Stay the Night

Chapter 3

August 24th, 2001

Katherine sat in the visitor waiting area at Silver Hill Mental Hospital, waiting for her boyfriend to return from seeing his daughter, and her son to arrive from his hotel with her grandchildrens' belongings. She agreed to watch over her granddaughters on her own at the facility until her son showed up to transfer their things to her. With all the drama going on with Mariah, she couldn't help but wonder why her son was no longer allowed to keep his children. After all, he was a fit parent--at least to her knowledge.

"Mother?" Michael called out from behind, his hand gently landing on Katherine's shoulder.

Katherine slowly rose from her seat to give her son a hug. "Hey baby."

He walked around the rows of chairs to stand in front of her before setting down the girls' bags.

He turned to his daughters, who were sitting beside Katherine. She could tell her son was getting worked up at the very idea of having to be separated from his children.

Michael squatted down in front of the little ones, clearly struggling with his words.

"Alright, girls." He started. "You're going to be staying with your grandma and grandpa for a while, okay?"

"We not going with you?" Nicole asked.

Michael shook his head. "Not this time baby."

"Why we go with Grandma?" Elizabeth asked.

Michael sighed, searching for his words. "I have to sort out some things."

He turned back to Katherine. "So Mother, the twins start school on the fourth and I'll have Frank send you all the information with their teachers and stuff. Then you'll just have Lizzie at home with you most of the day."

"Oh, good! 'Cause I was planning on starting my missionary work soon. I've gotten together with some of the other members down at the old Hall and we've gotten together a small group to go door-to-door with. It would be nice to have little Elizabeth with me. But I don't think I can have all three of them." Katherine explained.

Michael gave a weak smile, his eyes pointing down at Elizabeth. He stooped to her level. "You hear that, baby? You're gonna hang out with grandma. You guys are gonna go around the big city!"

Elizabeth beamed. "And I- I get to play?"

"Yes, you get to play with grandma! How does that sound?"

"Oh, wonderful Daddy, wonderful!" Elizabeth replied.

Katherine raised her eyebrows.

"Isn't she something?" Michael said, rightfully proud of his baby girl.

"She sure is."

Alfred soon came trudging through the double doors--his face disconcerted.

"Oh Al, what's wrong, sweetheart?" Katherine asked, eliciting an eyeroll from her son.

"I honestly don't want to talk about it."

Katherine nodded. "I understand, baby."

"Yeah." Alfred said, glancing between his grandchildren and his girlfriend. "Y'all ready?"

"Grandpa Al, can I have some emi-mem when we go home?" Nicole asked with pleading eyes.

Michael smiled. "You want some M&M's, baby?"

Nicole puffed her cheeks, nodding in agreeance.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a fun size bag.