Against the Odds

by Brenda Kennedy

  She nods and her lip quivers. “I needed to see her,” she cries softly.

  “I can help you.” I take a deep breath and say, “I can help you to know her. We have pictures, and videos, and artwork. Please, let me help you.”

  Madison and Caden come back with a small bottle of water. My fingers lightly graze his as I take it from him. “Thank you,” I say before taking a small sip. I feel like at any second, Chelsea is going to leave. This may be my only chance to talk to her and to Madison.

  “Are the kids hungry? We usually have food in the back. I could make us some sandwiches.” Please says yes. I can see that Chelsea is thinking. I can’t let her leave. “Please, stay,” I beg.

  “Momma, can we stay? I’m hungry,” Caden asks.

  I don’t wait for Chelsea to answer. “Just give me a few minutes.” I stand and walk to the counter where Dove and Bethany are. “Would you do me a huge favor, please?”

  Bethany says, “If I can.”

  “Would you made me five sandwiches with some fruit salad and cookies?”

  “Is that who I think it is?” Dove asks. “Is that your daughter?”

  “It is. I’m trying to keep them here so we can talk. I’m scared they’ll leave and I may not get another chance to talk with them.”

  “Just give me a few minutes to make your lunch,” Bethany says as she walks into the back room.

  “Thank you.”

  I walk back over and Chelsea is talking quietly to Madison and Caden. “It’ll be just a few minutes.” I cautiously sit down and say. “Madison, if you and your brother want to pick out a book or two to take home with you, you can.”

  “I want this one, can I have another one, too?” Caden asks excitedly.

  I look at the book he is holding and say, “You sure can.”

  “Caden?” Chelsea says sternly.

  “Please, let me do this for them.” I look at Chelsea and I hope she can see that I mean no harm. My eyes are pleading with hers in unspoken words. “It’s just a couple of books.”

  “One more.”

  “Thanks Momma. Thanks Miss Leah.” Caden says walking off with Madison. Madison doesn’t say anything. I watch until they are out of sight.

  “He reminds me of Jamie,” I say sadly. “She loved books and he looks so much like her.”

  “I looked at the pictures you sent of her. Her pictures reminded me of Caden, too.” She looks through the shop and adds, “That was very sweet of you to send those for us. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. I wanted you to know how much we loved her and know how heartbroken we are over losing her.” I look up and Bethany is holding a tray of food. She sets it down on the counter and I nod to her in appreciation. “Jamie was my heart,” I admit.

  “This is a mess, isn’t it?”

  “It sure is.”

  “Drake… I don’t know. I think he’s losing it. He doesn’t know how to cope with all of this. I don’t know how to cope with all of this, either.”

  “I think if we can work through this together, it’ll be better for everyone.”

  She looks at me with tears streaming down her eyes. “We don’t want to lose her.”

  “I’m sorry, Chelsea. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Nothing. There’s nothing you can say.” She looks up at me with tears cascading down her cheeks. “Don’t you get it? We’re going to lose Madison. The courts are going to rule in your favor and we’ll be left to mourn Madison and Jamie. We raised her and we love her. I don’t want to lose her.”

  I can relate to her completely. Just thinking about the pain of mourning Jamie is excruciating. To mourn two children. I can’t begin to imagine. “I’m sorry. I wish there were a better way to fix this.”

  She stands and wipes her tears. “There isn’t. It’s just a matter of time before Madison is removed from my life, forever.” Her lips quiver and a steady stream of tears flow. “I can’t stand the thought of not having her in my life. I don’t know how I can live my life without her.”

  Robert

  The mystery man laughs, collects his few chips, stands and says, “Bobby, you’re much better than I gave you credit for.” Surprised that he knew my name I just watch him. He removes his glasses and it’s Drake Sinclair standing there.

  He begins to walk away, laughing, and I decide to go after him. “Watch my chips,” I say to Gus as I run to catch up with Drake. “Look,” I say as I spin him around. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing.”

