Chapter Text
Year is 1991
“She definitely looks like her mother.” A doting woman smiles down at the newborn child before sighing, “Too bad her face has been marked.”
“I like to think it’s a kiss from an angel, mom.” Marcy smiles at her child despite the birthmark near her face.
“Let’s just hope it fades in the long run for her sake.” She coos at the child.
A knock on the door. The two women look up to see a nurse, “Mrs. Nash. Your husband’s here.”
“Tell him to leave.” Her mother immediately says sternly.
“Mom!” Marcy says angrily.
“After what he put you through, you think he has the right to be here?” She argues.
“I’m not having this conversation again.” Marcy says. “We all agreed to put the baby up for adoption…..”
“You haven’t exactly agreed to the divorce….” She mutters under her breath.
“And I told you that I’m not going to give up on Bobby as easily as the rest of you!” She argues in anger as the baby starts to cry.
“I swear, Marcy! He will be the death of you…..” Her mother says before the nurse whistles to get them to stop.
The nurse says, “I get the tension is high, but this is not the time or the place to rehash repeated arguments. So let’s take a deep breath.”
The mother and daughter take a second to get their bearings together. Especially Marcy who tries to calm down the baby.
Her mother says more calmly, “Marcy. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to expose a newborn….”
“Hell will freeze over before Bobby is denied his chance to say goodbye to his firstborn.” Marcy says to her mother in a final tone before turning to the nurse. “Tell Bobby he can come in.”
She turns back to her mother, “I suggest you leave. Because the last thing is to deal with any more drama from anyone.”
Her mother lets out a huff before storming out of the room. But not before harshly pushing her way past Bobby.
Marcy looks at her husband and sighs at the sight.
Bobby looked completely and utterly destroyed. His eyes had dark circles in them from exhaustion and he certainly had lost some weight. Which is a sign that the rehabilitation is working.
Marcy nevertheless perseveres. “I think someone wants to meet her daddy.” She says before holding up their newborn.
“A girl.” He chokes up at this as he gently takes their newborn and holds her in his arms.
The reality of his situation hits him like a ton of bricks as he studies every single bit of his child. The long fingers. The pale blue eyes. The scent they carry. Even signs of a birthmark forming the side of their forehead.
"She looks like you." He says.
"Like both of us. Though she's got her father's fight spirit. I know that." Marcy smiles at the fact.
“Hi. There.” He says to his child. The baby looks at him for a second before they start to get fussy. To which Bobby immediately tries to sooth by gently rocking them. Which calms them down somewhat but not entirely successful.
“I could’ve swore we were having a boy.” Marcy says as a matter of fact. “I still can’t believe it’s a girl.”
“Guess god had other plans for us.” Bobby says, looking at his crying child before tearing up.
“Bobby……” Marcy says, “Remember….. we need to do this. We have to think of our child’s wellbeing in the long run.” She says tearing up as well. “We’re not ready.”
“I know……” He nods his voice cracking, “And It’s my fault.”
“Don’t.” She argues. “You can’t do this to yourself. To me. Or to her.”
He silently nods before breaking down in sobs.
She continues, “Someday….. Maybe….. She’ll understand why we did what we had to do.”
“I know…. But it doesn’t make it easier to know that’s it on me” He says between sobs.
Marcy knows how devastated he is. Here he is, out on a day pass from his inpatient rehab program, having to say goodbye to his firstborn child.
Another knock on the door. A woman in a pantsuit. Looking like she takes no pleasure in what she does,
“Mr. and Mrs Nash. I’m the coordinator from the adoption agency. I’m here to pick up the baby.” She states.
“Just give us a few more minutes with her. Please?” Marcy tells her desperately.
The woman nods as she steps back.
“Baptism…..” Bobby says looking up in panic. Hardening his hold on the baby before begging, “She has to be baptized. She won’t be safe otherwise.”
“I’ll get the Chaplain.” The nurse says before leaving.
Marcy grabs Bobby’s arm and assures him, “Alright. We’ll baptize her, but I also want to name her.” Marcy says. “A name to which hopefully can help her come home to us.”
“You know they’ll change the name once she’s adopted.” Bobby says devoid of hope.
“I don’t care. I want her to know that she was loved by us. Even if not for very long.” She says. “Let’s name her Eden.”
He lets out a rare smile, “You alway did have a way with names.”
The door knocks again and this time it's the nurse with the hospital Chaplain
Before they know it, they watch as the chaplains give their child their first sacrament.
“Eden, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The Chaplain declares as he traces the newborn's forehead in the image of the cross with oil.
Bobby does what he can to keep the remaining bits of himself together as the Chaplain follows up with a prayer,
“ Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the forgiveness of sin, and have raised them to the new life of grace. Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works.”
“Amen.” The whole room finishes the prayer.
With great reluctance, Marcy and Bobby relinquish their child over to the coordinator.
“Will we know who she’s with?” Bobby asks her in the hopes of something positive.
She sighs in sadness, “I’m sorry. I wish I could. But the intended parents specifically requested that no contact be permitted.” She says solemnly. “Unfortunately it's common practice.”
He chokes up at this.
He wanted to stop her. He wanted to snatch his child back and protect her from those that want to take him….no her…. Away from him. He wants to break all the laws that existed just keep his child with him.
But instead, he just numbly watches the woman walk out with his firstborn.
Two days later. In Hershey, Pennsylvania
A caseworker comes into the room, where an older couple with an eight year old daughter is at, with a newborn in her hands, “Mr and Mrs Buckley, I want you to meet Eden.”
The couple choke up in joy as they are presented with this child.
“She’s beautiful.” Phillip says beaming as he takes the newborn.
“What do you think of your new sister, Maddie?” Margaret asks her daughter.
She just looks at her and smiles, “I love her. But I thought I was getting a brother.”
“Well sometimes the universe throws a curveball, kiddo” He shrugs at this.
Margaret tears up as she explains to the caseworker, “When we lost our son to cancer, we needed a fresh start. At first we thought the move would help. But there’s still a void and Maddie needs a sibling…..so…”
“No one is judging you.” The caseworker says calmly. “This baby needs a fresh start too. Father is an alcoholic and the mother isn’t financially stable. They made the best choice for their daughter.”
“Well. Except the name….” Margarets says frowning about it. “Eden….just doesn’t work. I think she needs a new name for a new beginning.”
“Won’t she want to know who her family was?” Maddie asks out of curiosity.
“We are her family now Maddie.” Phillip explains. “So there’s no need to bring up her past. It won’t do anyone good.”
“Ok.” Maddie says reluctantly.
“I think….we should name her….Evelyn.” Margaret declares. “Evelyn Buckley.”
“It’s perfect.” Phillip smiles. “We can be a family of four once again. Right, Maddie?”
“Yes Dad.” Maddie says with a forced smile on her face. Feeling like something isn’t right about what she feels about her new baby sister.