It's Only Make Believe

by Roseanne Dowell

  “Did you call the police?” Michele helped Louise into the kitchen and pulled out a chair. “Sit down, explain again exactly what happened.”

  Louise handed her a piece of paper. “Here, it’s all here. I know it was Mr. O’Neil. He said he’d take her from me, now he has.”

  Michele took the paper and read the note. “Don’t call the police. I have your baby. If you want to see her again you’ll follow my instructions.” But there weren’t any instructions. “That’s it just this?”

  Louise shook her head. “That’s all. I looked around to make sure another page didn’t fall on the floor but nothing.”

  “Louise, you have to call the police.” Michele showed the note to Anna, who hovered nearby.

  “I can’t. You read it. He’s probably going to make me promise to leave. He’s said he’d take her away now he has. I’ll do anything to get my baby back.” Louise spoke through sobs. She took a sip of water from the glass that Anna handed her.

  “Okay, okay, I’ll call Joe Kirby and see what he thinks. But this is illegal, Louise, did you call Mark? I can’t believe he wouldn’t want you to call the police. Even if his father had something to do with it, Patrick’s not above the law.”

  Louise let out a sound that almost sounded like a chuckle. “No he’s not above the law, but with his wealth and influence, he may as well be. I won’t have a chance to get my daughter if I don’t do exactly what he says.”

  “Did you call Mark?”

  Louise shook her head. “No, I can’t... I came here. I didn’t call anyone.”

  “Mark has a right to know about his child even if you promise never to see him again.” Something about this didn’t fit. Patrick wasn’t cruel enough to pull something like this off? At least Michele didn’t think he was. If only Brad were here, he’d know what to do. She went to her purse and found Joe Kirby’s phone number and dialed the phone.

  Linda answered on the first ring.

  “Linda, hi this is Michele. I’m fine, how are you? Good, Linda is Joe still home?”

  Michele tapped her fingers on the table while she waited for Joe to come to the phone. “I think you should call Mark.”

  Louise shook her head. “No, I can’t. I can’t tell him his father kidnapped our baby. How can I do that?”

  “Maybe it’s not Mr. O’Neil, Louise, maybe it really is a kidnapper.”

  “Why would someone kidnap my baby? I don’t have any money. I...” Louise bit down on her fist.

  “Joe, hi, yes, I’m fine. Joe we have a bit of a problem here. Louise just came in. Someone kidnapped her baby. They left a note... No they didn’t ask for anything, that’s just it. The note said to follow the instructions but there aren’t any instructions. Joe, Louise thinks its Patrick.”

  “Did she call the police?”

  “No, she’s afraid to.”

  “Patrick isn’t that stupid. We need to get to the bottom of this.”

  “Yes, I agree. Okay I’ll go with her. We’ll meet you there? Good, thanks Joe.” Michele replaced the phone and looked at Louise.

  “We have to go to your house, Joe’s calling the police. He’ll meet us there. He says we have to follow legal channels.” She raised her hand to silence Louise’s protests. “I know it says no police but believe me, if you want Miki back you have to do this. He’s calling a friend on the police force. They’ll come in an unmarked car. No one will know.” She stood and helped Louise to her feet.

  “Anna, do you want to come along?” Anna seemed to have a steadying influence on Louise, and there wasn’t anything to do here.

  Anna gathered her belongings and followed Louise and Michele to their cars.

  “I’ll follow you two. I have an appointment later, with Jane O’Neil, no less.” She handed Louise her cell phone. “Call Mark, tell him to meet us.”

  Louise hesitated but Michele insisted. “He’s going to find out sooner or later. Better he hear it from you. It’s his baby too.”

  After Louise talked to Mark, she handed the phone back, Michele got in her car and sat for a moment before she started it and pulled out.

  She parked in front of a bungalow with a small but well-cared for yard. Mark must have paid for it. Louise made good money but not enough to afford a house. She said he supported the baby. Inside, Michele looked around. “Joe said not to touch anything.” The brightly lit yellow kitchen was small, but cheerful. Green counters topped white cabinets. “Maybe a pot of coffee would be good. Do you have any bread?” Her stomach growled since she missed breakfast.

