by Dawn Jiles
“Where is my son?” I asked my mom as soon as I got in her car.
“Um, hello, and I missed you too. He’s at my house,” she said. She kissed me on the forehead and drove off. I hated that I was going to have to start over completely, but I would no longer play the victim. I was going to find a job, get a place for my son and me, and do what I had to do to stay healthy for him.
“I thought we were going to your house,” I said when my mom pulled up in front of this beautiful house.
“We are, but we have to make a quick stop,” she said.
I didn’t feel like making any stops; I just wanted to cuddle up with my son. We got out of the car and went inside the house. As soon as we shut the door and my mom cut on the lights, everyone jumped out and shouted, “Surprise!” I was shocked, to say the least. Everyone was there—Bria and David, Kevin and Zoe, Mo and Corey, my dad and his new woman, and my son. Tremaine Jr. ran up to me and hugged me tightly. My sister wobbled over to me and hugged me tightly.
“I see you and Corey have been having fun,” I said as I rubbed her belly.
“Yeah, I’m five months,” Mo said, smiling that beautiful smile she had.
“Mommy, I missed you,” my son said.
“I missed you too,” I told him as I planted kiss after kiss on his face. I was so in tune with my son that I didn’t see Tremaine walk up to me.
“We missed you so much,” Tremaine said, startling me.
“You missed me?” I said as my lips trembled. I had just known he would be done with me once he found out about all the grimy shit that I did.
“Yes, I missed you, and I told you that I would never leave you,” he said as he bent down to kiss me on my lips.
“You still want to be with me after all the things I did to the people who love me? I don’t deserve you,” I cried.
“Baby, that was your past. You just needed a little help, and if they can forgive you, then so can I,” he said and then wiped my tears away.
“I love you so much, Tremaine, and I promise to make you proud,” I said.
“I know you will.” He smiled. “Welcome home, baby. This is all for you.”
“You got us another house, baby?” I said excitedly.
He nodded his head yes, and at that very moment, I felt whole. I knew that from this moment forward, things would be good for me. I thanked God for second chances.
The End