A Life Worth Fighting

by Brenda Kennedy

  Mr. and Mrs. Robert Grether,

  The Manasota Memorial Hospital believes that there may have been a mix-up with two baby girls who were born on the same day. The babies were both born at the same time to two different mothers. Recent tests on a six-year-old girl and both of her parents have revealed that the child they took home from the hospital isn’t their biological child. Although it is highly unlikely that your daughter was the one who was switched at birth, we are asking everyone who gave birth to a daughter at that time to submit DNA for testing. Please call the number below to set up an appointment with one of our medical staff. We’ll need to collect DNA from your daughter and both of the parents.

  I blink. That’s all I can do. I suddenly feel like I am in a large room, alone, with a giant spotlight shining down on me. I know Leah is here, but I can no longer see her. Is this for real? Is this a joke? Can shit like this still happen? I feel like I am having an out-of-body experience. The doctor comes in and tells us Leah’s labs and tests are fine. He can’t say for sure what caused her fainting. I don’t say anything. I can’t speak. I hand him the letter and wait under the spotlight that I feel shining on me. Someone holds my hand and I think it’s Leah. I hope it’s Leah. I can’t look at her. I know I should say something to her, but what?

  “Oh,” the doctor says. “Do you want to call someone?” he asks.

  I blink. I know I should call someone. “Our parents are on their way.”

  “I think they’re already here. The nurse said you had some family in the waiting area. I’ll go out and get them and give you some time.”

  I think I say, “Thank you,” but I’m not sure.

  “Robert?” a soft angelic voice says. I blink and look up at Leah. She is still holding my large hand in her small one. She brings me back to the here and now. The spotlight is moving away from me and I am starting to re-enter my body.

  “We need an attorney,” I say. It’s the only thing I can think of. “Leah?” I look over at her. “We’ll need an attorney.”

  The doctor opens the curtain and our parents walk into the small room. “I’ll give you a few minutes,” he says before leaving.

  “Leah, are you all right?” her mom asks.

  “I’m fine, but Robert and I have some news,” she says.

  “Oh, God, it’s not the baby, is it?”

  I say, “No, Leah and the baby are fine. We got this in the mail today. It came by certified mail.”

  I hand my dad the letter and watch as Tim, Sue, and Mom lean in to read it. Leah and I hold hands and wait. I think Leah and I are in shock. My mind hasn’t even processed what this will mean. I look at Leah and she is watching our parents read the letter from the hospital. I look away from Leah and turn my attention to our parents.

  My mom and Sue gasp and cover their mouths with their hands. I stand and offer my chair as Tim gets another chair from the hallway. I’m almost scared they’ll faint, too.

  “How can this happen?” Dad asks.

  “I don’t know,” I say honestly. “I think we need an attorney before we do anything.”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Dad says. “I can call Judge Myles to see if he can meet with us.”

  Leah asks, “Why will we need an attorney? I don’t want to sue them. I’m sure it was an honest mistake.”

  Tim says calmly while walking closer to Leah, “You may need an attorney if it proves that Jamie isn’t your biological child.”

  “Oh, God. I never even considered that. She’s our daughter, I can feel it.” Leah rubs her hand over her belly.

  Tears fill her eyes and suddenly I want to beat the shit out of someone. The doctor comes in, sits down, and talks to us about Leah and the baby. When he sees how upset Leah is, he tells us he wants to keep her overnight for observation. I think for a moment and then decide this is a great idea. I have some things that I want to do and I think it’ll be best if Leah isn’t involved.

  Leah

  I get moved upstairs to a hospital room, and Mom and Margie stay with me. Dad, Walter, and Robert leave. Robert is worried about me and I am equally as worried about him. Before Robert left, I read and re-read the letter we received from the hospital, and I don’t think the meaning of the letter has sunk in. Mom and Margie are quiet, and I think it’s because of strict instructions from Robert. Robert took the letter with him when he left. I know he has plans to meet with an attorney.