  A few minutes later, Joe Kirby knocked on the door followed by a tall, dark-haired man. “This is Detective Williams.” Joe introduced him. He sat down next to Louise and began questioning her. Louise told him the same thing she told Michele.

  “I was taking a shower, getting ready for work.” She spoke quietly, slowly, hesitantly. She looked at Michele, then Joe, as if for reassurance. The poor girl didn’t think this was the right thing to do, but she continued. “I thought I heard something in Miki’s room. By the time I came out of the bathroom she was gone. He took the formula from the kitchen and her diaper bag. I had it ready for the sitter.”

  “Who is your sitter?” Detective Williams made notes while he spoke.

  “My aunt, she lives two streets away. She watches Miki while I work.”

  “Have you noticed anyone following you? Hanging around? Anyone suspicious in the neighborhood, someone who doesn’t belong?”

  “N..no.” Michele could tell she didn’t want to bring up Patrick or the threatening letter she received from him.”

  Joe spoke up and explained the situation. “I don’t think he had anything to do with this. I know Patrick. He’d go through legal channels. He’d follow through on his threat to smear Louise’s name and take the baby legally.”

  “I see.” Detective Williams wrote more in his notebook. His bald head shined with the sun from the open window. Michele had to stifle a giggle at the way it glistened. This wasn’t the time for such nonsense, but everyone was so tense.

  The door burst open and Mark O’Neil rushed to Louise’s side and took her in his arms. He looked around at the crowd in the small kitchen. His eyes landed on Michele, and she stood and introduced everyone.

  Detective Williams motioned for him to take a seat. “You’re the baby’s father?”

  “Yes.” The murderous look on Mark’s face spoke volumes. Michele had an idea he blamed his father also. If not for the actual kidnapping, then for the whole situation. He rubbed Louise’s back. “We’ll get her back, I promise.”

  Louise leaned into him and Michele’s heart went out to the girl. She put her hand on her stomach. If anything happened to her baby she didn’t know what she’d do. Already she felt protective. Hopefully, Brad would feel the same way. But if he didn’t then so be it, she’d raise her child alone.

  It was a shame the O’Neils hadn’t accepted the girl their son loved. And he did love her, that much was evident. Love and concern showed on his face. Louise and Miki meant everything to him. Somehow, this was going to work out, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out how. The main thing right now was to get Miki back.

  Detective Williams looked around the small kitchen then disappeared down the hall into Miki’s bedroom. Anna served coffee to everyone and remained quiet in the background. Louise sobbed in Mark’s arms, and Joe paced the floor, sipping his coffee.

  Michele stood and looked out the window. What a sad situation. Why couldn’t parents accept the person their children fell in love with. Sure, she understood about gold-diggers, but looking at Louise and Mark anyone with half a brain could see that Louise loved him. If she had fallen in love with someone her parent hadn’t approved of she wouldn’t have given in to them. Nope, she’d have defied them and run off with him. Money wasn’t everything, and if they disinherited her so be it. So why had she married Brad, if it wasn’t for money? The question came from deep within her conscience. That was different she hadn’t fallen in love
with anyone, and besides they had a deal. But deep down she wanted her marriage to work, not just for a year. Maybe she always had. Now they had the baby to think about. And she had fallen in love with Brad despite herself. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. The problem, of course, was Brad, and how he felt about this whole situation. How was he going to handle the news about the baby? The thought terrified her. Granted, he mentioned an heir in passing as a joke, besides, he was gone so much. The memory of the conversation with her mother and Myra surfaced.

  Brad could have taken a promotion and been home more often, but he didn’t. And right now he was off with Ruby across the country. Why had he refused? Did he really only want this marriage for a year? Was money that important to him? Once he had the money and company in his name he could defy his parents and marry Ruby if he wanted. Or at least live with her. No, he’d have to marry her. Ruby wasn’t the type to settle. She’d never be satisfied with an arrangement. She wanted everything she could get, especially Brad. Michele shuddered and turned back to her friends.

  Detective Williams came back in the kitchen. “I’m going to send my CSI unit up here.”

