© 2021 Phylicia Joannis
“Sit down, Miracle.”
Donna’s voice was polite, but cold. I sat in a chair across from her, willing myself to have courage.
“I’m sorry to come like this, but Chase Avery is in the hospital.”
“I heard.” Donna cut in. “Tragic, what happened, isn’t it? What does he want?”
“Chase? Oh, nothing.” Donna raised an eyebrow. “It was the only thing I could think of. I mean, you don’t know who I am, but I figured you’d know Chase, and–”
“Are you some sort of vagabond?” Donna cut in again. “Because if you’ve come here looking for a handout I’ll have you removed.”
“Vagabond? No. I’m . . .” I took a deep breath and our eyes locked. I opened my mouth and the words tumbled out like wheels on a hill. “I’m your daughter.”
Donna laughed without humor. “That’s impossible. I don’t have a daughter.”
“But you do. I have proof. My birth certificate, right here.” I pulled out the birth certificate I’d gotten from Zinnia and showed it to Donna.
“I don’t need to look at some fake document you’ve whipped up somewhere. You’ve wasted enough of my time today. Now it’s time for you to leave.”
“It’s true! I’m the daughter you tried to abort at the Ray of Hope Women’s Clinic over 17 years ago. You blackmailed Chase Avery to keep your affair a secret, then you exposed him, but you waited too long to have an abortion and they had to do a partial birth procedure. I was pushed out too quickly, and they couldn’t kill me once I was born, so you signed me over to the state and left me there to die at 23 weeks old.”
“Get out!” Donna screeched. “If you ever come back here, I’ll have you arrested. Philip!”
I stood. This reunion wasn’t going at all the way I’d hoped. Philip returned with a tea service in his hands.
“You called, ma’am?”
“Remove this little vagrant at once. And tell the staff that if they catch her near here again they should call the authorities.”
Philip grabbed me gently by the arm. “Let’s go, Miss.”
No. This wasn’t what was supposed to happen. I looked frantically at Donna, but she wouldn’t make eye contact. There had to be a way to get through to her. I pulled my arm away from Philip.
“Miss, you’d better come with me.” Philip spoke more sternly, this time tugging me away with a much stronger grip.
“No, wait!” I tried to pull away, but Philip’s grip was like steel. As he pulled me towards the door, I tried one last time. “I came here for answers, and I won’t leave without them.”
“You’re mad.” Donna scoffed and waved her hand in dismissal.
“I know Chase Avery isn’t my father!” I yelled.
“Let’s go, Miss.” Philip continued to pull me away.
“Philip, wait,” Donna called out. “Bring her back.”
“Mrs. Ellison?” Philip gave her a bemused look.
“Bring her back. I believe we need to have a conversation in private.”
“Yes ma’am.” Philip released me and I rubbed at the soreness in my arm.
“Leave us.” Donna waved him away. Philip bowed slightly and made his exit.
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