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“Oh, my God! I can’t imagine what it would have taken for her to give up her child!”
My mother seemed to have a different perspective of the situation. “Really? I’m thinking more of the little girl, Mom. I think the woman is sort of a lowlife for doing it. I mean, how could she? She can’t understand. It was pitiful.”
Maybe I could dismiss the mother’s plight because I related more with the child, but as usual, my compassionate mother saw the big picture.
“She might have thought she was doing the best for the little girl, Remi. We shouldn’t judge her without knowing all the details. I made some bad decisions when I was younger. Everyone makes mistakes.”
I sighed heavily, feeling guilty. “I get it, but there is nothing that could make me leave my kid, and I know that without even having one!”
“How is the little girl doing?” Mom asked.
“She was sad!” I exclaimed. “I can’t imagine how she felt.”
“I understand, Remi. But trust me when I say there had to be something that convinced this mother that it was in her little girl’s best interest. What is her name?”
“Rory,” I replied.
“Hmmm. That’s sort of like Remi,” she observed. “How old is she?”
“We think between two and three. The woman didn’t even tell us her birthdate!”
“Well, I promise, if the little one was crying for her mother, they are bonded, so the woman can’t be all bad.”
I huffed. “Maybe it’s because she’s the only adult she knows. The social worker thinks she may be some sort of criminal and that’s why no birthdate was given for the child… it would be easy to track the mother down if the birthdate of the baby is known.”
“Oh, Remi. I know you’re upset but try to keep an open mind until you know more. It’s a tragic situation, but the good thing is that she’s in the best possible place to get better. And, she has you to look out for her.”
“Yes. I plan to see her every day, but what about when her treatment is done? What happens then?”
“Remi.” Her tone became a bit sterner. “You can only do what you can do. Don’t forget, you’ve got school to think about, too.”
I rolled my eyes and pulled my feet up onto the couch and scootched to lay down. “I know. But I can’t help worrying about her. I had you and Jensey. and then Daddy when I went through it. She doesn’t have anyone and my heart breaks for her. She’s so little. She has bruises all over her little arms and those big brown eyes beseeching me through her tears. I couldn’t stand it. I just wanted to bring her home with me.”
I could hear my mother sigh on the other end of the phone. “You have such a big heart, baby. That’s why you’ll make such a wonderful doctor.”
I dismissed the compliment, rose, and went into the kitchen, putting my mother on speaker as I opened the drawer under the oven and pulled out a small metal pot. I filled it two thirds of the way with water and set it on the stove turning the burner on high. My mom heard the clang of metal on metal when I retrieved it.
“Have you been eating right?” she asked.
I winced, knowing she wouldn’t think the box of macaroni and cheese I was about to make qualified as real food. “Um… kinda?” I picked up the saltshaker and shook it over the pot of water.
“You were so thin last time we Facetimed.” My mom always called me with video, but so often, I didn’t answer. I knew I looked like hell, and I didn’t need to worry her, but I’d accidentally answered about a month earlier.
“Mom, I’m busy! Med students don’t have time to eat much. Everyone knows that, so I decided I’d better get used to it now.” The truth was, I was missing Dylan more than I let on, and eating alone only emphasized my loneliness.
“Well, everyone’s worried about you. Dylan was home a few weeks ago and we all went out to dinner. He asked about you, so I guess you aren’t talking to him much.”
“I hope you told him that I’m fine. I am.” The last thing I wanted him to think was that I was pining away over him. I’m not sure what I wanted him to think, but that wasn’t it.
“I told him you were skin and bones.”
“Gee, thanks,” I lamented. Part of me was desperate to know what he said, but the less I knew, the better off I’d be.
“I have to admit, Missy and I both thought you and Dylan were finally going to admit your feelings after that trip to Dollywood.”
“Mom, we still live hundreds of miles apart and both of our schedules are tight. I can’t even have a decent relationship with someone here. He’s traveling and I need to focus on school, and now, Rory.” I flushed, realizing how obvious I was in my waffling.
“You should have let him explain about that girl at the ranch.”
