"When You Want Her Back..."



Chapter one.

Bret McAllister was completely blown away when his beautiful new daughter walked through the door holding the social workers hand. She had beautiful golden locks of hair that curled, her brown eyes glistened in the sun that appeared as she entered the room. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The girl he noticed held a doll in her hand and hugged it tighter the closer she got to him. "Well McAllister, here's your daughter. The papers are signed and taken care of, all you need to do is watch after this young girl. Now she loves her doll, likes to be sung to sleep, and if theres ever any problems sing to her. Got it?" Bret nodded his head and knelt down to speak to his new daughter for the first time. "Hi honey. I'm your father," words he loved coming out of his mouth.

Bret picked up the small child and her bags as he walked out of the building wearing a large smile. Being this girl's parent was all he wanted. He had missed his first chance, but he wouldn't miss this chance. Buckling her into the car seat, he kissed her forhead. In response, the girl smiled back then turned her attention to her doll. Bret walked around his simple 2004 Ford Explorer, and entered the drivers seat. He turned on the car and rolled the windows down slightly. "So Hana what songs do you like to sing?" The girl remained silent and Bret asked again "Come on tell me, what songs do you like to sing?"


Finally the girl looked up from her doll and said, "Old McDonald"


"Oh yes, that's a classic. You know when i was little, my uncle had a farm. I would go to his farm and sing about the animals I'd see. How about we do that now?" Bret looked in the rearview mirror yet again and saw the girl smile. Her smile was so sweet and innocent.

"YEAH YEAH! I wanna' do dat'" she said.


Together they sang 'Old McDonald' beginning with the dog Hana saw the lady walking to the cow in the 'Got Milk?' advertisement.

Before long, Bret was pulling his car into his drive way. He parked in the garage and got out of the car moving to the side to take Hana out.He opened the car door to see that the small girl had fallen asleep and was in her toddler car seat hugging her doll. Bret carefully picked her up and closed the car door. He went inside his home and greeted the maid. "Afternoon, Rosa."

The twenty eight year old maid turned around and nearly screamed at the sight of the child. Luckily for Bret she didn't. "Oh wow, shes beautiful. Bret, I am so proud of you! You're a father."

Smiling Bret continued his way upstairs. He turned to the room door marked 'Hana'. He had it especially made for her along with everything else in the room. The room had been painted a light green with pictures of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. The room had a comfy bed for her, and a toy chest full of dolls and toys he thought she would like. The whole month he had prepared for Hana.

Walking close to the bed and kneeling down, he layed the child in her bed. He removed her jaket and shoes. The girl rolled over and seemed comfortable where she was. Standing above the bed, Bret felt so achieved and proud. He had the most beautiful little girl as a daughter. Finally, he turned away from his daughter and left the room sure to leave the door a little open to be able to hear her.


Bret walked down the steps quietly and moved toward the kitchen where he knew Rosa would be cooking. He walked into the kitchen and watched the young maid reach for a box of macaroni. "You need some help?"

Turning around, Rosa nodded her head."So tell me," she said to him watching him move to the cabinets."How is it? You know your daughter and the adoption. I just can't imagine it."


Bret turned around and handed the box to Rosa,"It's kind of a feeling you can't explain. I mean, I look at that child and I can't help but love her, even before I know her. Because, I know she's mine now. Truthfully, I don't know who would give up their child like that. Hana is so beautiful, and I would do anything if I was her mother to keep her and love her." he said crossing his arms. As he talked, he gazed at the floor as though he was some where else. "It's hard to think. I'm a dad. I'm going to be taking care of this child. I'm going to give her what her parents didn't."

Rosa smiled, "I believe you. I can see it in your eyes, you care about her. You're going to do great. Now dinner will be ready in an hour and a half. Since Hana is sleeping, why dont u shower?"


Bret nodded his head and said, "yeah I think I'll do that. It's a good idea."
--------

April sighed as she entered her flat. The apartment was pitch black and seemed so empty. Putting her keys down on the side table by the door, April flicked on the lights. She hadn't been home in a month and it felt so great to finally be here. The placed smelled just as it did when she left, but looked a bit more dust-covered. Not caring about neatness, she set her bags down by the front door and walked further into her apartment.She went into the kitchen and pulled a glass out of the cabnits. She poured some water, and gulped it down. Water from her home was the best. Putting the glass in the sink and walking to her room, she flicked off the lights. Entering her room, she removed her high heels and socks. Let her hair loose, and pulled the sheets back on the bed. April slid into bed and rolled over only to scream at the feel of another person in her bed.


"Ah! Get away! You can have anything you want, I think I have my purse right on the side table in the hallway!" she jumped out of the bed.

She was walking out of her room, when a soft, kind familiar voice said "April.. I need you"

Turning around quickly, April saw her sister. The firey red heads' hair was all worn out. The bags under her eyes couldn't be stronger, and she definitely looked underweight. What had happened to the healthy, happy Lena she knew when she was younger? Walking to her sister in the bed, she hugged her. Together they sat there holding each other as Lena did what seemed to be crying.

"Lena whats wrong?"

"They took her, my Hana, they took her."

April stood there in total shock and confusion. Hana? "What are you talking about Lena?" For moments Lena didn't speak until once again April asked, "Tell me what is going on."

"Hana, my daughter of three years, they took her away from me."

April was completely blown away. She had no idea she even had a niece to begin with and already she'd lost it. To what? April hadn't talked to her sister in five years, but she didn't really consider it a problem. She had things to do, people to see. Why would it matter? "Who took Hana?"

"Child services. They said my smoking habit is no good for her. I want her back, these past two months have been so painful."

Once again needing explanation, April said, "Two months!And you're just coming to me?"

"Well the first month, was just me in rehab for drug abuse. The second month, you were in Reno doing your research or what ever it is you do.."

"You mean my paying job? Oh yes, it's called being a writer, and I was researching the area for a new series based there. Unlike you, I like to back up my facts and actually make sense."

"You know what, April, I don't need this! I don't know why I ever came here." At those words, Lena began to get up and attempted to leave.

Until April grabbed her sister and said, "No, Lena, obviously you do need this. Would you come here if you didn't need it? Just stay, sleep, shower, and eat. Then we'll talk about it in the morning. Don't worry she will be fine. Hana, right?"

"Yes, Hana my little Goldy-locks, you know she looks just like her father."

"Which would be?"

"My deceased husband." Saying that, Lena raised her left hand to show her wedding ring. April was overwhelmed. It seemed her "little" sister was having a family while she sat here writing,and doing college. What was wrong with that?