Xavier's girl

"Shh, mama got you" I mumble into her head. She grew, she felt bigger in my arms. That's what happens when you miss two weeks. They still grew. Moving to sit down, I could still feel his eyes on me like a hawk. But I was concerting on Amelia she was rubbing her face against my breast like she did when she was hungry.

My breast felt heavy then they were, it was as if they knew. Pulling down my dress, thankfully I wore a spaghettini strap. She didn't wait for a second to attack by them. I almost cried at the feeling. I had my baby back, I could breathe again. I was looking down at her smiling, she was too busy eating to even look at her me. Her eyes were closed as if she was sleeping.

We sat there in awkward silence, the only sound was of Amelia swallowing. "Does she sleep at night?" I asked breaking in the silent. Xavier finally looking away from her.

"Not for long, she wakes up after a few hours" he was looking down at her as he answered. That's odd she was normally a good sleeper at night.

"How about the bottle does she take it?" I never planned on using a bottle on her. I was always going to breastfeed her.

"Yes, she takes it" he almost rolled his eyes.

"Where does she sleep?" I needed to know if she was okay with him.

"In her room, right next to mine" I had the image in my head already. Him Cara and my baby in a house. Cara taking care of my baby.

"I don't want her near her," I say with bitterness "I don't want her touching my baby"

"She does a good job as much as you do"

"I won't have another woman taking care of my daughter when I can Xavier!" I shrieked making Amelia scream.

"Shh, I'm sorry baby" I hugged her. "I didn't mean to do that" yes I did, I thought. Your dad makes me crazy.

"Stop yelling" he warns

"Then tell me Cara won't touch my baby. I don't care what you do with her"

"Not going to happen, Cara stays" his tone was final. I knew I couldn't change his mind, he wanted her there.

"Can I take her home with me tonight" I pleaded, looking down at Amelia. Her big green eyes reminding me of his, if people saw them they would know he was her father. She has his brown hair, green eyes and his straight nose. She looked nothing like me, I kept thinking she should start to look like me as she grew but she just reminded me of Xavier every day.

"No, she comes with me"

"Please, you can't keep us separated she needs me. I will go crazy if I have to spend on more day with her" a haunting image of his mother was in my head. With the look he had on his face I think he saw his mother too, I wondered if he still takes care of her.

"What?" how heartless was he?

"Think carefully about what you say, I am being generous. I could have said you can't see her again, but I didn't"

I can't believe what was coming out of his mouth, he thinks his being generous. Had he lost his mind completely this last year and a half?

"You know what, I have made an effort to be reasonable. But you're crazy. You can't seem to reason any more. And you leave me no choice but to get lawyers involved so the next time you hear from me is going to be from my lawyer". He was laughing, like a full-on belly laugh. He thought this was funny, he should be thankful I was holding Amelia or the steak knife would be lunged into him right now.

"Find I will be waiting for your lawyers, good luck finding one with your budget" I pause, what was he talking about. With the money I have left, I could afford any lawyer and I was going to get the best.

"Cara! Get in here" he called for her.

"We are leaving collect the baby," he says when she walks in.

Looking at him surprised, he was leaving? He just got here, I haven't even held Amelia for more than 15 minutes.

"What no, she's not done eating" I pleaded

"She was done two minutes ago," he says rolling his eyes. He was right, I felt her when she stopped eating. Her eyes were now closed, she was sleeping.

"Please let me have more time with her"

"I have shit to do and I quite frankly I don't wanna see your face anymore" I ignore the pain that tore through me.

"If you take her Xavier I have no option but to get lawyers involved" I was trying to reason

"Like I said, good luck with that. Now give her to Cara"

