Patience

Twenty-three

I immediately left the stadium after the phone call. I took a cab to the airport and caught a plane home that night while the show was still going on. I didn't tell Axl, but I trusted Amy to, plus, I was planning on calling him once I had things sorted out.

I was back in L.A. riding in another cab, on my way to Molly's house. I was a bit afraid of what I'd come to find, because for all I know this could be a hoax.

The driver dropped me off and I got out of the car. I walked up to the door and knocked. I nervously shifted back and forth. I sighed and waited for someone to answer. I began dozing off when the door swung open. I jumped and opened my eyes. It was Molly.

Molly had dark circles under her bloodshot eyes. Her clothes were wrinkled and stained, almost as if she had been in them for days. There was a crying one-year old in her arms. She moved and told me to come inside, shutting the door behind her.

"Molly, you look awful," I said, looking her up and down, "What do you need me to do, exactly?" I really wasn't sure of what to say.

"I need you to-," She started to say, but stopped and looked around as if she was being followed, "take her," she whispered.

"Take her? Molly, what the hell?" I asked, concerned for my sister.

"Megan's father threatened me. He threatened to kill me and to take Megan from me. I need you to take Megan for a little while. Just until I know things are safe," She said, grabbing my wrist and dragging me upstairs to Megan's room.

She handed me her crying daughter and began throwing Megan's clothes and toys into a bag. I bounced Megan up and down and said, "Shh," over and over, but there were no signs of her stopping. Molly was stressed, which was stressing Megan out, which then stressed me out.

"How do you get her to stop?" I asked frantically, continuing to bounce and coo her.

"You'll figure it out," Molly said as she continued to frantically pack Megan's things.

I opened my mouth to say something, but thought better of it. Instead, I just nodded and said, "Okay."

"I'm going to put all of the things in my car and take you back to your place. You'll have to give me directions, though" Molly said, slinging the duffel bag of Molly's things over her shoulder.

I nodded. "Do you need help?" I asked.

Molly shook her head. "No. She's only one. Everything she owns is light," Molly said, throwing the bag in the portable crib. She then leaned over and picked the crib up, and made her way to the door.

"Let's head out," She said and I followed her.

As we were in the car, Molly kept asking me so many questions. "Do you and Axl, is that his name? Uh, live together?"

"Yeah, he bought us the apartment."

"Does Megan have a room or not? I mean, you're helping me after what I did, so not that it matters, but still," Molly asked.

I nodded. "There's a guest room."

Once we got to the apartment, I carried Megan inside. Molly laid out a fluffy, pastel pink blanket, and I set Megan down on it and handed her a toy. Molly and I carried the crib, then the rest of her things into the guest room and set it up.

"This room isn't big," Molly mentioned, looking around. Her hands were on her hips, and she was taking deep breaths, exhausted from moving furniture around the room.

"Well, it's a guest room in an apartment. What did you expect?" I snapped. I didn't mean to, but I was tired and frustrated from all the sudden stress. Not to mention the jet lag.

"So, you don't know when you'll take her back?" I asked as I followed Molly out of the room. She scooped Megan and the blanket up into her arms, cooing her as she walked back down the hall to the guest room, and set them both into the crib.

She shook her head. "I don't know yet, but I should get going so I can finally get some sleep, you know," Molly said.

"Right. I'll see you soon?" I asked.

Molly just smiled and nodded. She then left the apartment. I walked back down the hall to the guest room and checked on Megan, who was in a deep sleep.

The phone began to ring, snapping me out of my tired trance. Uh oh, I thought. I knew it was probably Axl. I rushed to get answer it before it woke Megan up.

"Hello?"

"Lucy! What the hell is going on? Amy told me some shit, but I need to hear it from you," Axl demanded.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Axl I'm so sorry I left and didn't tell you. It was an emergency," I told him.

"I know, but what exactly happened? Is everyone okay? Are you okay?"

"Well," I began, "Molly is having Megan stay with us for the time being."

"How long is that?" He asked.

"I- I don't know. Molly didn't really say. She was acting weird but I think she's worried and sleep deprived."

"So, you brought a baby into our home and didn't even ask me or anything? I'm the one paying for the place. I'm paying for two people to live there, not three," Axl said. I could tell he was slightly annoyed, but I figured once he slept on it he'd feel better.

"Axl, Megan is my niece and I have no problem going back to work to help pay, too. This is just temporary," I told him.

Axl just sighed.

"What is it? What's wrong with you?" I asked, forming a bit of an attitude.

"So, this guy, who doesn't sound very nice, by the way, is out looking for this child. What if he finds out that you have her? You could get hurt," Axl said.

"I know. It's dangerous, but if Molly thought it was too risky, she wouldn't ha-"

"Molly this. Molly that. I thought you two weren't on good terms? Didn't she kick you out or some shit? That's why you're living with me, right?" Yeah, it was why.

"Sometimes we just have to grow up and put our differences aside. My sister needed help, so I will help her. Why can't you just accept that and be supportive of me?"

"That's it."

"That's it? What do you mean?" I asked. I had dropped my attitude and felt a little panicked. He was going to leave me over this?

"I'm going to come home. I'll be home in a few days, Lucy," Axl said. Oh, no, he's not. Phew.

"Axl, there's really no need. Keep touring. Don't cancel it because of me," I said. I anxiously put my hand on my forehead.

"No. I'm worried about you and this baby in my apartment. I'm coming home," He said, then he hung up.

I put the phone down and slid down the wall. I pulled my knees close to my chest. What was I going to do? I let my head fall forward, resting on my knees. I just closed my eyes and sighed.