the room Simon was walking back and forth holding Georgie trying to still calm her. 'I don't know what to do.' He whispered to me. 'Do you want me to try?' I said reaching my arms out. He handed her to me and I went to go sit on the bed with her on my lap. She laid her head on my chest and inter whined her fingers in my hair. 'Why are you so sad?' I asked handing her the cup of juice. 'I'm scared to see the mean lady. I want to stay with you and daddy. She'll take me away.' She said. 'Who told you that honey?' Simon asked her. 'I want to stay here.' She replied with her crying getting so bad that she was severely shaking. Simon knelt down in front of her and held her hands. Georgie, I need you to listen to me. Nobody is ever, ever, ever take you away from here. Me and mummy love you so much and you can do whatever you want.' He said and luckily that made her calm down. 'I never want to see her.' She said. Simon nodded his head and gently kissed one of her hands. 'You'll never have to.' He told her. 'I'll be right back.' He whispered to me as he got up. I wrapped her tighter in my arms and rack her back and forth as I kissed the top of her head.

'Carla? It's Simon.' He said. 'We're not coming. Georgie fell ill this morning and we just don't think it'll be a good idea for her to be outside.' He told her in a calm voice. 'So that's the excuse you decided to come up with?' Carla replied with anger. 'You were never going to bring her were you?' She asked. 'It's just not a good idea. Maybe when she's older.' He was trying his best to remain calm and not escalate the situation. 'You have no right to keep my child from me. I'm her mother. She deserves to know me and you not allowing that is a cowardly move.' She was getting angrier and angrier by the second. 'Her mother is with her right now trying to calm her down because she thinks you're a monster and was hiding under her bed so that she didn't have to go. And last time I checked you gave up your rights so I don't think I'm the coward her.' At this point Simon was so fed up that he didn't care what he said. 'I will protect my daughter at all costs even if that means from you. If she decides to have a relationship with you I will support it but until then me and her mother will make her decisions for her.' He could almost feel the heat of anger coming through the phone. 'You'll regret this, Simon.' She said before hanging up.