Forgiveness and Second Chances by Ancelli Read Free Book Online Page A

everything she’s done to her.”
    “She’s still her mother. She was an awful parent back then but maybe she’s changed. Everybody deserves a second chance.”
    “I doubt that.”
    “I was going to ask, how’s Alanie taking all of this, but I can see, she’s happy.”
    He smiled. “Dad you should see them together, it’s like they were never apart.”
    “Did you get your answers?”
    “Yes. She was living in a homeless shelter, while she was pregnant.” He rubbed his temples.
    “What?”
    “I said the same thing. Her mom kicked her out after a fight and she had nowhere to go and found the shelter. They helped her, or so she thought. She overheard them saying they were going to take Alanie away from her as soon as she gave birth, because she couldn’t take care of her. She gave birth and when she was discharged, she dropped her off with us. She had no money, no one,” he said, getting emotional. “She went back to the shelter, and told them she had a miscarriage.”
    “Why didn’t she come to us?”
    “She was young, and her faith in me had been broken. They were going to snatch our baby from her. She stayed there for three more months, and then she came looking for us, but when she couldn’t find us, she went back to the shelter and fell into a deep depression. Do you remember Carmen Ortiz? Carmen found her and forced her to go home to her mother. Malanie went from one bad situation to another. Her mom sent her to public therapy, and they helped her. Malanie went back to high school, graduated. Mrs. Johnson never told her we went looking for her, or gave her our new address.” He took a deep breath. “She looked for us, trying to move mountains, but came out empty.”
    “We couldn’t locate her because she had no address, living in a shelter and all, and she couldn’t find you because we moved overseas and she didn’t know you joined the Navy. If she’d known, it would’ve been every easy to find you.”
    “Right, but you should see her now. Malanie has done well for herself. She picked herself up, got a full scholarship, graduated with a MBA in Accounting. Now she’s working for the best accounting firm in the city,” he said proudly.
    His dad smiled. “I still see that spark in your eyes when you talk about her.”
    “What spark?”
    “Son, you’ve never been able to get over Malanie, ’specially when you had a piece of her with you, in your child. You had no closure.”
    “I have it now, but I can’t turn my back on her. Alanie is already in love with her.”
    His dad observed him carefully. “Only Alanie?”
    His mom opened the door, and then knocked. “Jeremy, I’m sorry. You’re right, I should keep my feeling for Malanie to myself, like I’ve done all these years. If it had been me, I probably would’ve done the same. I just want the best for Alanie.” She turned and stopped. “But I still don’t like her.”
     

Chapter Ten
     

One week later
     
    Jeremy and Alanie paused outside Malanie’s door.
    “Daddy, I’ll be okay,” Alanie said, looking up, winking at him.
    He smiled. “I know, but if you need me, just call.”
    “Yes, Daddy.” She squeezed his hand.
    Ms. Johnson opened the door, and glared at them.
    “Good evening, Mrs. Johnson.”
    “Come in,” Malanie yelled from the kitchen.
    They entered her home, and his daughter edged closer to him.
    Malanie walked out of the kitchen and kissed Alanie on the cheek. “Hi baby.”
    “Hi, Ms. Malanie.” Her little face lit up.
    “Ms. Malanie, she’s your mother. Shouldn’t you call her mom?” Mrs. Johnson said, crossing her hands over her chest. The little girl just looked up at Jeremy.
    “It’s okay Alanie. You call me what you want. Ms. Malanie is just fine with me.” Malanie took her hand and showed her to her bedroom.
    Jeremy followed them. “Okay, Alanie, be good.” She ran up to him and hugged him tight.
    “I promise.”
    “Jeremy, can you stay for dinner? I made lots of food.”
    Alanie looked