I sat still staring at him in disbelief, I couldn't recognise the man in front of me. How much can one change in a year? I sat there and watch as Cara took my baby out of my arms. I sat there and watched as the exited the room. Before the door shot I heard Amelia wailing, mine came seconds later. I was left with the untouched food that was going to go to waste.

~~~~~~~

The minute the door shut behind me, I ran to my room. I needed to get my laptop, I found a lawyer that I knew could help me win this. I didn't think I would need him until now. I can't wait any longer, the longer she's away the crazier I get.

It says on their firm page that they had a building uptown, but I needed to make an appointment before coming. They looked very prestigious, not that I was complaining. I was going to get the best my money had to offer. It says that there call line closes at 7, it was just 6:30. I had time. Quickly dialling the number.

It rang for a while before they answered— " Good evening, Berge Attorneys how may I help you" a feminine voice sang

"Hello, I was calling as I require an attorney" I cringe at how shy I sounded

"I will need to ask you if you are a private client of ours"

"No." why did she think I was calling?

"That's fine ma, what would this be in regards to?"

"I need a child custody lawyer" I hoped that what they were called

"I will need to ask if you are currently on trial for this"

"No, we haven't taken it to court yet"

"That's fine, you will have to come in to speak to the head of the firm"

"That's perfect"

"Can I ask for your name please?"

"Vanessa Miller," I say giving my mothers name, I don't anything that would associate me with my father or past.

"The fee for your consultation is $1000 for the hour. This would be required to be paid on your arrival" I sucked in a breath. How much would this cost me?

"That's fine" I can do that, anything for my daughter

"Alright I've just booked you in for 1 pm for Monday. Mr Moore will be looking forward to seeing you". I bet he will, I'm paying 1k for the hour.

"Thank you"

"Thank you for calling Berge law firm, have a good day" she hangs up.

This weekend will be the longest so far, I knew I will be staying in a La for a while. I've heard how long things like that can take. Looking at my room, the eerie quiet house finally got to me. I have no family left. The only one alive was currently in hiding, my father was on the FBI most wanted list. No one seems him since everything that went down. I haven't seen him, not sure how I feel about that. Sometimes I missed him then I remember what he did.

I went down to the kitchen deciding to make noodles, I needed to go shopping. The fridge was currently only filled with breast milk, I have been leaving on Raman these part days. I miss having Greta, I haven't even from her. But I knew she was also involved in the cult. Just had I about to boil the water there a loud knock on the door.

I wasn't expecting anyone? And I certainly didn't have any friends coming to see me. The only friend I had was currently in New Zealand. And I was a hundred per cent sure it wasn't Xavier—this is the last place he would be.

Making my way to the front door, I looked through the peephole and almost screamed. That was the last person I expected to see tonight. I opened the door excited but nervous. I wasn't sure where this could go.

"Alan?" I asked when I could see his talk figure. He looked the same, but his face seems to have aged. His presence makes me remember Stephanie.

"I wasn't sure you would open" his voice sounded deeper

"Same" I whisper still looking at him, did Xavier know he was here?

"Well are you gonna invite me in?" and the rudeness was back.

"Erm, sure come in" moving to the side.

He takes two big steps into the house, I took in his navy blue suit. Why were they all wearing suits all of a sudden? I closed the door not moving from my spot.

"Were you always this awkward?" He smirked looking down at me

"If I remember correctly you hardly spoke"

"Ahh, yeah. I was going for the brooding and quite guy look"

"More like a jerk and mean look," I say

"I was a jerk" he agrees. I smiled not feeling so lonely anymore.

"I was just making Raman, want some?" I asked him, moving to the kitchen. That was the only thing I could offer him.

"With the day I've had, that would be amazing" I smiled, my back to him. But I knew he followed me.

"Well you're in luck, I make good Raman" I watch as he takes off his blazer and sets it on the counter. The first thing I noticed was the Rolex and tattoo on his arm. He catches me staring— I turned away before I saw my blush.

"How did you know I was back?" I asked, did Xavier tell him?

"I was driving down to my parents and saw the lights turned on" he scratches his hair.

"Yeah, I live in the city now and just wanted to check on ma"

Did Xavier live in the city too? I wanted to ask but I just nodded.

"The last time I saw you, you were having a baby. What happened" he was staring down at my stomach as if something was missing.

"I did" I smiled "her name is Amelia"

"That's a pretty name, is she sleeping?" He looks towards the stairs as if she was upstairs.

"Erm, no. She is currently with Xavier" I tell him as I open the Raman. Did he not know?

"I didn't know that," he mumbles

"Yeah, he actual came to New Zealand and took her. No kidnapped her"

"What?!" he looked more surprised than me.

"Yes, now he won't let me see her. We had dinner today and he would even let me hold her for ten minutes!" I yelled remembering.

"And that slut Cara was with him. He has her taking care of MY baby" the tears were coming back now.

"I have no choice but to get a lawyer now, I can't let him get away with his," I say looking at the cooked noodles.

"That fucker, he told me he was going to New Zealand for work" he even lied to Alan? Why wouldn't he tell him?

"I'm so sorry Vanessa, I can't imagine what that feels like" he looks sincere

"I have faith, I have to be strong for her," I say mostly to myself.

"I will help you with anything you need, I have a good friend who is a lawyer. I can get him to see you" he says almost excited.

"No thank you, I think I need to do this myself." I wasn't too sure if he was being genuine or Xavier sent him.

"I have a meeting on Monday with Berge law firm"

"Heard of them, they are good," he says taking a sit on the stool.

"I just can't believe he would do that" he was whispering to himself. "With everything going on with Cara, I was sure he moved on from you"

What was going on with Cara? Where they dating. Like a real relationship? I needed to know. For my daughter no other reason. Giving him the blow of noodles, could I get it out of him?