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The little money in their savings account, and the insurance left to her would pretty much cover the cost of the apartment for the next couple of years. As little as she ate there would be no problem of her going hungry. So inside here she dwelled in her own self pity. Not facing the world, not caring about anything. Her mind not once drifted to the little girl she gave birth to. Not once did she ask about her. Not right from the moment Katti knew she had a daughter, her mind went blank.
Heather, Katti's daughter had just turned one year old. Celebrating her fist birthday with the only family she knew, Donna and John McGarth, Joel's parents and little Heather's grandparents. Heather just started walking, she would pull her little self up to a couch, holding on just long enough to find her balance, then all at once she would let go and her little feet would just fly to Nanna. Nanna (Donna), and Poppa (John) were the only evidence of a father and mother that Heather new. God new how they loved her, each precious moment on earth brought them joy. She was a product of their son, Joel. Poppa would always, comment on how beautiful of a child she was, and how much she looked like Katti. Both Donna and John, felt bad that Katti closed herself off from them, but couldn't understand how she could shut out Heather. Well they would just have to give her all the love they could to make up for it, and both their hearts was filled with love for the beaming little blonde child on the floor.
On her second Birthday, Heather sad up in the highchair eating her birthday and ice cream. Her little heart thumping at the thought of hurrying up and getting over to the presents. In her baby talk she would squeal, "Im all done Nanna".
Laughing at the fat cheeks of Heather full of cake Nanna said: "No you are not baby, you got to eat it all." With a pouty look that quickly changed to a smile Heather stuffed more cake into her mouth. Poppa, had the movie camera running all the time, coaching her from time to time. "Look over here, smile for the camera, where is Poppa's big girl?" Roars of laughter would come from her, "Right here" Heather would say spitting out the cake "right here poppa."
Right after the little family celebration, of cake and ice cream, and singing Happy Birthday, Heather headed for the pile of presents at the corner of the sofa on the floor. Tearing at one after another, she would look at the gift, squeal then put it to the side to go for the next one. When she finished and Nanna took all the wrapping paper, and Poppa was sitting on the floor playing with her and the new toys, Nanna excused herself to leave the room for a minute. Poppa knew where she was going, into the bedroom to bring out the gift as she did for all special times. Christmas, birthdays, valentines day, all of them. Nanna stood in the door way of the living room with a large box. "Heather, this is a gift from your mother," Heather looked up into the pretty brown eyes of Nanna then rolled to her feet and ran to get the big box. Tearing it open, Heather was thrilled at the big doll, {WoW} she thought it was big, really big, really big just like her.
Nanna sat down on the sofa with a tear in her eye. John got up off the couch went to the sofa to sit by his wife. Slipping his arm around her, "Maybe you shouldn't keep doing that honey. After all Katti never even calls and ask about her. What are you going to do when Heather wants to know why she sends presents and never shows up?"
Wiping the tears from her eyes. "I know dear, but it doesn't seem right that she should go without knowing she has a mother. God, I just hope and pray that Katti comes to her senses someday."
"Have you talked to her, or been by there lately", John questioned.
"No, the last time I was there was back in March, I know Katti was inside but she wouldn't answer the door, so I left in tears. I can't bare what she is doing to herself. We loved Joel to, but to give up and die, when you have something as wonderful as Heather. How could she do that?", Donna cried.
One her forth birthday, Heather was quick as a whip, her intelligence was beyond her young years. She knew how to read already, and her speech was not that of a small child. She could pronounce almost anything. The hours and hours of reading that Nanna did paid off big time. Here Heather was not even old enough for school, yet already as smart as a third grader. The house was full of children, running around playing games. Heather, laughed and has so much fun. She considered herself a real big girl. When it was time to open her presents, she remembered what Nanna had said, for her to be polite and say thank you, and if she could think of something nice to say, to do so about each gift. One at a time, the presents came. A drawing board from Sussie. "This will be nicest gift when I am alone, so I can draw my pictures", Heather said putting a smile across Sussie's face. Then came the Stickers from Tommy, "Wow, I am going to put these on my bike" she said watching Tommy grin. One after another she found the words to comment on each gift. The children were delighted. The time came where Nanna disappeared into the bedroom. Heather new where she was going now. Heather had lots of practice. When she received the gift from her mother. She opened it and smiled "tell my mother thank you for me." Then she put the gift carefully on the side of the party and went about playing with her friends.
That night, when Nanna was cleaning up for the evening, Heather already tucked into bed sound asleep, Nanna, saw that the Dress she had bought to give Heather from her mother was still sitting there in the chair. Heather had taken all her gifts into her room with her, but somehow left this one behind. Nanna sat on the arm of the chair pondering the scene before her. Not one item did Heather leave behind, except the dress she thought was from her mother. With a deep sigh, Nanna got up picked up the dress and took it to Heather's room. Hanging it up, turning to leave with one last look at the love of her life, Nanna looked down into the beautiful face of the child that she loved so much. "You are growing up my baby" Nanna whispered to herself.
The next morning, as Heather was eating her breakfast, Nanna thought she would bring up the dress. "Isn't that a pretty dress your mother bought you." "Yes, it's a fine dress" Heather remembered to be kind in her words. "Would you like to wear it this weekend and go to see a movie" Nanna asked. Heather thought for a minute before answering. How was she going to tell Nanna she didn't want to wear the dress. She didn't want any more presents from her mother. How was she going to tell Nanna that she had heard from a friend that her mother didn't want her. That's why she never seen her mother. So why would Heather want a present from someone that didn't want her. How was she going to say this and still be nice.
Nanna sensed something, little Heather always so full of energy and talkative, was thinking, and much to deeply. Nanna knew it, she raised her and knew her moods, so feelings of something wrong was not out of the question here. "What is it, you can tell Nanna?" came the gentle look of a grandmother. Pulling Heather into her arms, tucking her little head under her chin, Nanna cooed "Tell me all about it baby"
She couldn't see them but she felt the beating heart of the little girl in her arms. She knew there was tears welling up inside her, and about to break loose. Nanna held Heather even closer, "go ahead and cray baby, go ahead, and than tell Nanna all about it." Donna felt the convulsions of the child, and the tears let loose and Heather cried, little uncontrollable sobs in her arms. While Heather cried, Donna's heart was breaking, knowing what was coming next.
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