Family over everything

Chapter 34

Allison was released from the hospital a few days later. Happy was never really home as he was out looking for Maia. She couldn't help but feel like he blamed her for the baby being taken regardless of the injury. Gemma was on hand to help with the other kids which was great but Allison wanted to see her husband. She wanted to know that he didn't blame her and that it would all be all right.

"Have they found anything," she asked.

"Not yet baby," Gemma replied.

"Has he been home at all to see these kids?"

"No, they have been on the hunt this entire time. Juice keeps getting leads but they are gone by the time they get there."

"Gemma, is this my fault?"

"No, Al, it's not. She shot you before she took the baby."

Allison lay back on the couch. She was ordered to rest. She was worried about Maia. She didn't want anything to happen to the little girl. She was worried that Lyssa would get desperate and do something to hurt the baby.

It was late that night that she heard the bedroom door open. She was on edge about being back home so she woke instantly. Happy slid into bed next to her and put his arms around her. She snuggled back into his chest and let his warmth lull her back to sleep. She didn't want to continually bug him about them finding Maia even though she wanted to be kept in the loop. The older two were off at school already when she got up. A prospect had taken them. Only Emersyn and Mason were at home still. Allison got out of bed and went down the hall. She looked at her two kids in the living room. Happy was already gone again. 

"Mama, where's daddy," Emersyn asked.

"He is looking for your sister," Allison told her.

"Cuz someone stole her?"

Allison nodded. She sat down to eat breakfast with her daughter. She couldn't believe that things in their house were so complicated. Happy would come home to sleep and hold her but he still hadn't spoken to her.

"They got a lead this morning," the prospect said.

"Ok? They have been getting leads all week and gotten nothing when they got there," Allison replied.

He nodded slightly. She sighed heavily.

"Sorry," she said.

"It's all right, I know that you are worried about her," he replied.

"Terrified. That woman has no idea what it's like for that little girl. She has never taken care of her."

He nodded again. Allison tried to put her focus on the kids she had at home but it was hard when she kept thinking of Maia. She walked into the little girls room to get the laundry. It had already been done. She broke right in the middle of the room. The prospect quickly called Happy. He sent Gemma over to deal with it because he wasn't going to leave this lead.

"Allison, this isn't your fault," Gemma said, soothing the younger woman.

"Obviously my husband thinks so since he can't even be bothered to speak with me at this point," Allison sniffed.

"No, baby. He is just on a lead outside of town and it will take him hours to get back here."

"What do I do now? Our relationship will never survive this,"

"Of course it will. He doesn't blame you, Al. You took a bullet to try and save that little girl from the bitch. He knows you would protect Maia with your life. He would be out just like this for any of your kids."

Allison shook her head. She wasn't so sure about that. He had a weakness for Maia which she figured came from her not having her biological mother even though she had Allison just as much as the other kids did. She wouldn't make that little girl question if Allison loved her or not. She would never even have that child question if Allison was her mother or not. She didn't treat her any differently than the other kids.

"He will find her and it will all be ok, Allison," Gemma said.

"I just want my life back. Since he started messing with this bitch, I've been hurt so many times." Allison said.

"I know and I know it isn't fair to you to be hurt by the actions he has decided upon. But you have five babies that depend on you."

Allison nodded. Gemma was completely right. Allison needed to return to that bitch that she once was when she was with Happy. She needed to gather that strength for her kids and make it known that Allison Lowman was a force to be reckoned with.

The days turned into weeks as Happy continued to track his daughter. He was out on the road searching when he got a panicked call from his wife.

"St. Thomas just called. An officer brought a baby in and they are almost positive that it's Maia," she said.

"I will head there now," he said.

"Happy,"

"Yeah?"

"They said she looks like she hasn't been fed properly. The officers have the woman she was with in custody and it's not Lyssa."

"But they think it's Maia?"

"It's Lyssa's mother."

"Ok, I am headed there to check. I will call you back."

Allison sat back on the couch. She had a prospect at the house and wanted to go to the hospital to find out if it was Maia that they had. She looked at the kid.

"I'm going to check on the baby. I have to know if it's Maia or not," she said.

"Ok," he knew not to argue with her.

She left the house and headed straight to the hospital.  She rushed inside and to the pediatric ward.

"I got a call about an abandoned baby that was brought in," she said.

"Right this way," the nurse replied.

Allison was taken to the baby. She was in shock at how thin she was but it was definitely Maia. Allison broke down in tears. The nurse tried to comfort her.

"Your daughter?" she asked gently.

Allison nodded. Happy burst into the room with another nurse. He looked surprised to see his wife. The woman in front of her smiled gently at him.

"Hey Hap," she said.

Allison turned and looked at him. He held up both hands.

"Babe, she is Juice's new girlfriend. I swear," he said.

The nurse nodded.

"My name is Sarah. I started dating Juice about a month ago. I met Happy last week. They wanted me to keep an eye out for this baby," the nurse said.

Allison nodded. Happy wrapped his wife in his arms as he stared at his daughter.

"What the hell did they do to her, Hap?" Allison whispered.

"I don't know Al, but we will fix her right up," he replied.

Allison nodded. Happy couldn't believe they could do this to an infant.