  “Why do you think we’ll need an attorney?” I ask.

  Mom and Margie just look at me.

  When they don’t answer, I say, “If Jamie was switched at birth, what will happen?”

  “Leah,” my mom says, “I honestly don’t know.”

  Robert

  “I called Judge Myles and he can see us now,” my dad says.

  “Great, where’s his office located?”

  “It’s over on Long Boat Key.”

  I’m not driving, Tim is. I left Leah at the hospital with our mothers. I asked them to please avoid any conversations about Jamie if they can. I don’t want my wife worrying about something we have no control over. I need to do as much as I can while Leah is in the hospital. I honestly don’t think either of us have a clue of the magnitude of this problem. Leah said she knows that Jamie was our daughter because she could feel it. Jamie will always be my daughter; nothing will ever change that.

  We pull up at the attorney’s office and suddenly my legs feel like lead. I know I have to talk to someone about this, but I’m not sure I want to. If Jamie isn’t our biological daughter, there is no quick way to fix this. Scratch that, there is no way at all to fix this.

  “Are you coming, Robert?”

  I look up and see Tim standing at the car door, waiting for me. I force myself to get out of the car and remind myself to put one foot in front of the other. My legs are wobbly, and I have no idea how I remain standing.

  Once inside, I sit down and Dad checks in with the receptionist. My life and the memories I have with Jamie replay over and over in my head as if in slow motion. I remember my mom watching the Lifetime movie Switched at Birth many years ago. Shit like this does happen, but how?

  “Bruce will see you now,” I hear a woman say. I stand and follow Dad and Tim down the hallway and into a large conference room. It looks like they are expecting us. “Please have a seat. Bruce will be right with you. Please help yourself to coffee and water.” Before we can say anything, she leaves and closes the door behind her. I take a seat as Dad and Tim get something to drink. Dad hands me a bottled water and sits down next to me. Tim sits across the glass table from us.

  I look out the large window at the water view when I hear a man’s voice say, “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

  I turn to look at the man walking into the room. He is a wearing a crisp black suit and he has graying hair, mostly at his temples. We all stand as he walks further into the room. He extends his hand to my dad first. “Walter, it’s great seeing you again.”

  “Thank you for seeing us so quickly. This is my son, Robert, and his father-in-law, Tim.”

  I extend my hand and also thank him for seeing us. Once the introductions are finished, Bruce says, “Please have a seat.” He sits at the head of the table and jumps right into the reason why we are here. “You received something in the mail? Do you have that with you?”

  “I do.” I hand him the manilla envelope and watch as he reads it.

  “Have you spoken to anyone about this yet?” he asks.

  “Just family.”

  “I just heard on Friday that there was the possibility of a baby swap at the local hospital. It’s hard to believe that things like this can still happen.”

  “What should we do?” I ask.

  “First of all, they’re going to want to collect DNA from your daughter, your wife, and you. They’ll suggest having everyone go to a hospital and collect DNA from everyone at the same time. You can also decide to hire your own company to perform the DNA testing. I can set this up for you now if you would like.” />
  “Yes, please.”

  “Is there a time we can get everyone together for the testing?”

  “Our daughter, Jamie, passed away almost two years ago.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” I watch as he sits further back into his leather chair. He rocks and taps his pen on the table top.

  “Thank you.”

  “They can collect her DNA by other means, like hair fibers.”

  “What will happen if the tests reveal that Jamie isn’t our biological daughter?”

  “It depends on the other girl’s family. Let’s just hope that Jamie is your daughter.” I nod. “I wouldn’t talk to anyone, especially the media. There’s no telling when this will get leaked out. How is your wife?”

  “Currently pregnant and in the hospital for observation. She fainted when she read the letter.”

  “Robert, I’m going to be honest. This won’t be easy for you or your wife. If the DNA comes back that Jamie isn’t your biological child, you may be faced with a battle for custody or visitation rights. That is assuming that you want to see your recently discovered daughter.”

