Destiny- Byron Miller

~7~

(photo is of Henry)

I was speechless.

I can't believe that actually happened.

I was really stressed for tomorrow. I was worried that somehow I would never see my sisters again.

And most people would tell me not to trust my mother and that she is probably lying. But for some odd reason, I believe her.

I think she truly is sorry for being an awful mother to us for the past 5 years. And I think she really wants what's best for us.

I'm actually going to be legally responsible for 2 little girls.

By 9:00 any evidence of my birthday was gone. I hate being reminded of my birthday so I didn't want anything around that showed it. The balloon was gone and the card was gone and anything else that showed it was gone.

Maisie and Bailey we're now also awake. I made me and Maisie a bowl of cereal and then gave Bailey some milk. We all got dressed and ready for the day. I decided we're going to the park today.

It was a quiet day at the park. The trees bare of leaves and only a few children on the swing set.

Maisie never talks much. she's very shy. maybe it's in her personality or maybe it's the way she was raised but either way she's just a quiet kid.

As I took a seat on a bench with Bailey to watch Maisie play, I noticed a familiar face on the swing set.

The small boy with dark hair was wearing a smile. I recognized him as Daniel's brother, Henry.

The only time I've ever seen Henry was in the picture at their house. In the picture he had the biggest smile I've ever seen. So big his eyes were almost closed shut.

But now, his smile is a bit smaller. Almost as if it's fake. I can only assume it's been like that since his parents have passed. Especially since he is so young.

The people that Henry is hanging out with make me nervous. They don't look nice.

They don't look like they kill bunnies or anything, just that they don't follow many rules. Sometimes you can just tell.

He doesn't look like he belongs there, with them. I decided I would keep a close eye on them. I don't trust them to do anything good around here.

Maisie came over to me and pointed to the swings. I said, "use your words," in hopes that she would start being a little more social.

"Swings" is all she said.

"Do you want to go on them?" I asked.

All Maisie did was nod. I guess I can't force her to talk to people. She just doesn't like it.

"You start walking over there while I get Bailey's diaper changed," I said.

Maisie still needs help getting high on the swings so I need to go with her. She likes to be independent on a lot of things, but some things she just wants me to help her with.

I quickly tried to change Bailey's diaper, but right when I got her pants back on, I heard Maisie scream.

I picked up Bailey and turned around to see Maisie on the ground crying and the group of boys laughing.

I quickly walked over to Maisie to stop her crying. She stood up and ran the rest of the way towards me and pulled me into a hug.

Maisie continued to cry into my shoulder. I obviously wasn't going to let this slide.

I had Bailey in one arm and Maisie's hand in another as I walked up to the group of boys.

"Was that necessary?" I asked them.

"Was it necessary for your sister, or daughter, or whatever she is to go on our swings?"

"Okay. One, these are not your swings. Two, it is a public park so she can go wherever she wants. Three, it doesn't concern you what she is to me. And four, Henry, what would Daniel think of you hanging out with these kids and doing things like this?" I yelled at them.

Silence. All of them were speechless.

"How do you know who I am? I've never met you before," Henry answered back.

"That doesn't matter right now. But Henry, please go home right now and tell Daniel what you've been doing, or I will." I threatened.

Henry left. The rest of the kids split up to go home. Maisie hasn't left my side.

I always seem to have the worst luck on my birthday.

We went home right after that because Maisie's knees and hands were all scraped up and bleeding.

We spent the rest of the day cuddled up on the couch watching princess movies. I wouldn't want my birthday to go any other way.

At around 8:00 Maisie fell asleep. Bailey was laying on my chest and Maisie was tucked into my side with my arm around her.

Somehow I managed to get them both into my arms so that I could carry them up to bed.

I laid Bailey down first so that I could use both arms to put Maisie down. I then had to change Bailey's diaper and give her a bottle.

Once Bailey was asleep again, I laid down next to Maisie and tried to fall asleep.

That plan failed. I was just too excited and nervous for court the following morning to sleep.

And apparently so was Bailey and Maisie. Maisie woke up around 2:00 and threw up all over the bed. She was up the rest of the night throwing up.

Bailey woke up quite a few times. But when she woke up she would cry and cry and cry. It just seemed to never stop.

But during the night I also had to come up with a new plan.

Originally I was supposed to bring Maisie and Bailey with me to court. Amanda is also coming as a witness.

But now, Maisie is too sick to bring to court. And Amanda is coming with me so she can't watch Maisie. My only option is to give Maisie to my friend Harper. But I would just have to hope that she has nothing planned. And if she is busy, then I guess the judge will just have to deal with a little kid puking in the middle of the hearing.