Forgiveness and Second Chances (20 page)

Jeremy took the note from her and read it. “You’re having a baby girl.”

“Are you disappointed?” Malanie asked.

“No, I’m happy. All I want is a healthy baby.” He took both her hands in his.

“A baby sister…. Yes.”

Alanie was at soccer practice and Jeremy had to go into work for a bit. Malanie was on the couch, watching TV, eating, when the doorbell rang. She struggled to get up. Her stomach was huge. She finally pushed herself up, wobbled to the front door, and opened it.

Standing in front of her was a beautiful, dark-skinned woman. She looked like a model, reminding Malanie of Naomi Campbell. She must’ve been about five feet nine.

“I think I have the wrong house,” the woman said, about to back away.

“Who are you looking for?” Malanie asked.

“Jeremy Wood.”

She didn’t like the way his name rolled off her lips. “You have the right house, but he’s not here right now,” Malanie answered, feeling a bit insecure. Who the hell was this?

The woman didn’t even ask permission to enter, and she passed by her. “I’ll wait for him, if you don’t mind.”

She stared at her, dumbfounded, wanting to scream “yes I mind!”, but decided against it. “No.” She shut the door.

The woman walked to the living room and had a seat, giving Malanie the eye. “I guess you’re his babysitter or maid?”

Offended, Malanie looked down at herself. She was dressed in a muumuu dress, her big belly poking out. She wore a rag around her head. Yes, she could see why a person would think so . “Something like that.”

“Aren’t you going to offer me something to drink?” the woman said, crossing her legs together. That was something Malanie couldn’t do anymore.

“Nope.” She sat, putting her swollen feet on the ottoman, and ignoring the woman, continued watching TV.

“So, how is Alanie doing?” She asked.

Malanie swallowed a piece of carrot. How did she know Alanie? “She’s great.”

“Is she still a spoiled brat?” she asked, searching in her purse.

Malanie’s eyebrows arched. “Huh?”

“I always told Jeremy he spoiled her too much. She needed more discipline. I mean, she’s a great little girl, never got in trouble, but that’s not everything.”

Malanie just glared at her, controlling her temper. This lady just walked into her house and now was talking about her daughter. “She gets disciplined enough, and I don’t appreciate you coming in here and talking about Alanie.”

“I’m sorry if I offended you in any way. Maybe she’s grown up.” Her composure changed. “Where’s the restroom?”

“You don’t know?” she asked sarcastically.

“It’s my first time in this house. The décor needs a bit more color,” she said, looking around.

Oh God, this woman was getting on her nerves. When she moved in, she’d bought some of her stuff along. “It’s the first door on the right.”

She stood, taking her purse with her, and entered the bathroom.

Who is she? What does she want with my man? Whoever she is, she’s taking a long time.

She heard the front door open. “Honey, we’re home….” Jeremy yelled, acting like Ricky Ricardo from
I Love Lucy
.

Alanie came around the corner, and hurriedly sat on the ottoman, feeling her mom’s belly. “Hi, Faith.” She rubbed, but the baby didn’t move.

Jeremy entered the room in his Navy working uniform, looking stunning like always. The blue camouflage made the blue rays in his eyes shine.

“Hey, baby.” He gave her a lingering kiss.

“That’s so nasty. Stop!” Alanie said, covering her eyes with her hands. “Mom, make her move,” she said, placing her hands back on her belly.

“I’ve been trying, but now that Daddy’s home, I bet she will.” She grabbed his hands and placed them on her stomach, and the baby started kicking.

Jeremy’s chuckle was deep. “That’s my girl. Only for daddy.”

Alanie started laughing. “Mom, are those her tiny feet?”

“Mom!” The woman said, coming from the bathroom.

Malanie had forgotten all about her the moment he’d seen her family.

Jeremy and Alanie jumped and turned around at the voice.

He stood. “Laura,” he whispered.

Malanie watched him closely. The woman was his ex, and she looked more gorgeous than Malanie had expected.

She marched over to where they were. “Oh my, Alanie, you’ve gotten so big and beautiful.”

She lifted Alanie into a hug. “Thank you.”

Jeremy still didn’t say anything. The woman went up to him, gave him a hug, and then stepped back.

“Why are you calling your maid ‘mom’?”

“Maid?” Jeremy asked.

“She assumed I was your maid or babysitter,” offered Malanie.

Alanie backed away. “This is my mom, not no maid,” she said with a bit of attitude.

“Your real mom.”

Malanie pushed forward. “Yes, I’m her biological mother.”

“Laura, what are you doing here?” Jeremy asked.

“I wanted to talk to you.” She gazed at him.

“About what? It’s been years. There is nothing to say.”

“Please, just a few minutes. It’s important,”
she pleaded.

“Laura, this is my wife, Malanie.”

“Your wife?” She sounded surprised. She stared at her ring for the first time.

“Yes, my wife. I think you should leave now,” he said, walking to the door.

“But I came all this way.” She followed him.

“Talk to her….” Malanie said, getting help from her daughter.

“Baby, I don’t need to hear anything she has to say.” He watched her.

“But it looks like she does.” She finally was able to get up, and she picked up her purse and keys. “We’re going to get lunch.” The woman wobbled. “Come on, Alanie.”

Alanie walked past the other woman and headed out. “It was nice seeing you, Ms. Laura. Bye.”

Jeremy grabbed her hand. “Lanie, you don’t have to leave.”

“I know, but I have something very important to take care of.” Taking the wrap off her head, she glared at Laura. “And I trust you.” She got on her tiptoes and passionately kissed him. He opened up and smiled. She wiped his mouth.