  My hand is still on his shoulder. He looks down at my hand and I promptly remove it. He brushes his shoulder where I had touched him. “Oh, this is anything but a game, Mr. Grether.”

  “Why are you following me? What do you want?”

  “I want my daughter, but, of course, that is impossible.”

  “So help me, God, Drake.” I take a step closer to him and he holds up his hands and laughs.

  “Relax, Bobby, I’m here on business.”

  When he holds up his hands, I am reminded that the room is surrounded by cameras. I take a small step back and try to relax my shoulders. “And what business is that?”

  “Actually, I’m a primary sponsor of a championship boxing fight coming up next year.” Can it be? Is he sponsoring my fight with Kennedy? “It’s true. Didn’t you read your itinerary? I did read it, but I didn’t see anything that was a red flag. It looks like we’ll be seeing a lot of each other this weekend,” he says smugly.

  I square my shoulder and say, “If I didn’t know better, I would say that you are stalking me.”

  “Stalking you?” he asks. “No, not stalking. This is strictly business.”

  I can see Gus walking up to join us. He looks furious. “And the hospital? What was that?”

  “Pure coincidence.” He smiles and says, “It’s a small town we live in Bobby. Surely we are going to run into each other from time to time.” In fact, I remember seeing you in the past. You do have a certain amount of fame.” He looks at his watch and says, “Please, if you’ll excuse me. I’m late for a meeting.”

  He leaves before Gus reaches us. “What in the hell was that?”

  “He said he’s one of the main sponsors for the fight,” I say walking out of the casino towards the main entrance.

  Gus pulls the itinerary from his jacket pocket and begins to look over it. “I have no idea how we overlooked this. Here is it, Sinclair Enterprises in bold letters.”

  I look over and sure enough it’s on there. “I bet he had sponsored this fight before he met me. I need to make a phone call, can we meet up later?”

  “No problem.”

  I call Leah to check in on her and it goes right to voicemail. I also call Bruce and he answers immediately. I tell him about my trip to Vegas and about running into Drake. There are just too many strange events to be coincidental. I’m standing in the corner of the vast lobby and watch as Abel Kennedy is escorted in with his team. I turn slightly so as not to draw attention to myself. I watch as he follows the concierge in. “Hey, I have to go. Something's come up,” I say, disconnecting the call from Bruce.

  I study Kennedy’s gait as his team follows behind him towards the numerous elevators. When they are out of site, I head to my room. I search YouTube and watch the most recent video of Kennedy working out. He hasn’t fought since we entered into a contract for the champion fight. However, when you use a public gym, anyone can and will make a recording. The latest video is very amateurish, but I can see what I’m looking for. I try Leah again with no luck. I open a beer from the bar and decide to stay in for a while. My mind drifts from Kennedy to Sinclair. I cannot seem to be able to process Drake being here. Am I paranoid? Is this just business? I down the first beer and decide on another.

  Dad, Gus, and Tim walk in laughing. I can tell they’ve been drinking. I’m sitting at my computer shifting from watching Kennedy on YouTube and researching Sinclair Enterprises. “Well, there he is,” Tim says.

  “Are you guys having a good time?” I ask,
looking up from my computer screen.

  “Tim’s a little inebriated,” Dad slurs.

  Gus holds up a beer and I nod. “Just Tim?” I ask.

  “I may have had one…”

  Dad begins to say and I interrupt, “One too many,” I laugh. I close my laptop and stand. My legs are stiff and I realize I’ve been sitting in the same spot for several hours.

  “Working on something?” Gus asks in a low voice.

  “I’ll explain later,” I say to only Gus. “I’m hitting the tables. Who’s with me?” I announce loudly enough for every to hear.

  Chapter Six: Coincidence or Strategy?

  Leah

  I cry as Chelsea, Madison, and Caden leave the shop. I stand there, speechless. She’s right. One family will lose everything. If they lose Madison, will it feel like death to them? I put my hand over my heart at the memory of losing Jamie. The pain is still there and the memory is still vivid. I slowly sit down as her words replay in my head. It’s just a matter of time before Madison is removed from my life, forever.