  Louise stood. “No you can’t, she screamed. They said no police.” She turned to Mark and pounded on his chest. “Don’t let them do this.”

  “They’ll be discreet.” Detective Williams spoke quickly. “We’ll do everything we can to get your child back. I promise.”

  Mark put a protective hand around Louise. “It’ll be okay.”

  Louise buried her face in his chest.

  “One more question.” Detective Williams looked at the young couple. “Who else knew you’re the father of the baby.”

  “Just my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, Mr.Kirby and Anna.” Mark looked down at Louise. “That’s all I believe.”

  Louise nodded.

  And my secretary, Michele thought, but she wasn’t about to tell everyone in the room that Mark confided in Sarah at a bar one night. Besides Sarah didn’t have anything to do with the kidnapping. Michele looked at her watch. “If you don’t need me, Detective, I have an appointment.

  He waved his hand. “No, you can go.”

  “Come on, Anna, I’ll drop you at the house.”

  Anna was unusually quiet on the ride home, and Michele couldn’t get Mikayla’s pretty brown eyes out of her mind. She prayed no harm came to the child. The memory of Brad playing with the baby came to mind. He had looked so gentle, so loving. Hopefully he’d be that way with their child.

  Michele gathered her briefcase and the supplies she needed to meet with Jane O’Neil. She dreaded the meeting, knowing what she knew. How could she hide this information from the woman? The phone rang just as she was ready to walk out the door. She turned back and answered it.

  “Michele,” Michele almost groaned out loud when her mother’s voice came over the line. “I just heard about Louise’s baby. Is she okay? Did she call the police?”

  “Mom?” Michele couldn’t quite believe the concern in her mother’s voice. She swore her mother was near tears. “I...how did you hear about it already?”

  “It doesn’t matter I just want to know is Louise okay? I always liked that girl. I can’t imagine how she must feel and that poor baby. That’s why Myra and I hired her.”

  Michele sank down on the chair. Her mother hired Louise because she liked her, wanted to help her? They discussed Louise and the baby for a few minutes then hung up. She did have an appointment.

  It wasn’t like her mother to care about someone of that status. Or was it? Michele thought back to when she was a child. Memories of shopping trips with her mother, though she hated them – being taught to wear the best clothes- but now that she thought about it her mother really had spent a lot of time with her. And the volunteer work, Michele remembered her mother taking her to the children’s ward in the hospital and orphanages – to visit those less fortunate. Her mother actually spent a lot of time giving of herself. She was always on some committee or other to help children’s causes. Michele shook her head. How had she forgotten the look on her mother’s face in a cancer ward standing next to a terminally ill child?

  She had blotted out those memories. Maybe because they were too painful, maybe because she felt her mother should have spent time doing something fun with her, something where she didn’t have to share the attention. When, in fact, her mother had taught compassion and used her wealth for something better. Sure, she’d have enjoyed playing in a park with her mother, but now that she thought back, her mother actually taught her something more valuable. Too bad it took so long for her to realize. How could she have misjudged her all this time?

  Michele wiped a tear. Sarah was right, she had rebelled. Rebelled against everything her mother had taught her. She pulled in the drive at the O’Neil’s with a promise to try to spend more time with her mother. Life was too short and her mother wouldn’t be here forever. For all her faults, Michele did love her. Heck she wasn’t perfect either.

  Jane met her at the door before Michele even rang the bell. Her tearstained face streaked with mascara, her hair a tangled mess like she ran through a wind tunnel. She shredded the tissue in her hand into a million pieces.

  “Jane, what is it? What’s wrong?” Michele couldn’t believe the woman’s disheveled appearance.

  “They took the baby, my granddaughter.” Jane’s voice cracked and her legs trembled.

  Michele put her arm around Jane, to steady her. So she knew. Mark must have called. Jane didn’t disapprove of Louise. She had a more down to earth attitude. Patrick on the other hand came from snobby stock. She hated to classify it that way, but that’s the way it was. On the other hand, maybe he just acted more suspicious and cautious. Being a lawyer he probably saw many marriages dissolve in divorce where one or the other spouse married for money. But Michele thought he’d show a little more class and give Louise the benefit of the doubt. After all the girl did work for him, he must have trusted her enough to hire her. Knowing Patrick, he probably thought Louise took the job as a plot to snag Mark.

