Forgiveness and Second Chances (6 page)

“You just got out of a relationship.” She put down the bags she had in her hands.

“A relationship you encouraged.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Just like you didn’t know I was pregnant.”

“And that’s my fault how?”

“You were a junkie, I was afraid of you, mother.”

“Malanie, he was wrong for you then and he’s wrong for you now.” Her mom crossing her arms over her chest.

“He was the best thing for me back then. He kept me sane. I’m who I am today because of all his encouragement. We did make mistakes, but all is forgiven. If it wasn’t for him I would probably be dead right now. Instead of disrespecting him, you should be saying thank you for saving me,” Malanie said.

“Lanie, I’ll call you about next Friday.” He marched over to the door. “If you need me, call. Have a nice day, Mrs. Johnson.”

“I don’t need a lecture, Mom. My daughter will be spending next weekend with me, and if you have a problem with that, see your way out.”

“I’m your mother. You’ve never treated me with nothing but respect,” her mother said with pain in her voice.

“That’s before I found out what you did. I asked you, Mother, if you ever saw or heard from Jeremy and you looked me in the eye and said no. Even after I told you I did have a baby, but you already knew that, because his dad told you. What I did was stupid, but when I tried to right my wrong, you kept her away. That’s why, Mom.” After saying what she needed to get off her chest, she headed to her bedroom, lay down on her bed, and eventually fell asleep.

The next morning Alanie and Jeremy began the five-hour drive to his parents’ house. He’d asked Carolyn not to mention all that had happened. He wanted to be the one to tell his parents the news.

Alanie sat in the back seat playing her video game. When she looked up at the rear view mirror, she saw him watching her. “Daddy, my mom is beautiful. I can’t wait until Friday to spend time with her.”

“Play nice. Your grandmother will be there and she’s not too friendly.”

“But I’m cute!” She giggled, pausing her game.

“If at any time you feel uncomfortable, you call me, okay?”

“Yes, daddy.” She continued playing.

“Let me tell grandpa and grandma about your mom.”

“Okay.”

A few hours later, he pulled up to his parents’ ranch style home and parked. He thought of knocking, but decided against it and used his key. He opened the door, and Alanie strolled in before he did.

“Mom, Dad?” He knew they were there, because both their cars were parked in the front. “Alanie, go find your grandparents.”

“Grandpa, Grandma, we’re here!”

He shook his head. “I could’ve done that myself. I meant go look around.”

She giggled.

“Not funny.”

“Hold on, son…we’re coming!” his dad yelled.

His mom came in to the room, fixing her hair. “Son, what are you doing here?” She took Alanie in her arms. “Princess, I’ve missed you.”

“Jeremy, we weren’t expecting you,” his father said, catching his breath, fixing his shirt.

Jeremy gawked at his parents. His mom was sweaty, and his dad looked flushed.
I just interrupted my parents having sex.

“Jeremy!” His dad raised his voice, getting his attention. “Is it true, what Alanie just said?

He arched his brow, not knowing what his dad was asking.

“You found Malanie.”

He must have been so distracted by the sight of his parents, he hadn’t heard his daughter tell them the news. “Yes, its true,” he answered, giving Alanie the eye.

His mother’s mouth dropped in surprise, and her face started to turn red, signaling she was about to blow.

“Ms. Malanie is very nice,” Alanie said, excitedly.

“Is she?” his dad asked.

“Yes, Grandpa. She promised me she would never leave me again.” Her eyes lit up like stars every time she spoke about her mother.

“We will see about that.” His mom had to add her two cents.

“Alanie, go out back and say hi to Buddy,” Jeremy said in a stern voice so she knew he wasn’t asking.

She skipped away toward the back yard to play with the golden retriever. He waited for the door to open and close before he continued.

“Mom, I won’t let you talk ill about Malanie in front of my child.”

His mother glared at him, putting her hands on her hips. “Excuse me? Your child? I was the one that took care of her when you went to high school, boot camp, training, overseas, and you have the nerve to tell me what I can and can’t do because of that trash.”

Jeremy just glared back at his mother, feeling the vein in his neck throbbing. He’d never disrespected his parents, and wouldn’t start now.

“Carol, calm down. She is the girl’s mother. Every little girl needs a mother.”

“Where was she all those years, when she got sick, her first day of school? Not being her mother.”

“Dad, may I please speak to you alone?”

His dad put his arms around his shoulders and they headed to the den, ignoring his mother.

“We searched for her. Where did you find her?” his dad asked, sitting.

“It was a coincidence.” He paused. “Some jerk was beating on her. That’s how we finally found her.” In the moment, he decided not to tell his parents about her baby.

“Is she okay?”

“Yes, she was at the hospital for three days, and I dropped her home yesterday. Her witch of a mother is with her. I can’t believe she still puts up with that woman after everything she’s done to her.”

“She’s still her mother. She was an awful parent back then but maybe she’s changed. Everybody deserves a second chance.”

“I doubt that.”

“I was going to ask, how’s Alanie taking all of this, but I can see, she’s happy.”

He smiled. “Dad you should see them together, it’s like they were never apart.”

“Did you get your answers?”

“Yes. She was living in a homeless shelter, while she was pregnant.” He rubbed his temples.

“What?”

“I said the same thing. Her mom kicked her out after a fight and she had nowhere to go and found the shelter. They helped her, or so she thought. She overheard them saying they were going to take Alanie away from her as soon as she gave birth, because she couldn’t take care of her. She gave birth and when she was discharged, she dropped her off with us. She had no money, no one,” he said, getting emotional. “She went back to the shelter, and told them she had a miscarriage.”

