Forgiveness and Second Chances (7 page)

“I hope you’re not thinking of getting into a relationship with him. He’s no good for you. He already messed up your life, getting you pregnant so damn young. He’s nothing but trouble.”

“My dad is not trouble,” Alanie said, walking out of her room.

“Little girl, this is grown folks’ business,” Mrs. Johnson snapped.

“Mother!” Malanie said.

“My dad is the best!” Alanie raised her voice, putting her hands on her hips.

“How dare you disrespect me?” Her grandmother pointed.

“You were saying mean things about my dad.” She gave Mrs. Johnson a dirty look. “You don’t know my dad.”

Malanie just stared at her daughter. She was filled with fire, the same way she would react if it were her, especially when it came to defending someone she cared about. “Alanie, I’m sorry you heard that.” She rushed toward her. “My mom was just being silly. Your dad
is
the best.”

“Can I please call my dad?”

“Okay, let me get my phone.” She grabbed her purse, hoping the little girl wouldn’t ask to go home, but handed over her cell phone. “Here, baby.”

Alanie started dialing.

Malanie looked over at her mom in anger. “Leave. Get out.”

Her mom turned and walked to the guest bedroom, slamming the door.

“Daddy, please pick me up.”

Upon hearing her daughter’s conversation, Malanie’s heart sank. Everything had been going so well until the little girl heard her grandmother talking about her daddy.

“Dad wants to talk to you.” She handed her the phone.

“I’m on my way. What happened?” Malanie could hear the concern in his voice.

“She overheard my mom say not-so-nice things about you.”

“Bye, Malanie.”

She could tell he was pissed by the sound of his voice, and the way he used her name.

“Come on, baby, we can wait for your dad in my room.” They both climbed up on her bed and under the covers. Malanie started brushing her little girl’s hair and singing to her, and she fell asleep in her arms.
I should call him and tell him not to come, but then you may wake up screaming
.

The doorbell rang and she got out of bed to open the door. Jeremy took her breath away. He stood there looking stunning in a button-down shirt and washed-out jeans, like he was out of a GQ magazine. The blue shirt brought out the blue rays in his hazel eyes.

“Where is she?” he asked, pushing by her.

She sighed, closing the door. “She’s sleeping.”

“What the hell happened?”

“I’m sorry. My mom said something she didn’t like.” She backed away.

He turned to look at her. “She doesn’t know me,” he snapped. “I’m not the same kid she knew. I draw the line when someone messes with my daughter.”

“I know. I already said I’m sorry,” she said, with unshed tears in her eyes. “My mom is gone. I kicked her out.”

He went to grab her hand to apologize, and she jumped quickly, backing away. “Lanie—”

She gazed into his eyes.

“I’m not him.” His eyes turned wary. “I would never hit you.”

“I know, it’s just instinct.”

“Alanie is very overprotective of me. It’s always been us, until just weeks ago. I’ll talk to her about your mom.” His voice became softer.

“She’s in my room. I thought you didn’t have a date?”

He smiled. “I didn’t, but she called.”

“She?” Malanie asked, feeling a bit jealous.

“A friend.”

“Just a friend?” She started walking to her bedroom.

He followed her. “Yes, a friend.”

“You look that good for a friend, huh,” she whispered.

“You think I look good?” He laughed. “I’m just wearing jeans.” He went over and sat next to Alanie, waking her up.

“Daddy, you came.” She woke up, rubbing her eyes.

“Yes, baby. You call and I’ll always come, no matter what.” He kissed her.

“Stay with Mom and me,” she said, falling asleep again.

“She called me mom!”

He took off his shoes and lay next to his daughter with a smirk on his face. “You heard her. She wants me to stay. Will that be a problem?”

“No, of course not. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”

“No, your bed is big enough for all of us.”

She smiled. Climbing up on the mattress, she kissed her daughter on her forehead. “Good night.”

It was four in the morning when Malanie woke up. Alanie’s hands rested on her face. She noticed that Jeremy was no longer in the bed. She got out of bed, and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. She came out of the bathroom and covered her daughter before going downstairs.

Jeremy was in the kitchen, looking out the window and drinking coffee.

“What are you doing up so early?” she asked him, preparing herself a cup.

He turned. “I could never really sleep with Alanie next to me. She sleeps terribly.” He sipped from his cup. “And I’m about to leave and get my PT on.”

“PT?”

“Physical Training. I run at least three miles every morning, keeping in shape,” he said, moving toward her.

“Every morning?” she asked, taking a sip.

“Maybe one day you can come along?” he asked, washing out his cup.

“I don’t think so.” She laughed. “I’m not the physical type.”

“You could have fooled me,” he whispered, looking at her body from top to bottom.

Embarrassed, she closed her robe.

“Tell Alanie I will pick her up tomorrow night.” As he passed by her on the way to the door, he whispered, “You’ve always been beautiful.”

Malanie and her little girl entered her favorite diner.

They were about to be seated. “Dad’s here,” Alanie said, pointing to the booth he was seated at.

He had his arm around the seat of a black-haired woman, and across from them was an African American couple, or that’s what she assumed. The guy was a very attractive dark chocolate man and the woman was light-complected and pregnant. The man had his hand on her stomach and couldn’t stop laughing.