  “Leah and I haven’t really considered the fact that Jamie may not be ours. I feel deep in my heart that she is my flesh and blood.”

  “The other family is going to be very upset that their daughter is deceased. They will likely accuse you and your wife of unthinkable acts.”

  I run my hand through my hair.

  “I’m sorry, but I want you to be prepared for the worse.”

  I run my hands through my hair again, “Well, let’s hope for the best.”

  “I’ll schedule an appointment for the DNA testing and call the hospital to see how many families are involved in this baby swap.”

  “You’re going to take this case?” I ask hopefully.

  “I am. You may need great representation.”

  I look at him in the eyes and say, “Thank you.”

  “I’ll be in touch about the DNA test; be ready to be swamped by the media. It’s just a matter of time before the media is all over you for a story. If you or your wife work outside of the home, you may want to figure something else out.”

  “Okay, we can do that.”

  “I would also like to be there when they collect the DNA. Just to make sure there aren’t any possible errors. Is there a particular time you want for you to do that?”

  “No, anytime is good.”

  Bruce writes some things down on his legal pad and says, “I’ll get on it and I’ll call you as soon as something is set up.”

  “Thank you, I am truly grateful to you for taking this case. My dad speaks very highly of you,” I say, as I shake Bruce’s hand.

  “Your dad and I go way back and my son is a big fan.”

  “Oh, who’s your son?”

  “Mason Myles,” he says, nodding to a family portrait hanging on the wall. The picture consists of Mason, his wife, Angel, and their twins.

  I look at the picture then at Bruce, “I like Mason; he’s a good man.”

  “Thank you, and yes, he is.”

  Chapter Eight: Little Jamie

  Leah

  I wake up from a restless sleep and find Robert on his laptop in the chair next to my hospital bed. It’s completely dark outside. “Please tell me it was all a dream.”

  He looks over his computer at me and smiles sadly. “I wish I could, Sweets.”

  “This is going to be a mess, isn’t it?”

  “I’m afraid so.” Robert closes up his laptop and sits on the edge of the hospital bed. “The attorney is going to take our case.”

  “That’s good news.”

  “It is. Do you remember Mason and Angel?”

  “Emma’s friends, the doctor and his wife?”

  “Yes, that’s him. The attorney is Mason’s dad. He’s also a judge in Bradenton.”

  “Do you think we’ll need an attorney?”

  “I hope not, but if we do, I want the best one around.”

  I pull the blanket up and say, “I can’t help but feel that Jamie was our daughter. I think I would have known if she wasn’t.”

  “Me, too. I couldn’t have loved her any more and I could never love her any less.”

  The next morning my doctor comes in and releases me. Dad and Mom pick us up and drive us home. When we get there, Robert’s parents are in the house. I smell food and my mouth waters. His mom makes the best roast beef and noodles I have ever had. I also know she cooks when she is anxious.

  “Is that homemade bread I smell?” Robert asks, inhaling deeply through his nose.

  “It is,” she smiles.

  I hug his mother and his father before saying, “I’m going to shower and get this hospital smell off me,” I say, walking up the stairs, “I’m glad you are both here.”

  Robert walks over to me and asks, “Leah, do you need anything?”

  “Just a shower.” He looks at me with concern in his eyes. “I’m fine, really.”

  As I walk past Jamie’s room, I turn around and go in. I inhale deeply; I just want to smell her scent. Of course, it’s long gone. I walk over to her nightstand and look at the picture of the three of us. God, I pray she is ours. I wipe the tears from my cheek and lie on her bed. Jamie always had light brown hair and light eyes where Robert and I have black hair and very dark eyes. I look at the picture and try to see which one of us she looks like.

  “Don’t, Leah.” I jump at Robert’s voice. “No matter what, she is our daughter.”

  “What if…”

  “Don’t. She’s ours and there are no what if’s. I couldn’t have loved her any more than I did.”