“I love you,” he said, chuckling.

“Me more. Bye….” She waved and went down the stairs.

His expression changed as soon as she was down the stairs. He turned and glared at Laura. “What are you doing here?”

“I didn’t mean to run your wife off,” she said.

“You didn’t run her off. Say what you came to say and leave,” he said, crossing his arms.

“You downgraded.”

“I downgraded what?”

“Your house and woman.”

“Don’t disrespect my wife.”

“I never thought you would marry that kind of woman.”

He chuckled. “What kind of woman, Laura?”

“The kind that stays home and eats bonbon all day. I thought you wanted an independent woman that could take care of her own and not rely on you.”

“I have that, and more.”

“Whatever. You left me because you thought all I wanted was your money, and look at you now.” She laughed.

“Yeah, look at me now.” He smiled, thinking if only she knew my wife is a shark in the accounting world, and that she earned more than him.

She got serious, and touched his arm. “Are you happy?”

He stared into her eyes. “Yes, I’m in love with my wife. We have a beautiful daughter and we’re expecting. Life can’t get any better.”

“Jeremy…. Do you ever think about me?” she asked, caressing his arm.

“I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

“You still care. That’s enough for me.”

“Laura.” He took her hand. “We were together for all the wrong reasons. You used me, but in a way I used you.” He released her hand. “You used me because you thought I had power and status, and….” He sighed. “I used you to forget.”

“But you almost married me.”

“But I didn’t. My heart belonged to Malanie.”

“You were kids. How is that possible?” Her eyes shone.

“You’re right, we were kids, but I knew she was the one back then, and now I’m all grown up and I still believe it. I’m in love with the adult Malanie.”

“I guess I’m too late, then.”

“For what?” he asked, curious.

“For a second chance.”

“Yes.” Jeremy opened the door. “I hope you find what you’ve been searching for, because it’s not me.”

She passed by him and stopped. “I didn’t know what I had until I lost you.”

She went to kiss him and he placed his index finger over her lips. “I know what I have and I won’t mess that up. Bye, Laura.”

“Bye, Jeremy…. Happy birthday.”

At least someone remembered.
He watched her go down the steps and leave.

Jeremy sat waiting for Malanie and Alanie to come home. The phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and it was Malanie. “Hey, baby.”

“Daddy, Mom’s in pain.”

He rose up. “Where are you?” he asked, grabbing his keys.

“At Aunt Carolyn’s.”

“I thought you guys went to get lunch. Tell your aunt to take your mother to the hospital. I’ll meet them there.” He raced out the door.

“Aunt Carolyn said she can’t take her.” Alanie sounded claim.

“What do you mean she can’t take her?” He raised his voice, jumping into his car.

“Her car is not here. Mom said drive safe.”

“I’m on my way. Bye.” He hung up, worried. Why hadn’t they called 911? He rushed over to his sister’s house. He was pissed—furious—to see Carolyn’s car in her driveway.
Why the fuck couldn’t she take Malanie to the hospital?

He could see through the sidelight windows that the house was dark. He knocked and nobody answered. He turned the doorknob and the door was open, so he pushed it in.

Surprise!

Everybody screamed, scaring him half to death. He looked around the room. Derrick, Stefanie, Carolyn, Thomas, Blake, Tomas, Alanie, and Malanie all laughed.

Happy Birthday!

He stared at Malanie. She and the baby were all right. She’d gotten her hair done. Her curls were gone, and she wore a red dress. Her make up was flawless.

She rushed toward him and hugged him. “Happy birthday, baby. I told them not to do it,” she whispered.

He kissed the top of her head. “You scared me, but I’ll forgive you guys because you didn’t forget my birthday. I love you.” He kissed her lips.

“Always.”

“Daddy, happy birthday. Sorry,” Alanie said, trying not to smile.

“I’ll get you back.”

Derrick came over and gave him a man-hug. “Not my idea.”

“Happy birthday.” Stefanie said, holding her one-year-old baby. “We didn’t mean to scare you, but we needed to surprise you. I hope you still love us.”

His sister brought out the cake with sparkling candles, and they began to sing.

They arrived home late; it was time to go to bed. Jeremy took a shower and waited in bed for Malanie to take hers. He knew she had questions about why Laura had been there. He couldn’t blame her, but had the situation been reversed, he would’ve never left her alone with another man.

The bathroom door opened, and she started to sing happy birthday. He started laughing because she was no American idol. All of a sudden, her leg showed. He stared at her chocolate-toned leg as it went up and down.

Then she gave him a bigger peek. She wore a red teddy with lace under her chest, pushing her breasts up. Her stomach poked out a tiny bit. She started dancing seductively, making him hot and aroused. His wife didn’t know how beautiful and sexy she was. Her pregnancy had just made it better.

“Do that again,” he said between chuckles.

She wound down and then up, dancing seductively to the bed. She climbed on the bed and crawled up to him, pulling back the sheets so she could kiss his legs. His boxers looked like a tent. She stroked his cock, gave it a kiss, and continued up to his stomach where she stopped, dipping her tongue in his navel and making him jump. She giggled, continuing to his nipples, making circular motions with her tongue. “Am I forgiven?”

He gasped. “For what?”

“For scaring you.”

He cupped her face and nipped her bottom lip, and with his tongue, teased her to open up. “I love you, Lanie.”

She leaned away, going back down the length of his body, taking off his boxers. She took his cock in her hands and started stroking him up and down.

“La-nie….”