  I gather my purse and leave without saying goodbye to Bethany and Dove. I didn’t want to explain what was going on. I try to calm down before driving home. I call Mom and check on Gracie and that seems to help. I’m relieved when I don’t hear Gracie screaming in the background.

  Next I return Robert’s three missed calls. I know he’ll be worried.

  He doesn’t say hello, he answers with “Is everything okay? I’ve been calling.”

  “Everything’s fine. I had to go to the shop and get a few things and I left my cell phone in the car. Are you having fun?”

  “I won some money on the tables.”

  “That’s good, so it’s not all work?”

  “No, not hardly. I would still rather be home.”

  “Me, too. I miss you.”

  “Are you sure everything’s all right?”

  I try to put on my happy voice. “I am. Just heading home. I wanted to call before I got on the road.”

  “I’m glad you did. Be careful and I’ll call you later.”

  “Sounds good. I love you, Ace."

  “I love you, too, Sweets.”

  I couldn’t tell Robert about Chelsea. Not over the phone. This is something I need to say to him in person. When I get home, I have to feed Gracie right away. I was gone longer than I wanted to be. After she eats and she lies down for her nap, I tell Mom and Margie what happened. “Oh, that poor girl,” Margie says talking about Chelsea. “To just wait and wait, knowing you’ll lose custody of your daughter.”

  “I know, I feel terrible,” I say.

  “Oh, Leah, this isn’t your fault. You shouldn’t feel bad. Madison is your biological daughter, so she belongs here with you and Robert,” Margie clarifies.

  “It’s not her fault either. There isn’t a good ending for anyone. I worry about Madison. We don’t know her and she doesn’t know us. She’ll be traumatized.”

  “The courts and social workers will work with everyone to make the transition easy for her. I imagine it’ll be a long and gradual process,” Mom says as she stands to fill her coffee cup.

  “Chelsea said she thought Drake was losing it. What do you think she meant by that?”

  Margie says, “I have no idea, Leah.”

  “What about Caden? Will he even understand about Madison and Jamie?” I put my hand on my stomach. I think I may be sick.

  “I’m sorry, Leah. I wish it were easier.”

  Later that night when I go bed I hold Gracie a little bit longer. I pray to God and talk to Jamie that everything will work out as it should. I run every scenario over in my head and in every scenario someone is going to get hurt. There isn’t any way around it.

  Robert

  The next morning we have a large buffet-style breakfast before the news conference. I wore the suit and tie as Leah instructed. Good thing I did because everyone else did too. It appears that Abel Kennedy and I are the guests of honor. We sit together at the head table with our team members at our side. Leah isn’t here because of the baby, but Kennedy is also here alone. Come to think of it, I saw him with a woman only one time. That is what started my vendetta against him. I remove the thought from my head.

  After breakfast we mingle and give short comments to questions as we were instructed to do prior to the breakfast. I see Drake and he is talking with Mr. Pelayo. Kennedy and I are cordial, but not friendly. We pose for several photos together and make pleasantries. I watch him closely as he walks around the room. His gait is off again today and his limp is heavier than it was yesterday. I ask Gus, Dad, and Tim to watch him and see if they can see a difference in his walk.

  We meet our supporters and get our pictures taken with them. Drake Sinclair is on his best behavior. I watch and he appears to be very friendly and well liked with everyone. I wonder if his anger just surfaced after he learned about the baby swap and if he is normally a good guy.

  During our break I call Leah. “Hey Sweets, did you sleep well?”

  “Sleep? What’s that?” she giggles. “I think I remember sleep. I also think I remember something called sex.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Gracie was up with me. We all had a girls’ slumber party. I think she missed you.”

  “I missed her and you. Is everything all right, there?”

  “It’s good. My Mom’s cooking and your Mom’s making dessert.”

  “That’s good.”

  “I’m thinking of asking them to move in. I like having my own personal chefs.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I would think you were serious. But, I do know you, so therefore, I’m not worried in the least.”