  “Why is this happening to us? I don’t feel like we deserve it. We’re good people who do right by others. So, why this?”

  “I don’t know. I wish I had the answers, but I don’t.”

  Robert’s cell phone rings and he says, “I have to take this. Get your shower, we have company.”

  “Okay.” I stand up and walk out of the room. I take a long hot bath instead of a shower. My mind is going 100 miles and even a long hot bath isn’t relaxing me.

  We have dinner together and everyone is quiet. We are all thinking the same thing, yet nobody wants to talk about it. I feel like the black cloud of depression is calling me and I refuse to answer. It would be so easy to sink into that state of sadness. I fight it for me, Robert, and our baby. As if the baby knows what I am thinking, he kicks me. I jump, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Robert or our parents. “He’s strong,” I admit, smiling. I rub my hand over the spot he just kicked to sooth it. Everyone has felt the baby kick but our fathers. He kicks again and I smooth out my shirt so they can see it. The baby glides his foot over my belly. I don’t know the baby’s sex, but for some reason I call it a him. The baby’s foot feels funny and it looks even more comical. I look up and I can see the smiles of Robert and our parents. I take my dad’s hand and place it on my belly.

  “Wow, that feels incredible,” Dad says.

  I put Walter’s hand on my belly next. His face lights up when the baby kicks. “I think it’s a boy,” Walter says, smiling.

  “You can tell from a kick?” Margie jokes.

  “Sure can, he’s strong like Robert. It’s gotta be a boy.”

  We laugh and finish our dinner. I’m grateful the mood has lightened. I pat my belly as a thank you to the baby.

  The next morning Robert informs me that today we need to go to the hospital for our DNA tests. The attorney called with the time and location. I don’t go in to work. Robert called Bethany last night and asked her if she could handle working the shop by herself. He said he would close it if she didn’t feel comfortable working alone. Of course, she doesn’t want to close the store.

  While getting dressed, I feel a sudden burst of anxiety run through me. I sit on the bed and close my eyes. I take some deep breaths in my nose and out my mouth. Please, not today.

  “Are you all right?” Robert asks, sitting next to me on the bed.

  “I wil
l be. I just need a minute.”

  He doesn’t leave me but sits with me and holds my hand. I feel like, since Jamie’s death, I am falling apart slowly. I’m not the person I once was. When the anxiety passes, I smooth my hands over my dress and stand.

  “Better?” Robert asks.

  “I am, thank you. Do you have the locket of Jamie’s hair from her first haircut, and her birth and death certificates?”

  “I do.”

  “Is that all they wanted?”

  “That, and our drivers licenses.”

  “The attorney is meeting us at the hospital, right?”

  “He is. He also set us up with an appointment at Mason and Alec’s medical practice. He advised us to get our own DNA tests.”

  “This is really happening, isn’t it?”

  “I’m afraid so, Leah. I’m sorry.”

  Gus is in the driveway when we exit the house. “We have a driver?” I joke.

  “It looks like it.”

  Robert holds open the back car door for us and climbs in after me. Gus is driving and Dove is in the passenger seat. “You’re not working today?” I ask Dove while buckling my seatbelt.

  “No, I’m unemployed.”

  “Since when?”

  “Since the jerks wanted me to do a story about a baby swap.”

  My heart falls into my stomach. I look at Robert with my mouth wide opened. “You quit your job because of this story?” They wanted her to write about the girls who were switched at birth.

  “I was excited about doing this story until I heard you guys are one of the parents affected by it. I can’t lose a friendship over a story.”

  I say, “You wouldn’t have lost us.”

  “Leah, trust me when I say that I would have. They expect reporters to be ruthless, to do whatever they need for a story. My friends and family come first, and they always will.”

  “Thank you, Dove. I appreciate that.”

  “Just to give you a heads up. The badgering starts now,” she says.

  We pull out of our gated community and see several different news vans parked along the side of the road. I stare out the window and I feel like I’m going to get sick. I reach for Robert’s hand and he readily takes it.