  “I’m sorry, please come in Michele. I know Louise works for you now, and I know you know about Mikayla. Mark told me how helpful you’ve been to Louise. I’m just beside myself. When Mark called and told me she’d been kidnapped, I... I just couldn’t believe it. My beautiful granddaughter.”

  “Have you seen your granddaughter?” Michele couldn’t hide her curiosity, she hadn’t given a thought that Jane might have kept in touch with Louise.

  “Yes, once a week. Louise, Mark and I meet for lunch. I was trying to change Patrick’s mind, but he’s so stubborn. I knew if he saw Mikayla he’d relent, but he won’t even look at her picture. He still thinks Louise is after Mark’s money. I can’t convince him otherwise.” Jane motioned for Michele to have a seat and sat down on the couch.

  “When Mark told me Patrick sent a threatening letter offering Louise money I had a fit. I couldn’t believe he’d stoop so low. But I knew he wouldn’t carry through on his threat. Then Mark told me Louise was going to leave. She wasn’t going to take the money, but she didn’t want to lose her child. Mark said she was making plans to move with an Aunt in Florida. We tried to convince her not to do anything rash, that Patrick wouldn’t carry through on his threat. Now this.”

  Michele listened to Jane without interrupting. The poor thing needed to vent, but at least she was on Louise’s side.

  The door burst open and Patrick stormed in. “What the hell is going on? Mark called and said something about someone being kidnapped and blamed me. What’s he talking about, Jane?”

  Jane stood, a defiant look on her face. Not someone Michele wanted to tangle with. The fury in Jane’s eyes made her cringe.

  “Your granddaughter has been kidnapped, and it is your fault. If you hadn’t been against this marriage none of this would have happened. Look at the mess you created. You’re losing out on your grandchild, and you’re losing your son. I’ll tell you this right now, Patrick. When they find their baby
there’s no way you’ll keep Mark from marrying Louise. They’d have been married by now if Mark has his way, but Louise wanted your blessing. She was afraid if Mark gave up everything he’d resent her later.”

  “Sure, she wanted my blessing it came with my money.”

  “You’re such a fool, Patrick. You can’t see your nose to spite your face. Louise doesn’t care about your money, and Mark is successful in his own right. He wanted your approval not your money. Don’t you care anything about your grandchild?”

  “Kidnapped?” The color drained from Patrick’s face, and he plopped down on the couch as if the realization just hit him. He rubbed his hand over his face. “Someone kidnapped Mikayla?”

  So he knew the baby’s name, maybe he wasn’t as hard-hearted as everyone believed. Michele got up and made a hasty retreat. She didn’t need to hear this conversation. She hoped Patrick came to his senses. She opened the door and left before either of them realized she was gone. Not, she was sure, that they cared at this point. The house could wait. Jane and Patrick needed to iron this out, and hopefully Patrick would come around, but more importantly, she hoped they found Mikayla.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  So now what? No appointment, nothing to do at the office and nothing to do at home. What a long boring day lay ahead. Maybe she’d go home and see if Louise heard from the kidnappers. Or maybe Brad left a message. These damn business trips stunk. But even when Brad was home, he wasn’t home much with the long hours he worked and Ruby calling day and night. She needed to find a plan to win her husband’s heart. First, she needed to find a way to make him stay home more and, most importantly, sleep in their bed. What kind of marriage could they have with him spending the nights in the guest room? Dare she tell him that? Let him know she wanted him in her bed. She’d work up a plan of action and figure a way to tell him about the baby, too. She wanted Brad in her life permanently, not because of the baby.

  Michele parked the car and went into the house. The delicious aroma of something sweet and spicy came from the kitchen and her stomach rolled over. She raced to the bathroom. Funny until now she’d been fine even though she had skipped breakfast. She rinsed her mouth and washed her face, then went to check her answering machine. No message.