Patience

Thirty

"You know, it's a good thing you remembered. You can give Molly our new address and phone number," Axl brought up as we drove to Molly's.

I nodded. "Look, I'm sorry this came up. I know we were trying to move past it. I just can't help but worry about Molly and Megan," I said.

"I know, Lucy. She's family. And Megan is little. I understand and I completely agree with you," Axl said.

"You do?"

"Yes, Lucy. I was the one wrong. I was stupid. Now I know better," Axl told me.

"I'm so glad I have you. You always make me feel better," I said.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Yeah," I smiled.

"I better I could make you feel even better when we get back to the mansion tonight," Axl said with a smirk.

I just rolled my eyes. "I'm sure you could," I giggled.

***

It was dark out by the time we arrived at Molly's. We walked up to the door and knocked. When no one answered, we knocked again. Then, we heard Megan crying.

"Is Molly a deep sleeper?" Axl asked.

I shook my head. "No," I said and I tried to open the door.

"Locked?" Axl asked.

"Locked."

"Hold on," He said and he pulled out his debit card. He then slid the card between the door and the house until it opened.

I smiled a worried smile. "Thanks," I said.

When we walked inside, the house was dark.

"Hello?" I called.

"Molly! It's me, Lucy!" I yelled.

"Maybe having a child made her a deep sleeper or some shit," Axl said and I just gave him a weird look.

We both walked up the stairs, turning the lights on as we went. We found that Molly's bedroom door was shut and Megan's was wide open.

"I'm going to go calm Megan. She's out of control," I said and I went to get Megan.

I bounced her up and down, but nothing seemed to help.

"Oh no, someone needs a diaper change," I said in my baby voice.

"Axl, could you go check on Molly?" I asked as I changed Megan.

Axl nodded. "Sure," He said and went to Molly's room.

I had just finished changing Megan when Axl called for me. I picked Megan up and rushed down the hall.

"What is it?" I asked and I stopped in my tracks. My jaw dropped.

Molly was on the floor, a gun in hand, laying in a pool of blood. I quickly covered Megan's eyes and turned to Axl.

"What the hell do we do?" I asked.

"I'll call someone," Axl said, rushing downstairs to the phone.

I turned around, away from the body and bounced Megan up and down.

"Mama? Mama?" Megan kept asking.

I held Megan close and couldn't help but she's a few tears. "I'm not mama, baby. Mama's gone," I whispered.

"Bye-bye mama?" Megan asked.

"Bye-bye mama," I repeated as I took Megan downstairs.

"I called 911. They're on their way," Axl said, putting the phone down.

I nodded and took a few deep breaths.

"You okay?" Axl asked me.

"I gave Megan back. This is my fault, Ax," I said.

"Oh, lovely Lucy," Axl began, "Her decision to commit suicide was not your fault. It was Molly's."

"I don't know about that," I told him.

"Lucy, my love, Molly is the one who chose to commit suicide. You did not make her do that," Axl said.

At that point, we heard the sirens coming from down the street. Axl and I made eye contact and Axl went ahead and opened the door. The police and an ambulance pulled up.

A cop got out of the car and walked up to us.

"Could you tell me what happened here?" She asked.

"We came to check up on my sister and found her dead," I said.

Then, Axl continued to answer the other questions as I had zoned out. I couldn't help but feel unreal. What's going to happen to poor Megan? I'll probably have to take her.

"So, about custody for the child," The cop began, making me snap out of my trance, "Who's her father?"

"Um, out of the picture," I answered.

"So, who are you in relation to the child?" She asked.

"Aunt," I said.

"Will you be taking her?" She asked and I looked at Axl.

"I think we need a minute in private," I said and I pulled Axl aside.

"So?" Axl asked.

"So?" I asked.

"Are you going to keep her?" He asked.

"Is that okay with you? I mean, I'm not ready to raise a child and we just moved in, but, it's either us or her delusional father," I said.

"Then let's keep her and raise her. She deserves a good home," Axl said.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

Axl nodded. "I love you, Lucy. I'd do anything for you. Even raise your niece with you," He said with a smile. The sort of smile that eases your mind and says to you that everything's going to be okay.

I nodded and walked back over to the cop.

"So what'll it be?" She asked.

"We want custody," I said.

"Okay, we'll send someone over so you can sign custody papers in the next few days," She told us and we nodded.

Molly's body was then carried outside and I had to turn around. I couldn't look or watch.

"It's going to be tough, grieving is," Axl told me.

I nodded. "It already is. And with her child," I said.

Axl nodded. "Let's go back some of Megan's things so we can set a room up for her," He said.

"Yeah, we should do that," I agreed.

When we got home late that night, I put Megan to sleep then Axl and I decided to get some sleep, ourselves.

"Life isn't perfect, Lucy. We have to learn to live with these bumps in the road," Axl told me.

"I know. I just want what's best for us," I said.

"Now you should want what's best for Megan. After all, we are taking care of her now," Axl said.

"You're right," I agreed.

"You'll be an awesome aunt," Axl said.

I smiled. "Thank you," I said.

"You already are."

"Stop it so I can sleep," I said, sitting up and hitting him with a pillow.

"Okay, okay," Axl said defensively.

"I love you," Axl told me.

I sighed. "I love you, too."