Black Market Baby (4 page)

Fanny
looked at the money. She lit her cigarette and blew the smoke toward Jillian’s
face. “Yeah. Yeah. I’m anybody you need me to be.”

“If
I don’t get answers,” Jillian warned, “I won’t give you a dime.”

Fran
sashayed toward the sofa, throwing her wide hips. She snatched the bills from the
table. “Yeah. I’m your mama.” Holding the money in her fist, she turned around
with arms extended. “Do you like what you see?”

Jillian
picked up another bill. “Who is my father?”

Smirking,
Fanny stuffed the money in her bosom, then folded her arms. “The butcher, the
baker, or the candlestick maker.”

“Are
you saying you don’t know who my father is?”

“I
told you the truth. Now, give me the dough.” Fanny jerked the money from her
fingers.

Jillian
shook her head. Bravely, she raised another bill. “Do I have siblings?”

“Siblings,”
she repeated, looking at Nicky. “Yeah. You have several siblings. You have even
more in the trash can.”

“I
asked you a simple question. A simple answer would have been appropriate.”

Fanny
cocked her head to one side. “Listen to Ms. Fancy pants—with her smart mouth. Then
too, you had a big mouth as a baby.” She grasped a raven curl that lay against Jillian’s
shoulder. “Is this your real hair?”

Promptly,
Jillian removed her hair from Fanny’s fingers. “Yes. It is. I have one more
question for you.”

Fanny
danced around with a sarcastic grin. “This is the easiest money I’ve ever made,
Nicky.”

Once
again, Jillian extended her arm with money wedged between her fingers. “Was I
kidnapped?”

Suddenly,
Fanny stopped laughing. She looked down on Jillian and became quiet. Smoke flew
from her lips and then she snuffed out her cigarette. “Girly. You were
not
kidnapped.
You keep pulling out them bills and I’ll tell you the truth.”

Jillian
placed her purse aside and stroked her thighs. “I don’t have any more money.”

Nicky
stared at Fanny. “Come on Fran. Tell her what she wants to know. You’ve played
with her long enough.” He opened his wallet and pulled out the money Jillian
had given to him. “Take it all. Just sit down and tell her the truth, okay?
Can’t you see the kid is hurtin’.”

Fanny
cackled. “You’re not the only one who came looking for me. There were seven of
you. Each one brought me a nice pinch of change.”

“Are
you saying you were selling your children?”

“Some
people are not meant to be mothers. I’m one. I never wanted kids. I kept two—your
brother, Ross, and your sister, Sonya.”

“Why
are you so casual about this? How could you sell your children and not care who
has them. Did you ever think that some of them were not as blessed as I was? I
was able to find you. What are they thinking now? You’ve destroyed their lives.
”

Nicky
grunted, and turned his head. “Looks like she did ’em a favor.”

Jillian
stared at Nicky. “Nicky. She could have given those children to a reputable
orphanage. Instead, we were sold on the street like a peddler sells vegetables!
Where is your heart? Don’t you even care?”

“Sometimes,”
Fanny scratched her nose. “I think about my babies. I don’t hear them crying no
more. Then I think. Wow.”

Growling,
Nicky cocked his head to one side. “It was easy to find you, Fanny. The Black
Market Baby business is booming. People like you are making a mint. But, you
shove the money up your nose. Right?”

“Is
that true?” Jillian searched her mother’s eyes. “Fanny, is that true? You sold
me on the Black Market? How much did you get for your precious baby daughter?”

“That's
none of your business, “she spurned, turning from Jillian’s view.

“So,
the man I keep seeing in my dreams is not a kidnapper. He was holding me until
money was exchanged! That stinking foul man! How could you leave your babies
with something so vile?”

Fanny
shrugged. “I do, what I gotta do.”

 “I
tell you what. I’m going to leave here with no regrets. After seeing the kind
of mother you are, I’ll rest easier.” Jillian stood up and then reached for her
purse.

Nicky
led Jillian to the front door. “I’m sorry. I knew this was going to be hard.”

“It’s
not your fault, Nick. You gave me something I’ve needed for years. You gave me
closure.”

* * * * *

That
night, Jillian could hardly wait for Lake to come home; though she knew he’d be
frantic with her. After hearing the entire story, Lake was pleased that Jillian
had survived her ordeal. Then, he warned her about the consequences. “So. Are
you going to confront your parents?”

Sitting
on the sofa, Jillian turned to face her husband. “Yes! The lies. A lifetime of
lies. They all knew the truth, yet they allowed me to live in agony. I never
knew who I really was? Maria knew the truth, I’ll bet Celeste even knows.” Pain
erupted from Jillian’s soul.

While
Lake held her hand, she wept. “I doubt your siblings had any knowledge of this.
After all, you were considered the eldest child.”

“How
could my parents do such a thing? I was purchased like a mongrel at the pound.
But, that’s not the worst part. When I was old enough to know better, they
continued the lie! Well. The lie stops now!”

* * * * *

After
meeting with her family, Jillian started the healing process. Her wounds healed
and the nightmares ceased. A few months later, Jillian found she was indeed
pregnant. With her fears abated, the couple gave birth to a beautiful daughter.

~The End~

About the Author

Tabra Jordan

Tabra Jordan is a fan of angels,
horror, and mystery. In her spare time, she loves writing stories with young
adult themes. For more information about Tabra, go to topazpublishing.webs.com