Elisa Dall'Omo walked into her living room, her car keys in her hand. She looked around at all of the toys laying anywhere and everywhere. She sighed.
"And to think, this room used to be spotless."
I looked up at her and smiled. "Aww, El's, you know you love having Mikey and I here."
Elisa looked at me for a minute before smiling. "You're right. I do. I was only teasing." She looked at Mikey, who was sitting in his high chair cooing up at her. He had banana's all over his face. Elisa laughed softly. "You're a very messy eater, Michael, you know that?" Mikey cooed softly. Eli laughed. "How do you expect to get a girlfriend with banana's up your nose?"
I laughed and stood. "I think he got more of it up his nose and on his face than in his mouth, you think?"
Elisa nodded and rubbed Mikey's golden hair affectionately. Then she looked at me. "I have to go to work, sis. Can you please clean this mess up before you leave?" Elisa and I aren't sisters but we were close enough that we called each other 'sis' now and then.
I nodded and smiled, "Sure thing, Captain." I saluted her.
Eli giggled and kissed the top of Mikey's head and walked out to the garage. I kneeled in front of him. "What do you say we get you cleaned up and ready to go bye-bye?"
Mikey cooed and I laughed and got a clean baby wipe. After gently washing his face and hands, I picked him up and walked him into the nursery. The room was decorated in a soft baby blue color. I laid him on the changing table and changed his diaper and then dressed him in a cool outfit. It was another hot day.
Once he was dressed, I laid him in his crib and walked across the hall into my room and went through my clothes. I chose a khaki colored drawstring skirt and a soft blue baby T. while I dressed, I thought about Mikey's father, Rick Thompson. I hadn't seen Rick since I told him I was pregnant. That was also the day that I found out that the man I had called my boyfriend and my first love for two years was married to another woman. His wife and I had no idea about each other and I suspect she still didn't know about me.
The only thing I am thankful for that Rick ever gave me is my six month old son, Mikey.
Once dressed, I walked back into Mikey's room and picked him up. "Let's go clean up the living room." I walked downstairs and set him in the playpen while I cleaned the kitchen and living room spotless. Once finished, I scooped my son up and carried him out the car. I strapped him into his car seat, gave him his blue blankie, and his favorite stuffed toy. The toy's name was Taco because he was one of those Taco Bell dogs. Elisa had thought it was cute when she saw it at the mall and insisted on buying him. Mikey loved that animal on sight.
I got into the front seat and started the car and drove off to the day care center in which I worked.
Three hours later I was exhausted. We had more kids in than usual that day. Then, when I thought we couldn't be any more busy, a guy walked in with a little boy and girl, they looked like twins to me. I sighed and walked over. I was in charge of interviewing new comers.
"Can I help you?"
The guy looked at me and I could feel my knees grow weak. He had the most beautiful set of blue eyes I'd ever seen. His brown hair had curls in it and his eyes looked like they were laughing. He smiled.
"Well, yeah, actually, you can." His voice had a soft accent. I smiled. "You see, my friend is too much of a tough guy to bring his brother and sister in so I said I would."
I nodded, "Alright. Come with me." I led him into my small office. I sat down behind the desk and smiled at the kids. They looked nervous. "Tell me about the kids."
The guy sat down. "They're names are Angel and Aaron Carter. They're about ten right now. They are spending this summer with Nick and Nick is busy during the day. He was wondering if you could keep them here for about five hours on weekdays…"
I nodded. "Sure can. I need you to fill out these papers. What's your name, sir?"
The guy smiled at me, his blue eyes sparkling. "Brian Littrell." He held out his hand.
I took it and felt a weird feeling at his touch. When I took my hand away, it still tingled. "My name is Lisa Booze and I am in charge of the kids on Monday's and Thursday's."
Brian smiled at me again and I felt shivers running down my spine. He was gorgeous! "Well, I'm sure Nick will be calling to thank you, Lisa."
I looked at Aaron and Angel. "I think you two are really going to like it here. I have a six month old son that comes here while I work. He stays in the infant area, but if you want to see him, ask Carol to see Mikey and she'll take you to meet him."
Aaron smiled. "You have a son? How old are you?"
"Aaron, that's rude." Brian said softly, watching me. I could swear that I saw something in his eyes. Disappointment? No way.
I laughed. "I don't mind. I'm twenty."
Aaron grinned, "You look sixteen to me."
Brian rolled his eyes. "You can tell he's related to Nick Carter and hangs out with AJ McLean."
I laughed. I didn't know who he was talking about. "Well, fill out these forms and I will take these two to the daycare section."
"Can we see your son first?" Angel asked quietly.
I nodded and smiled. "Sure. He should be up from his nap by now."
"What's his name?"
"Michael Thomas. I call him Mikey."
Brian smiled. "His middle name is Thomas?" I nodded and he grinned as if he was telling himself something.
"Well, I'm done." Brian handed me the papers.
"Thank you." I filed them and stood. "Let's go see my baby." The four of us walked through the double doors to the infant wing in the daycare school. I heard a baby crying and smiled. Poor Linda. She was in charge of the babies with Suzie and Helen. The baby crying was one of Linda's charges.
I opened the doors and smiled. "Steven upset, Linda?"
Linda turned to me, her blue eyes smiling. "Yeah, he's got the hiccups."
I frowned. "Poor little guy." I walked through another door to the room where Suzie kept her charges. Most of the babies were still sleeping. Suzie was changing a baby boy's pants. I walked to Mikey's crib and saw it empty. I turned to Suzie.
"Suzie, where's Mikey?"
Suzie turned to me. "Andrea came and got him… why?"
I frowned. Andrea was the new girl. She stayed up front and signed in and out the kids. The only reason she ever came out from behind the desk was to get one of the kids and take them to their parents. Why would she come and get Mikey?
I turned and hurried out of the infant section, Brian and the twins following me. I hurried to Andrea's desk. The red head was playing a computer game when I walked up.
"Andrea, where's Mikey?"
She looked at me, "Someone came to get him, why?"
"Was it a girl with short dark hair?"
"No… it was a man… why?"
Fear filled every nerve inside of my body. "What did he look like?"
Andrea thought a minute. "He had blond hair and blue eyes. He looked a lot like Mikey."
I wanted to cry, "Why did you let him take Mikey?"
She looked at me, "He said he was Mikey's father…"
I felt my knees get weak and I leaned against the wall for support. Rick. He had come and taken Mikey. This had to be a bad dream. "Please, Andrea, tell me that you're joking…"
"No… is everything alright?"
My tears spilled. "He took my baby… dammit!" I slammed my fist into the wall. Brian watched me, worry on his face. I covered my face with my hands. "Damn, damn, damn!" I grabbed the phone and dialed Elisa's office. She answered.
"Yes?"
"El's, he came and took Mikey."
"Who?"
"Rick!"
Elisa groaned. "Shit! I'm on my way!" then she hung up and blackness surrounded me. I fell to the ground.