Their Second Chance

Chapter 4: Is she my daughter?

Ashton Pov:

    “Mommy did that man hurt you?” I heard Anna asking Autumn. I’m around the corner against the wall. They can’t see me. I see them through the mirror up on the wall and see Autumn cleaning her face and shaking her head at Anna.

    I feel my heart being tug as I watch her crying. It pains me that I’m the one that make her cried. No, she kept her from me. I didn’t see her grow up for the past five years. And what she said that Anna isn’t my daughter it’s bullshit.

    Looking at the mirror Autumn takes Anna’s hand and walks away. I close my eyes and drop my head against the wall. I walk back to the ER with one thought in my mind. I need to know. I need to confirm she’s my daughter. I see the bed Anna was in and try to look for a hair strand. “Looking for this?”

    I turn and see Jackson with a plastic bag in hand. I squint my eyes and see a brown hair in there. “How did you..” He shrugs and gives me the bag.

    “I’m an ER nurse. I see a lot of things happen in here. And your look- I seen it before on other men too.”

    I have to do this. I don’t care if she gets angry or distance herself from me. I don’t believe for a second that she’s not my daughter. That night we didn’t used protection and we did plenty of s****l activity. I think we did it in every room of her place.

    I take some of my hair out and put it in another plastic bag. I take it to the lab to do a paternity test. I have someone that can do it and keep it in the DL. I take my phone out and called Kenneth. It doesn’t take long for him to answer.

    “What’s up? Aren’t you supposed to be working?”

    “You knew about Anna?” I scream the question out as I lock myself in a break room. “Wow. How do you know about her?” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Answer me Kenneth.” I hear some papers on the phone. “Look dude. You need to speak to Autumn about that.”

    “No, you kept her from me. I thought you were my best friend. And you just went on like Anna doesn’t exist.” I start pacing around the empty room. “You didn’t want us to talk to you about her and Anna it’s something that you both need to talk about. That’s not my place to say anything. Let her explain the situation.”

    Kenneth’s voice is calm. How can he be so calm? He kept this from me. They all did.

    “NOT your place??? Are you f*****g crazy? You didn’t tell me I’m a dad. That I have a daughter! You’re going to be a dad. Put yourself in my shoes and then answer me.” I’m furious at him, at Autumn, at everyone that new about Anna. 

    “f*****g calm down! I’m not to blame here or anybody. Once you calm down and know the truth. I’ll accept your apology for your rudeness, d**k. No one can talk to you when you’re like this.”

    He ends the called and I throw the phone to the sofa. “UGHHHH.” f*****g s**t.

    I’m not angry. I’m enrage. I wash my face on the little sink there and try to calm down. My phone rings and I go to where I threw it. Sarah is calling me. I’m mad at her too. I hit decline. She calls again and I hit decline again. 

    She sent me a text three minutes later; I sent her your phone number. She’s going to text or called you. Please let her explain. It’s not what you think. I don’t answer her.

    Just as Sarah told me Autumn texted me. She wanted to talk and explain everything. I sent her a pin location to a place to eat. If she wants to talk it will be face to face. I was cold and direct in the text. I don’t want to give in to her. She responds with an okay.

    Nothing is okay. I wash my face three more times and went back to work. I’m not pulling a double shift or covering for someone else. There is nothing that will prevent me to talk to her tonight. Nothing. I want to know everything there is to know. If Anna really is my daughter I’m not wasting any more time. It’s going to be a long shift.

    I take my phone out and texted Autumn. Can’t make it. Can we talk tomorrow at 9 am? I wait a minute, but she doesn’t answer me. I put my phone in my front pocket and get to work. Twenty minutes ago as I was about to leave, the ER got flooded with patients. So I was forced to stayed, like many of my other coworkers.

    I drop in the sofa of the break room, another one, and close my eyes. “You okay?” I don’t open my eyes knowing it’s Kyle. I mumble a “Yes.” My mind can’t stop thinking about Anna and Autumn. All I see is them. And every time I see a little girl in the ER now my mind thinks of Anna.

    “You don’t seem fine. Apart from being tired.” I don’t do anything just staying in the sofa with my eyes close. I want to let out some steam, to exercise. But I’m at work. I will have to do it once I’m home. Maybe go on a five-mile run. Or go to the gym. Or both. I don’t know really. I can’t think straight. I open my eyes and look at the clock on the wall.

    Breaks almost over. I get a text at the same time I get up from the couch. Can’t, have an important meeting. I groan and fiercely type back. It’s the only time I’m available this week. I won’t wait for the weekend. My hand goes to my hair and tug it. I look at the phone waiting for her to answer. This time it doesn’t take her long to reply. Fine. 

    Nothing is fine.

Autumn Pov:

    Ugh, he frustrates me so much. I shouldn’t give him any kind of explanation. But I know if I don’t then he will involve lawyers for nothing. She is not his daughter. I’m at home at the gym letting my frustration out in a punching bag. Anna is playing with Sammy in here play area.

    When I read the text he send about a change of plans I thought he was messing with me. Or wanting me to get frustrated and I did. I guess he really is working, still I wanted to get this over with. For him to leave us alone. So that the two of us can go back to our normal lives.

    I punch and punch the bag hard. I don’t even feel my knuckles aching from the pain. I’ve being hitting the bag for over an hour now. Only stopping to answer the jerk. He may be mad and angry, but it’s no way to treat me cold.

    Why am I thinking about this?

    Why am I thinking about Ashton and what he thinks?

