“Shayne, we are so sorry! It is all our fault for breaking the two of you up. At the time we did what we felt was best for everyone. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us for what we have done.” She wipes a tear from the corner of her eye and turns to Luke. “That goes for you too, son. I hope you can forgive us as well.”
Luke joins us and takes his mother’s hands in his. “Of course I forgive you, Mom. I understand, I really do. We just need to move past what has already been done and move forward and welcome Lucy into this family.”
“Well, of course we would welcome our granddaughter into this family, son,” sniffs Camillia. “When will we get to meet her?”
I tell her that Adam went to spend a few days with her in Texas because Lucy wanted to spend some time with her Uncle and that they will be here in a few hours. We make plans to bring Lucy over to meet them as soon as she has adjusted to the fact that she has a father.
“Well, I for one am very excited about this news,” says Antonio. “I have a niece and I can’t wait to meet her!”
Vincent puts his hand on Luke’s shoulder as we are finishing up our goodbyes and heading out the door.
“You’re going to make a fine father, son, and I can’t wait to meet my granddaughter.”
“Thanks, Dad. I look forward to meeting her, too.”
************
The car ride home passes in as much silence as the ride out, the tension and nervous energy between us drawn tight. “What time will they be here again?” Luke finally asks.
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. “In a few hours.”
Luke pauses, then asks hesitantly, “Has she ever asked about her father before?”
I falter for a moment, knowing that what I am going to say next is going to hurt him even more. “She did once, a few years ago. She came home from school one day and asked why other kids had a Daddy but she didn’t.” I close my eyes, thinking back on that day when my heart broke a little wondering how I would explain to my precious daughter without tainting her with my disillusionment. I’d briefly, oh, so very briefly, flirted with the idea of telling Lucy at least part of the truth, but I’d chickened out, not wanting to make her father someone real, someone who she might long for or be hurt by one day.
I turn my head away toward the window, staring out at the passing scenery. “In the end, I simply told her that there are all kinds of families, and that ours right then didn’t have a Daddy. She never asked me about you again.”
I can feel Luke’s disappointment in me radiating off of him in waves. As I reach for the door handle to step out of the car, though, he stops me.
“Shayne, one of the reasons why I fell in love with you was because you are the strongest woman I have ever met. Raising a child on your own? I cannot even imagine what that is like.”
I turn around and look at him, closing my eyes as I hear the words I have been waiting for. He reaches for my hand, bringing it up to his mouth and placing a soft kiss on the inside of my wrist.
“I am so sorry for the things I said to you. I have no excuse for the way I acted and I should have listened to you. You have the kindest soul in this world, Shayne, and I know that you would never do anything to hurt anyone intentionally. Just give me a little time to process all of this and to get to know Lucy.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath as I feel all the pain leave my body. I open my eyes and look into the face of the man who has taken over my dreams for so long.
“I have waited what seems like a lifetime to hear you say that.”
“Say what?” he asks with confusion on his face.
A tear slowly rolls down my face.
“That you want to get to know Lucy.”
He smiles one of the biggest smiles I have ever seen. “I cannot wait to meet her.”
Luke lets go of my hand, so I take that as my invitation to get out. Right when I am exiting the vehicle, he calls out to me.
“I’ll call or text you later.”
Nodding my head and closing the door, I watch him back out. Once he’s gone, I sit down on the front steps and visualize the look on both of their faces when they finally lay eyes on each other.
Chapter Thirteen
It is mid-morning when I am finally done getting myself all ready to see my baby. When I step out into the hallway, I glance at my aunt’s closed bedroom door. Taking a deep breath, I decide to take the plunge and go inside. I need to feel close to her right now; she always knew the right words to say about every situation. I wander around her room, looking at all the pictures on her walls of Adam and me, and Lucy’s school picture on her nightstand. I slowly sit down on her bed and sigh.