Page 48 of Dare to Dance
“Ruby,” Ms. Waters said. “Have you heard from your mother?”
My eyes flew open, and I checked on Raven. Thank God she’d fallen asleep. Any mention of Nana got her all excited. “No.”
I knitted my eyebrows. Ms. Waters knew I didn’t have a cell phone, but then I had an idea. I could use Tommy’s club phone to call the correctional facility in Framingham. I would love to hear my mom’s voice. The last time we had spoken was just before she’d gotten arrested. Sure, I was furious with her for her decision to sell drugs. But she was my mom. She’d done what she thought she had to do to survive. I wasn’t any better than she was. I stole to survive. I could’ve gotten a job despite my mom’s advice for me to bond with Raven. Women had babies and worked all the time.
“Ms. Waters, you said my case could take a long time. Is there anything that could speed it up?” Like a miracle.
“As I said, we’ll have to show a judge that you’re working, that you can provide for Raven, and that you have a roof over your head. Based on your new job, you’re moving in that direction.” The wind picked up, and she buttoned the top of her coat.
I kissed the top of my daughter’s head. “What about Raven’s father?”
“What about him? Your records indicate that you don’t know who the father is.”
I pursed my lips. I had to know what impact Kross would have on my case. Good or bad, I had to be prepared. “If I did, what would that mean?”
The boat began to head back to the dock.
Ms. Waters had a contemplative look on her face. “There’s no mention of a father on Raven’s birth certificate. So if he does come forward, then he would have to prove he was the father through a paternity test, which involves a lawyer on his part. Then the lawyer would have to petition the family court for a genetic marker test. In essence, the judge would need to approve the order to have a DNA test done on both Raven and the father. That could take weeks. However, that process could go quicker than your case.”
My chest expanded, but then fear squeezed it shut. If Kross filed for sole custody, then I could lose Raven. At least now, I could see her two or three times a month.He’s her father. She’s ten times better off with family.She would love the lake that Kross had mentioned was near his house. Raven was a fish in water. Mom and I had taken her to the YMCA on occasion not long before Mom got arrested.
The boat docked. I lifted Raven in my arms and carried her. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake. Ms. Waters and I walked back to the main entrance in silence. My heart started beating like a drumroll. I didn’t want to let go of Raven. After our last visit, I had hidden for a solid day, crying.
We were almost to the George Washington Statue when a lady who looked an awful lot like Alex jogged through the gate. She wore running shoes, a sweatshirt, and yoga pants. Her brown hair was pulled back into a high ponytail.
I did a double take. “Alex?”
She stopped. “Ruby?”
“You jog?” I shouldn’t be surprised. Alex was in great shape. Now I knew how she’d gotten her toned legs.
“I love running through the gardens,” she said.
Ms. Waters cleared her throat.
“Oh, sorry.” I made the introductions and explained to Ms. Waters that Alex was the lady I was living with.
“So, you have a kid?” Alex asked.
I nodded. We hadn’t talked much about our lives. If Norma, Alex, and I were there together, we practically crashed the instant after our long shifts. Besides, Alex was staying at some guy’s place.
Ms. Waters’s phone rang. “I’ve got to take this. I’ll meet you outside the gate,” she said to me. “Don’t be long. I need to get Raven back to her foster family.”
Raven stirred awake.
“Hey, there,” I said as I set her on her feet then grabbed her hand.
She rubbed her eye.
Alex bent down. “Hi. I’m Alex. You’re adorable.”
Raven leaned into my leg.
“She’s tired,” I said. “We should go”
Alex stood. “It was nice to meet you, Raven.” Then she glanced at me. “I’ll see you back at the apartment.” Then she jogged off.
I’d thought about asking her not to say anything to anyone about Raven. But since Ms. Waters would check up on my employment, I had to at least tell Pete. Alex didn’t know Kross, so I didn’t have to worry that she would tell him.