  “Good, because I’m kidding. How is it there? Are you making friends?”

  “It’s good, I’m busy today, and no, I’m not making any friends. I have to go, but I’ll call you later.”

  “I’ll be here. We love you.”

  “I love you both, too.”

  We take our place at the press conference and it’s in a much larger room. This time there are more cameras and lighting and definitely more people. Kennedy and his crew are on one side of the table while my crew and me take up the other side. “Are you nervous? Gus asks.

  I look at him and say, “No, I just want this over with. I hate sitting up at these things.”

  “The sooner they start, the sooner it’ll be over.”

  Mr. Pelayo begins by introducing everyone. Kennedy is sitting to my right with a podium separating us. Mr. Pelayo is standing at the podium, acting as referee and spokesperson. Kennedy doesn’t speak or look at me. Did you ever see Rocky V, where they sat there with the Russian at a press conference? This reminds me of that. Mr. Pelayo speaks of this fight being one of the most profiled fights of all times.

  He stands at the podium and picks the reporters to ask a question one by one. The questions range from how much money we stand to make, will you fight again after this fight, how is my new baby doing. One questions throw me off. “Bobby, it’s no secret that you have a personal vendetta against Kennedy. Do you want to share with us what it is?” a young woman asks.

  “No comment.” This is a new question. I can see the twitch in Kennedy’s jaw.

  “Abel,” she continues out of order. You get one question then you sit down and they pick someone else to ask. She didn’t sit down and she isn’t going to give someone else a chance to ask a question. “Isn’t it true that you beat your girlfriend so badly that she was in I.C.U. for three days?”

  Kennedy slams his fist down on the table. “Did you put her up to asking that?!” I have no idea what to say. “This is a new low for you, don’t you think, Grether?”

  She speaks more loudly and says, “Isn’t it also true that she lost your unborn baby as a result of that abuse?”

  Kennedy pushes the table over and stands with his fists in the air, “You want to fight now? You want me to beat the shit out of you, right here?”

  I quickly stand and take my stance
. I don’t want to fight him, but I will. I have no idea how she got her information, but it wasn’t from me. I stand in front of Gus, Dad, and Tim to protect them. Kennedy throws a punch and I dodge it. If I fight him here, I could be disqualified. The spotlights are turned off and the reporters are all being led out of the room.

  “Come on Grether, let’s end this right here and right now,” he demands as he throws another punch. His team is trying to get him back but it is no use.

  People come up and separate us then lead us to separate corners of the room. Kennedy’s mad and he is fighting them. I’m calm and trying to figure out what just happened. How could that reporter have gotten her facts unless… she was her sister, or a friend?

  I remember the fight like it was yesterday. I went to a boxing match with some buddies from college and Kennedy lost the fight that night. He was boxing a guy named Lucca Gainey. They were both amateur boxers back then. There was an after party and someone said something to Kennedy about losing and it pissed him off. He wanted to leave but his girlfriend wanted to stay. They eventually ended up leaving a short time later.

  My buddies and I walked outside to get some air and that’s when I saw Kennedy beating the shit out of his girlfriend. My friends and I broke it up and then called 911. The girl was beaten so badly she was unconscious. Kennedy was very drunk and managed to get away while we attended to the girl.

  “Bobby, what the hell was that about?” Gus asks.

  “I have no idea,” I lie. This is my memory and I don’t want to share it. I have seen Kennedy many times since then and he is always alone. Never with a date and he never married.

  “Bobby, what in the hell was that?” Gus demands in a tone I don’t appreciate.

  I said, “I don’t know!”

  “The press conference is now closed. Thank you, everyone, for coming. Grether and Kennedy, you two stay, everyone else leave,” Mr. Pelayo announces.

  Abel Kennedy

  I tell Tony and Mack to leave. They are demanding answers and damn if they’ll get them. Who in the hell was that girl, that damn reporter. I have no doubts that Bobby put her up to it. He wants the damn championship so badly, he’ll stoop to great depths to get it.