Redemption (The Bet)
Read Redemption (The Bet) Online
Authors: Francette Phal
Redemption
By: Francette Phal
Copyright 2012 Francette Phal
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Dedicated,
To the love of my life. Thank you so much for your patience, love and everlasting support.
pt
e
r 1
Ten years later...
Dina Holbrook was contentment itself. This, she realized, could arguably be one of the best days of her life
and it was all thanks to God. There’d never been a day in the last ten years that she hadn’t thanked the good Lord for bringing her Eleanor back to her. It’d taken them a very long time to get to this point, but here they were. She and Phillip were completely immersed in every aspect of Ellie’s life.
And to think
they would’ve missed out on so much more had they allowed their stubborn pride to interfere a second longer. There’d been precious time lost already, precious moments she would never regain, but Dina took heart in the fact that she was here now. After so many years of estrangement, Ellie had finally forgiven them.
Dina's remorse was plentiful, her sorrow great, her shame she wore like a brooch, a constant reminder of her stupidity all those years ago. The pain she'd caused continued t
o eat away at her till this day. And despite that Ellie had forgiven her, despite that they now shared that precious mother/daughter connection she’d always wanted, Dina knew she'd failed Ellie. The cross was cumbersome, but it was hers all the same and she would bear it for eternity if that's all how long it took to forgive herself.
"Na
na, look at me!" Dina raised her head from the paper plate she'd stacked with various snacks and smiled at her granddaughter. Life was good and so much more than she could've ever asked for. Now, Dina happily thought, she could contend to be the greatest Nana that ever lived.
"No Nan
a, look at me!" Her gaze shifted to the jumping little boy that was her only grandson. "Look how high I can jump, Nana!" And he did jump, his small body hurtling against the cloudless sky. His laughter rang loud and clear, cutting through the subdued chatter of adults milling about the backyard.
"Dylan Christopher Holbrook! How many times do I have to tell you not to jump so high?" Dina abandon
ed her plate on the long picnic table and trailed behind her fuming daughter.
She had the ‘look’ p
lastered on her too pretty face. The very same look of annoyance known and practiced by all mothers and Dina knew her grandbabies were in for it now.
Deciding to help without interfering, she reached over the iron ring of the trampoline and grabbed her granddaughter. It was too late to save Dylan, but Isabella she could take away from the line of fire.
"But Moooom…"he whined.
"Don't but Mom me. G
et down here now!" Annoyance belied the tremor of apprehension tainting Ellie's voice, Dina instantly empathized. The minute to minute job of worrying about a child were limitless, one prolonged blink could have devastating effects.
"Bu
t.."
"Dylan!"
Contrite as any nine year old could be, knowing they'd disappointed their parent Dylan's head wilted to his chest. He walked to the trampoline's edge each bouncing step bringing him closer to his supposed doom. Socked feet came at a standstill as Dylan waited his punishment.
Ellie hooked
a finger beneath Dylan's chin raising her son's head to meet her gaze. "Look at me," Hazel eyes, darker in shade than her own mirrored back at her and as distraught as they seemed, Ellie knew the same episode would be repeated, if not immediately nipped in the bud. "Why do I always have to tell you things at least a hundred times before you listen to me?" Her voice had gentled now, annoyance no longer evident.
Blue polo adorned shoulders lifted and dropped down. "I just wanted to show
Nana how high I could jump." He mumbled in his defense.
"That's all well and good
trying to impress your Nan but disobeying me to do something you know I've specifically asked you not do isn't. And you know this isn't the first time either."
"I'm sorry…” He murmured.
With a sigh, Ellie took his hand and helped him to the ground. "I know you are." She said. "You know I yell because I love you right?" At his nod, Ellie continued. "You and your sisters are my life. If anything were to happen to any of you, I'd be so lost." her children were her beacon of light, without them, Ellie's world was cast in interminable darkness.
Disaster evaded, Dina knew it was safe to approach her own daughter. "Hey, Mom
," She hadn't had the chance of properly greeting her parents when they'd arrive a half hour ago. She’d been preoccupied with the overflow of guests and taking birthday presents to the long table they had set up in the backyard for exactly that purpose. Ellie barely had enough time to make her way through the throngs of giggling children and their well-wishing parents, before spotting her son doing something he had been warned against doing.
"Where's dad?"
She leaned over to drop a kiss on her mother’s cheek.