“Why didn’t she come to us?”

“She was young, and her faith in me had been broken. They were going to snatch our baby from her. She stayed there for three more months, and then she came looking for us, but when she couldn’t find us, she went back to the shelter and fell into a deep depression. Do you remember Carmen Ortiz? Carmen found her and forced her to go home to her mother. Malanie went from one bad situation to another. Her mom sent her to public therapy, and they helped her. Malanie went back to high school, graduated. Mrs. Johnson never told her we went looking for her, or gave her our new address.” He took a deep breath. “She looked for us, trying to move mountains, but came out empty.”

“We couldn’t locate her because she had no address, living in a shelter and all, and she couldn’t find you because we moved overseas and she didn’t know you joined the Navy. If she’d known, it would’ve been every easy to find you.”

“Right, but you should see her now. Malanie has done well for herself. She picked herself up, got a full scholarship, graduated with a MBA in Accounting. Now she’s working for the best accounting firm in the city,” he said proudly.

His dad smiled. “I still see that spark in your eyes when you talk about her.”

“What spark?”

“Son, you’ve never been able to get over Malanie, ’specially when you had a piece of her with you, in your child. You had no closure.”

“I have it now, but I can’t turn my back on her. Alanie is already in love with her.”

His dad observed him carefully. “Only Alanie?”

His mom opened the door, and then knocked. “Jeremy, I’m sorry. You’re right, I should keep my feeling for Malanie to myself, like I’ve done all these years. If it had been me, I probably would’ve done the same. I just want the best for Alanie.” She turned and stopped. “But I still don’t like her.”

Jeremy and Alanie paused outside Malanie’s door.

“Daddy, I’ll be okay,” Alanie said, looking up, winking at him.

He smiled. “I know, but if you need me, just call.”

“Yes, Daddy.” She squeezed his hand.

Ms. Johnson opened the door, and glared at them.

“Good evening, Mrs. Johnson.”

“Come in,” Malanie yelled from the kitchen.

They entered her home, and his daughter edged closer to him.

Malanie walked out of the kitchen and kissed Alanie on the cheek. “Hi baby.”

“Hi, Ms. Malanie.” Her little face lit up.

“Ms. Malanie, she’s your mother. Shouldn’t you call her mom?” Mrs. Johnson said, crossing her hands over her chest. The little girl just looked up at Jeremy.

“It’s okay Alanie. You call me what you want. Ms. Malanie is just fine with me.” Malanie took her hand and showed her to her bedroom.

Jeremy followed them. “Okay, Alanie, be good.” She ran up to him and hugged him tight.

“I promise.”

“Jeremy, can you stay for dinner? I made lots of food.”

Alanie looked up at him. “Please, Daddy.”

He thought about the witch in the other room. “Okay.”

They walked out to the dining room, and Alanie went out on the balcony overlooking the city. Mrs. Johnson sat down. Jeremy followed Malanie to the kitchen. “Lanie, she has to get used to you.”

“She will, but this just makes it easier. Do you have plans tonight?”

“No.” He just stared at her. “Do you need any help?”

“Nope.” She focused on cutting carrots for the salad.

“We went to see my parents. My dad said to tell you he’s happy we finally found you. He said he’s looking forward to seeing you.”

“Your dad was always so sweet to me. What did your mom say?” she asked, grabbing the bowl.

“You don’t want to know.”

“You’re right. I don’t.” She chuckled, moving out of the kitchen into the dining room.

He followed her out, staring at her tight, round ass.
She’s all grown up.

They sat and ate dinner together. Her mother hardly spoke, just kept staring at Alanie and Jeremy could tell his daughter was uncomfortable. Alanie talked about school and soccer practice.

“Are you coming to my next game?” she asked Malanie.

“Yes, I’ll be in the front row, cheering you on.” She pumped her hand in the air.

Alanie chuckled. “Don’t be like daddy. He always gets mad when I’m fouled.”

“No pumping in the air.” The three of them laughed. They finished eating and Alanie helped Malanie clear the table and wash the dishes.

“Mrs. Johnson, my daughter is sensitive when it comes to strangers. Can you please be gentle in the way you speak and treat her?” he asked, getting up to say goodbye.

“Wait a second.” She got up and stood in front of him, her lips forming a thin line. “You’re the one that kept her away from my family. Don’t tell me how to treat my granddaughter.”

He felt his face getting hot. “You’re the one who kept her away from your family. I didn’t. My dad and I came to you, and you turned us away. I have the right to tell you how I want my daughter treated. You will not treat my daughter the way you treated yours. If Alanie tells me you abused her in any way, you’ll regret it. I really don’t want to leave her here with you, but I will not punish the two of them because of you.” Trying to remain controlled, he spoke the words barely above a whisper. When Mrs. Johnson pressed her lips even tighter together, he turned and entered the kitchen.

They were laughing, sprinkling water on each other. He just stood watching his girls—yes, his girls. “Alanie, I’m leaving now.” She ran up to him and hugged him.

“Bye, Daddy. I love you.”

“I love you more, princess.” He kissed her, and nodded his goodbye to Malanie.

They watched
The Wizard of Oz
together. After the movie they each took a shower and began getting ready for bed.

“That man had the nerve to tell me how to treat my granddaughter. Who does he thinks he is?”

Malanie checked quickly behind her and stepped out of her room. Alanie was still in the bathroom, brushing her teeth. “He’s her father, that’s who he is. He raised her alone because of me, and if he told you how to treat her, it’s because he picked up on the same thing I did. She’s uncomfortable around you, Mother.” She rolled her eyes at her mom. “I want her to feel comfortable.”