My Daughter, Audrey [ON HOLD]

The Terrible News

“Hello?”  Jennie answered softly, pressing the receiver to her ear and motioning Peter to stand behind her.   Peter came up behind her and she slipped her hand into his.  “Hello?  This is Jennie Holmes?”

               A stern female voice startled Jennie.  “Oh?  As in, Mrs. Peter Holmes?”

               “Yes, ma’am.  I would like to ask why you are calling.”

               “You have my daughter,” Helen said cunningly. 

               Peter stepped in when he saw Jennie scrambling for a response.  “Ms. Trapp, this is Peter Holmes.”

               “Oh my,” Helen breathed, pretending to be frightened.  “Long time since we’ve spoken to each other.  Did you put the frail girl on first because you were afraid to talk to me?”

               Peter knew that wasn’t the reason, but he didn’t feel like explaining.  “Wot do ya want with Audrey?”

               “I made a mistake, Peter, I wrote that letter in my fury, and in my selfishness.  I miss the girl terribly.”

               “Ya not gonna git her.”  Peter tightened his grip on the telephone’s handle and his teeth grinded against one another so hard his head hurt.

               “Watch me, Peter.  What I give to you, I can get back.  You know I can.”

               “Why do ya want her?  Can’t ya keep yer face out of it?”

               “A modeling agent found a photo of her.  He says she can make thousands.”

               Peter’s heart sank and his stomach twisted into a nauseating knot.  He clutched his stomach, trying to ease the dizziness coming over him.  “Ya want her for money?”   

               “She’ll be in good hands, Petey,” Helen soothed unconvincingly as she wrapped the phone cord around her fingers.   “I’ll be down in three days.  I was thinking about filing a case, but I decided to leave the law out of it and make a deal with you.   You can’t get yourself out of this one.”  

               “I’m not goin’ to take ya on.”

               “Tailor yourself a suit before I see you.  I’m coming with respectable business people and I want you to look presentable,” Helen patronized through a quivering smirk.

               “’Ow did ya find me, aye?”

               “I hired and I paid.  I’m a rich woman, Peter.   Being in the level of society I am, I don’t think I’ll have any trouble getting the child off your hands.”  Hearing the soft hum on the other end, Helen added monstrously, “Oh?  Don’t tell me you care for the brat?”

               “More than you’ll eva!”  Peter slammed the phone down, beating Helen to hanging up first.   He turned to Jennie, whose eyes were watering.  “Hey, why are ya cryin?”

               “Are we going to be able to keep her, Peter?”

               Peter took Jennie into his arms and placed his chin on the crown of her head.  “I don’t know, Jennie.   Audrey is ours.  I promised her she’ll stay with me.”

               Jennie buried her face into his rugged jacket and cried.   “Oh, Peter, I’m so sorry!   I’m so sorry for the pain you must be feeling right now!”