"With the birthday girl, amusing themselves with Sophie's
present." Ellie saw the sparkle in Dina's eyes and she groaned.
"Oh Mom, you didn't!"
"Well actually your father did."
Ellie rolled her eyes as they made their way back to the picnic table. "Yeah and I'm sure you tried really hard to stop him." She said wryly, seating Dylan down on the bench.
"You know how your father gets when he sets his eyes on something--- me saying 'no' wouldn't have made a difference."
Ellie snorted,
turning her attention to her son. "Liam and Eric are inside; you can go play with them until it's time to cut the cake." He looked at her with eyes that rivaled Christmas lights.
"Really?" he
asked, sure that he'd heard wrong.
"Yes." Ellie replied, and then watched as he took a careful look behind her shoulder.
His eyes strayed back to Ellie's smiling face and conspiratorially asked, "Do I have to take Belle with me?" It wasn't cool to have your sister tag along when you just wanted to play with the boys.
Dylan
had never appreciated his twin being foisted on him when he’d just wanted to play boy games and today was no different.
Understanding where her son was coming from, Ellie took pity. "Not if you don't want to."
"I want to play with Liam and Eric too, Mommy!" Bella piped in wiggling free of her grandmother's arms she stomped over to where her mother sat with her brother.
Dylan glared down at her. "No." he said firmly, then
stuck his tongue out at her.
Quick to curb the fight she knew would ensue, Ellie spoke to her daughter.
"I want you to stay with me sweetheart so you, me and Nan can help bring out the cake for Soph.”
"Can I lick the frosting?"
“We’ll see.”
Ellie set Dylan down and Bella was quick
to claim his spot. "I don't want to catch you jumping too high on the trampoline again, Dylan, I mean it. If I do, it's curtains to it. Got it?"
"Got it." With a firm nod, he spun on his heel and took off across the yard, making a beeline for Gabe and Ronnie's little tykes.
Dina had to admit that Ellie had the parenting thing down to an art form. Watching her was like observing an artisan at work as she manipulated and molded the daily problems of her children into oblivion. She had the firm hand that kept tantrums, tears and pouts at bay and the gentle smiles that brought joy, understanding, and contentment. At only twenty eight Ellie seemed far too mature for her age, but then one had to be when faced with at the adversity of raising three children alone.
She sighed, that was a subject for another time. Today was a day of celebration and so they would celebrate.
"I can't believe you got Soph a puppy, Mom." Of course Sophie had been going on and on about wanting one for the past year, but Ellie had stayed firm in her decision in adopting one.
Twelve year olds had no business owning dogs. The responsibility was far too much and Ellie had her hands full enough with her three hellions without needing to worry about a fourth. Because no matter how many chores Sophie did to show her mother that she was responsible enough, Ellie knew taking care of the dog would ultimately become
her responsibility once Sophie lost interest.
Sophie
always lost interest. Three dead goldfishes and the neglected gerbil in the den were proof enough.
"It'll be good for her, teach her responsibility."
Ellie stared at mother, before sighing resignedly. "I hope so." It wasn't like she could demand they take the puppy back, doing so would only bring about weeks of silent treatments. Ellie had never been able to withstand those treatments from her eldest and always caved in after a few days. It wouldn't be different this time around.
"It'll be okay sweetheart, you'll see." Dina patted Ellie's shoulder reassuringly. "How've you been?" they rarely had a chance to see each, except on holidays or special occasions, due in great parts to geographical location of their homes. The phone was all well and good for getting updates on her grandbabies and such, but every now and then Dina just wanted to know how her daughter was doing.
Ellie shrugged, distracted by the mess Bella was making. "To tell you the truth Mom, I've been a little stressed out with planning this party for Sophie." she raised her head, looked at Dina and fleetingly smiled. "But it's been worth it. I'm glad you and Dad made it." The sincerity on her face almost brought tears to Dina's eyes.
It had taken them years to rebuild broken trusts and regain this level of sweet familial comfort
that sometimes Dina was astounded by the reality of it all. So fortunate to have a daughter whose benevolence knew absolutely no bounds. Ellie was one in a million. Many mothers could boast that about their own children, but for Dina it was a simple matter of undisputed truth. Anyone who's ever met Ellie could attest to that.
"Are you crying, Na
na?" Brown eyes with flecks of gold regarded Dina with curiosity, wisdom far beyond her tender years gleaming through.
