Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Carly Lewis
POV
"I want the pink one!" Stella exclaims pointing at the pink oversized stuffed dinosaur barely able to hold it in her hands.
I laughed out loud, I haven’t felt this happy in a very long time ago. "Just five minutes ago you wanted the purple unicorn, now you want the dino?" I ask.
She pulls her face. "I changed my mind."
My smile brightens. "So suddenly?" I ask.
She nods seriously. "The dinosaur called out to me."
I look away to stop myself from laughing at her. "Well, we can’t have a lonely dinosaur now can we..."
"I know what to do. We should get both!" she shouts dramatically. "They will both be sad if we only get one." she says.
I smile nodding, I was going to get her both anyway. I always feel guilty about not being able to do anything for her since she was born. Stella was a good child; she rarely ever demanded things. Buying her these two stuffed toys was the least I could do for her. I realize also that I may be spoiling her, but the room next to hers is filled to the brim with stuffed animals. These two would even make a dent in her collection.
"Aren’t you the cutest..." I tease.
She giggles loudly, other parents in the store look at us.
For once it didn’t feel like I was being watched. Today felt like a normal day. A day with my daughter.
Chase had to go to the entertainment company owned by his brother; they needed to talk about his new movie he is shooting next month.
For once we weren’t worried about Amelia taking Stella from us, I wasn’t worried about my missing memories. I was content with forming new memories with my daughter.
All I focused on today was being the best mother Stella could ever ask for. She made loving her easy, I know every mother says this, but my daughter was the cutest little girl I’ve ever met. She was perfect for me.
We paid for her two stuffed animals, I took them to my car, and we continued on with our mother daughter date.
I still remembered the brightest grin she had on her face when I told her we were going to go on a mother-daughter date.
I know I’ll miss the days when she was with me twenty-four seven once she starts school in the fall. It was my first time being out alone with Stella. I was a little nervous yes.
"I want to go there..." she points to another toy store.
I shake my head. "We should get something to eat; it’s almost lunch time..." I tell her.
She shakes her head. "One more shop than food..." She tells me.
I narrow my eyes at her. "You’re going to be one great lawyer one day..." I tease.
She shrugs her shoulders. "Daddy says I can be a fairy when I grow up..." she says.
That made me smile. "Of course you can be anything you put your mind to." I tell her.
We wandered through the rest of the store, Stella bouncing beside me while humming some song Cole taught her.
We walk into a clothing store next; I grab a few things for me. Three pairs of jeans, a couple of shirts and a few sweatshirts. Grab a few things for Stella as well.
She fell in love with a dinosaur onesie pajamas sent she couldn’t say no to.
My wardrobe wasn’t exactly overflowing with clothes, and they were looking worn, so I needed a few new things, Stella was just excited to be getting something, so she wasn’t that hard to shop for.
By the time we were done, we were both starving.
We stopped a burger shop and got a burger meal for me and a kiddy’s meal for Stella.
"Mommy was I also in your belly?" Stella asks suddenly.
I was blindsided by her question. "Yes, you were, I remember you kicking in my belly..." It was one of the only things I remember about my pregnancy and that I barely had a belly bump.
Her eyes widen. "I kicked you?" she asks shocked.
I nod. "You did." I tell her.
"I’m sorry..." she says.
I smile. "It’s good when a baby kicks it means they’re healthy..." I tell her.
She smiles. "We bought a lot..." she says looking at the shopping cart beside us.
I nod. "We did. You can show daddy later what you bought..." I tell her.
She nods excitedly. "Daddy will like to see what you bought too..." she says.
Heat rushes to my cheeks.
"I-I’m not buying it for your daddy to see." I look away from her chucking a French fry in my mouth.
She giggles but doesn’t say anything at least.
"Will I get a baby brother?" Stella asks.
And I choke on the French fry. I cough out looking at my daughter as if she was possessed by a ghost.
"No..." I squeak out.
"Why not?" she asks.
I stare at her, my cheeks heat at the thought of doing that again with Chase to give Stella a baby sister or brother.
Why couldn’t she ask Chase these things? Why me? "Because your father and I aren’t married..." I say quickly hoping she would drop it.
"But Uncle Cole said if I asked I’d get a baby brother." she said innocently.
So, this was Cole’s fault?
He was filling her brain with all these things.
Luckily it didn’t take her long to drop the topic, and she moved onto more stores she wanted to go to.
I decided we should go to the salon. I needed a haircut. I haven’t touched it since I was in the hospital.
We both get our nails and hair done. We get matching curls done. I take a selfie of the two of us and send it to Chase.
It doesn’t take long for him to phone me.
"It seems the two of you are having a lot of fun." He teases.
"Yes, Stella and I got our nails and hair done..." I say proudly.
She smiles brightly. "Daddy, I got fairy nails..." she says into the phone.
"I can’t wait to see your pretty nails Stel..." he says softly.
"Are you home yet daddy?" she asks.
I don’t hear what he says because the phones by her ear. "Okay daddy. Yes. Yes daddy. See you later. I love you too. Bye..." she says into the phone before handing me the phone back.
I see the call is already over.
I place the phone back in my purse before we stop by the ice cream store before we head home.
After we done eating the ice cream we head for the car.
It was around four in the afternoon, and the parking garage was almost empty. I place Stella in her booster seat before I head to the trunk to throw everything we bought today in there.
Stella’s two stuffed animals took up the two back seats, so I chucked everything in.
I close the trunk and close the rear door. Stella was watching a video on her tablet. I check to make sure she’s buckled in probably before walking to the driver side.
I open the door and chuck my purse to the passenger side. I hear Stella speaking to her new stuffed animals.
"When we get home, I’m going to introduce you to Mr. Bunny." she says.
I smile.
"You’re going to be best friends." she says.
"I hope Mr. Bunny agrees." I tell her.
"He will." she tells me.
I smile and shake my head getting into the car.
I let out a sigh when I realize my car keys are in the trunk. I get out and get the key.
How could I be so dense?
As I walk around the car the hair at the back of my neck stands on end. Something felt off.
My instincts screamed at me to get out of there. I rushed to the driver side, but it was too late.
I was so distracted by Stella’s talking I didn’t realize it until now.
A hand covered in a clothe was over my mouth before I could fight them off.
I tried to elbow the person behind me. But another person came in front of me. I kicked at them, but they grabbed my legs to stop me.
I twisted violently but it was no use, I stood no chance. I was losing consciousness. I wanted to get them away from Stella.
My stomach filled with dread. I wasn’t sure if it was the organization I used to work for or if it was someone else.
I tried to stay conscious to make sure they weren’t taking Stella. But I couldn’t see past the man in front of me.
My body weakened I was fading when I heard Stella scream.
"Mommy!"
My head snaps toward the car. I see two men grabbing her from the car and stuffing her into a van.
I was stuffed into the van too.
The last thing I see is Stella’s tears and crying before darkness consumes me.