“Ms. Briana!” Alanie ran over to their table.

The woman got up and hugged her. “Hey, how are you?” she asked, looking around. “Who are you with?”

Jeremy just stared at Malanie, like he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Alanie looked back. “With my mom.” She waved her over.

Malanie walked up to the table. “Ms. Briana, this is my mom, Malanie.” She couldn’t help but to glare at the woman, looking her over. Briana stared back at Jeremy, with a surprised look in her eyes.

Jeremy got up, clearing his throat. “Malanie, this is my friend Derrick and his wife Stefanie.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said to the couple.

“It’s really nice to meet you, Malanie.” Stefanie shook her hand. “Jeremy’s talked a lot about you.”

At this point, Briana gave Jeremy a dirty look. Derrick sat in silence and shook his head.

“If you’ll excuse us.” Malanie was proud of herself for controlling her temper. She took Alanie’s hand and was about to go over to their booth.

“Wait,” Jeremy said, moving closer to them. “You guys can join us.”

“No, that’s okay. I want to spend time with our daughter.” She kept walking over to the table.

“Alanie, you owe me a movie date!” Briana said.

“Yes, Ms. Briana,” Alanie said, following her mom.

“Jeremy!” Briana tried to get his attention.

“Yes,” he asked, finally sitting down.

“Why didn’t you tell me you found her mother?” She glared at him.

He looked over toward their booth. “It’s a long story.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now.” He took a sip from his lemonade, getting annoyed by all her questions. After all, she was just a friend.

“Stefanie, you said Jeremy talked about her.”

“Briana, let it go. Let’s finish eating,” Stefanie said, taking a bite from her burger.

Jeremy just stared at Malanie. What was she thinking? Briana was a friend, nothing more. Yes, he’d slept with her, but they both knew it was just about sex.
Nothing more
.

Derrick got up from the table. “I’m going outside to have a smoke.” He looked at his wife, winking.

“I’ll join you,” Jeremy said, getting up too, following behind his best friend.

“You didn’t tell me she was that fine.” Derrick took out a cigarette. “You have some explaining to do to Briana.”

“I don’t have to explain anything to Briana. We’re just friends.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.

“I don’t think she sees it the way you do. She has feelings for you.” He lit his cigarette.

“We had an understanding. No strings attached.”

“You shouldn’t have dicked her down so good.” He laughed. “Stefanie said she’s sprung. So if you are trying to start something with your baby-momma, you need to talk to Briana.”

“Who said anything about starting anything with Malanie?”

“It’s all over your face.”

Jeremy entered the diner with Derrick in front of him. Derrick walked over to their booth and Jeremy kept walking toward Malanie and Alanie’s booth, and sat.

He just stared at Malanie. “Sorry about that.”

“There’s no reason for you to be sorry.” She took a bite from her BLT.

“Can I go to the bathroom?” Alanie asked.

“I’ll come with you,” Malanie replied, about to move.

“I’ll be okay, Ms. Malanie. The bathroom is right behind us.” She giggled. “I won’t speak to strangers.”

Jeremy nodded. “I can see you from here.” Alanie got up and skipped to the bathroom.

“I’m not mad. You have a life. It’s only been three months since we found each other again,” she said, gazing back at him.

Jeremy extended his hand and caressed her cheek. He whispered. “Lanie….”

She gently took his hands in hers. “I don’t think your girlfriend would like you touching me.” She smiled.

He looked over to his booth and saw Briana staring at them. She was furious. Her eyebrows arched and her thin lips were pressed together. He focused his attention back to Malanie. “She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just friends.”

She smiled. “It’s none of my business. As long as she makes you happy.”

Alanie came back from the bathroom, smiling.

Jeremy got up and kissed his daughter on her forehead. “See you guys later.” He went over to his booth.

“What was that about?” Briana asked, giving him another, fiercely dirty look.

He ignored her, and watching his daughter and her mom, tried to enjoy what was left of his lunch.

“Jeremy?” Briana wedged herself into the corner of the car so she could face him.

“Yes,” he asked impatiently, counting the minutes until he could drop her off at her apartment. He gritted his teeth as he turned into the main entrance of the complex.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Alanie’s mother?”

“There’s some things I don’t talk about.”

“But you told Derrick and Stefanie.”

He took a deep breath.

“Is she the reason you haven’t touched me in months?” she asked.

“No, Briana.” He put his car in park and looked her in her eyes. “She’s the mother of my child. We’ve been through a lot lately. It has nothing to do with you.”

She put her hand on his thigh, moving it up. “Are you coming up?”

Jeremy grabbed her hand. “I have to pick up Alanie.”

“I know her mom won’t mind keeping her a little longer.” She kissed his lips.

He moved back, remembering what Derrick had told him about her having feelings for him. “We can’t do this anymore.”

“Why? What did I do?”

“Briana, you didn’t do anything wrong, but we’re just friends. I don’t want your feelings getting hurt.”

“Is it because of her?” she asked, more than a little rattled.

“No, this has nothing to do with Malanie. You and I, we had an understanding, and I think you’re beginning to have feelings.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have feelings for you. I understand what we have is just physical.”

I told Derrick she knew the deal, he thought.

“Are you coming up?” she asked again.

“I can’t.”

She grabbed her purse and stepped out of the car and slammed his car door.