05

“Aurora.” Lena’s tearful voice answers.

            I hold back the sob threatening to overtake me., “Lena, I need you and Jaxon immediately. I know dad put you as our God parents should anything happen to him.”

            “Yes.” she says softly, “what do you need? Aurora I’m so sorry, Kera, the baby.” she sobs.

            “Lena, give the phone to Jaxon.” I say having to force harshness into my voice. I can’t break now.

            I hear her sobbing as she hands the phone to her husband. “Rora, we will come get you.”

            “It’s not just me, I need you to talk to the police for me. I need you to also get guardianship of Kara’s baby. But you can’t let it be leaked that there were any survivors. Jaxon, someone tried to kill us all. If they find out I’m alive they’ll come back for me. Before you as questions, I have proof. Just hurry.”

            “Rora?” He says, “Do we need to implement the plan your father told you and Kara about last year?”

            I had honestly forgotten about the plan. Dad had sat us down last year before everything happened with Kara and told us he had a backup plan in place in case anything happened to him. He had gotten us new identities, and that we would be in care of Lena and Jaxon. He had us memorize bank account numbers, locations where he had hidden money and gave us each a key to a safe deposit box that held everything, we would need to hide from anyone who would cause us harm. It would be the perfect way to keep anyone from finding me now. My dad wasn’t a good man by any means. But I know that the accounts have not millions stashed but billions. Not including the cash he had hidden. I know he never planned for us to have to actually use this, but to give the baby the life he deserves I was going to make sure we disappeared.

            “Yes, but we will also need an ID for a newborn, the name Kason Alexander, with the last name on my ID.” I thought for a moment, “We’ll need a birth certificate for him and social security number. Put my name down as his mother. I may only be twelve Jaxon, but no one will be taking him from me.”

“Damn straight they won't be. You never were just an age. You’ve always been more mature and ready to deal with anything life hands you. I have your back always. Lena and I will be there to get you both soon. Even if we can’t bring you home immediately, we will be there soon. We have to make sure the hospital issues a statement saying you passed away from your injuries as well. No one knows about the baby so the statement will say three passed in a car accident. I want to warn you ahead of time”

“Thank you, Jaxon. I’ll see you soon.” I hang up the phone as the redhead enters the room. I guess she was nurse Lily.

            ‘You ready?” she asks, smiling at me. 

            “Not really but let's go anyway. He has been without his family for too long.” She smiles as she helps me out of the bed and attaches all my lines to the wheelchair before taking me to the next floor.

            She uses a phone outside of the NICU doors and calls in for us to be allowed in. I’m not going to lie this is the most intimidating place I've ever been. As they open the doors, we immediately have to wash our hands and disinfect anything that the baby could possibly touch such as our clothes. But I happily do it. The nurse then wheels me down a long hallway of rooms. I can see nurses in full protective gear holding babies that are smaller than the palm of my hand. Some of these babies are translucent. I also see babies that look huge. I can see that all of them are attached to chords or Iv's like myself. I see little ones on ventilators with their parents surrounding them. I had seen the signs on the outer door that said no small children allowed. And only 3 visitors at the bedside at a time.

             The nurse wheels me over to a small clear plastic tub with a small baby inside. The name on the side is Anderson's baby. I try to hold back my tears at the sight of the most beautiful little doll like baby inside of this clear plastic tub. Another nurse approaches and smiles down at me.

 "You're finally here!” She said happily.  “How would you like to do kangaroo care? "

 I look at her, "What is kangaroo care?”

 "Kangaroo care is a method of holding a baby that involves skin-to-skin contact. The baby, who is typically naked except for a diaper, is placed in an upright position against a parent's bare chest. We have seen this help babies survive and thrive in the long run. Plus it's an amazing bonding moment."

 I'd bite my lip then nod.  "I'd like that.”

 She smiles, “You are already in a gown, so it won't take us a minute to get you set up.”

They bring a room divider and surround the wheelchair with it. The nurse helps me lower my gown a small amount as the other nurse lifts the baby from his bed and lays him chest to chest against me. They pull my gown up over his back as I wrap my arms around him holding his head gently against my chest. Above his bed the monitors stop screaming, the nurse smiles. 

“I knew this would help him. All he needed was to feel loved.” 

I smile as I focus on him. I can see my sister in his face. The nurses walk away as I sit there, and I finally allow the tears to flow freely. 

He has beautiful black curls just like hers. His lips are pursed in a bow like he’s waiting for a kiss. A cannula under his nose just like mine helping him breathe. He feels so light. I kiss his forehead as I cry softly.

“I will never let anyone hurt you. I will get justice for your mommy and sibling and grandpa. And no one will ever be able to cause you harm. I’ll be your mommy now.” I whisper softly. He squirms a little in my arms and I can’t help but smile.

I softly start talking to him about his mom and grandpa. I don’t care what it’ll take. I will make sure this world is safe for him. I will bring down the Gravin’s. I will destroy the three boys who did this to me. They all think I’m dead, but I will rise from the ashes. I will break them. Kason deserves to live in a world where they can never hurt another person ever again.

I sat there for hours just holding him. A nurse allows me to feed him and change his diaper. Lena and Jaxon showed up and just sat with me as I held him. We talked out the plan. Jaxon made sure to release the information that I had died. The obituary hit the local funeral home website quickly.

 He said that no one had stepped forward for Dad's estate and luckily dad had put it all going to Lena for us when we got older, so no one was going to question why his housekeeper was receiving billions of dollars. We set it up to where the house was going to be sold immediately. 

Within hours we had made it possible for us to hide. But I had changed my mind. I would take a few years and silently get all the evidence I would need to break them. I was going to finish school online until senior year. Then I’m going to destroy them. 

I smile and kiss the top of Kason’s head as our plan comes together. We won’t be here much longer, and no one will remember us. But I will never forget what they did to me.