    I stop punching the bag and take my gloves off and tape. My knuckles are a dark red almost violet. If I would have kept punching I would have blood in the knuckles. I push my hairs strands out of my face and walk out of the gym. “Sweetie want to watch a movie?”

    She nods and walks to the cinema room that’s in front of her. I put her Raya and the last dragon. Sammy enters and sits on the fluffy chair next to her. “I’m going to shower, and I’ll come watch it with you. Okay?” She only nods, already focused on the movie. Sammy barks and drops his head. Snuggling to her.

    I walk to the elevator feeling my energy drain every time I walk. I stop on the first floor. I head to the kitchen to take a water. I see Nick is still here. “Still working?” He should have left about an hour ago. He turns and nods. “Just looking at the food we have and don’t have in the pantry.”

    “Don’t stay to long. I know you’re family misses you.” I walk back to the elevator. No one else is at home apart from Anna and Julius so I strip of my clothes as I walk in my room and go to my bathroom. I step in the shower and let the warm water fall on me.

    My shower can easily fit five people or more. I drop to the ground and pull my knees to my chest and silently cry. He has to believe me when I tell him that she’s not his. He has to. Because the truth is she isn’t his. I don’t know how long I cried for, but by the time I stopped my skin was wrinkle. I shower and put on my bathrobe.

    I put on a lose crop top and shorts. I go back down and see Anna sleeping. Sammy lifts his head and looks at me. I slowly walk to where she is, not making any noise. If I wake her she gets all grumpy and it takes a while for her to fall back asleep. It’s only seven pm, but she’s had a hectic day.

    I enter the elevator as Sammy follows me. One of the perks of having an elevator is that I don’t have to use the stairs all the way to her room. Trust me it’s a lot of stairs. I hear her mumbling something in her sleep. The elevator doors open, and I walk to her room. Sammy pulled the covers and I tuck her in. I give her a kiss on the forehead and move her hair out of her face.

    Sammy is sitting in front of her bed watching us. He has his head to the side. I guess he senses that I’m not happy as usual. I turn on her night light. I don’t close the door completely, leaving it ajar. Sammy follows me to my room. I drop on my bed feeling tired. He jumps and lays down next to me. My phone starts ringing and I answer knowing it’s Sarah.

    “When are you both talking?” I put her on speaker and open my tablet. I’m looking at the menus ideas she sent me. “Tomorrow 9 am.” I sent her the ones I love for the restaurant. “Don’t you have a meeting with your editor at that time?” I receive a text from Nick.

    Ms. Maverick I left. I already told Julius what food and ingredients we need to buy. “Yeah I’ll give him a call tomorrow and tell him to change it. Ashton doesn’t want to wait for the weekend to talk.” I reply back to Nick; Perfect. Drive safe. See you tomorrow. “I see his point of view, girl. Kenneth told me that Ashton went ballistic on him.”

    “I didn’t expect anything else. I’m sorry they’re fighting. That I’m getting in the middle of their friendship. I sent you my approvals of the menu to your email.” I take the phone and walk downstairs to the kitchen. “Yeah saw it. I love those two too.” I pour myself a glass of wine and take it to my room. “Auty, Kenneth told me that once Ashton knows the truth they will patch things up. This kind of things happened.”

    “Don’t blame yourself.” I sigh and put the wine on the table out the balcony. “I can’t help and do it. It’s my fault.” I hear them talking. “Autumn, if you keep blaming yourself I’ll band you from our wedding.” I laugh at his threat. “Fine. How was the check up? The baby is okay in mommy’s belly?”

    “Yes, the bay is fine. The doctor said to take my prenatal vitamins. And that I need to go out and get some vitamin D, more sun.” True. Lately she’s looking a little pale. “Good. If you guys need anything you tell me. One more thing!”

    “Everything for the wedding is done?” I heard her sigh and Kenneth telling her Ask her. “There is one thing.”

    I smile, knowing she will ask me something. “Can you host the rehearsal dinner?” They don’t even have to ask me that. “Yes. After all I am the maid of honor. Don’t worry about anything. It will be a magical night.” She yelps. “Thanks you are the best. You need to take care of everything except the food. That’s already cover.”

    “Okay.” I put my hair in a lose high bun. “Thank you Auty, for being the best friend I could ever ask for. I love you.” I take a sip from my wine. “You are very welcome. I love you too. I’ll see you tomorrow and tell you everything.” We ended the call after that. I drink the rest of the wine and clean the glass with water from the bathroom, leaving it there.

    I brush my teeth and let sleep consume me. That night Sammy decided to sleep with me. He slept so close to me that I could feel his warmth. Tomorrow is going to be another rough day.

    “Mommy.” Sammy licks my cheeks. “Mommy.” I groan and move around my bed. “Mommy we’re late.” I open my eyes and sit up. “What?” I rub the sleep from my eyes and look at my phone. s**t, it’s 7:15am. I didn’t turn on the alarm last night. The time difference most have catch on with me.

    “I’m up.” I look at her and see that she’s dress in jeans, a pink shirt with ruffle sleeves, and her white converse. She has her hair brush in her hand and gives me a look of hurry up. I get up and she follows me to the bathroom. She sits on the couch in there and I do her hair. “Can you braid it today?”

    I do it like she wants it to. “Go downstairs to eat. And give Sammy his food, please.” Julius will have to walk him. We usually have a morning jug he and I. I put on a light jean with some ripples and a tight white shirt, with some black, white, and red sneakers, and a black sleeveless blazer over. I put my hair in a high ponytail.

    I take my black purse and phone. I take the wine glass and head to the kitchen. “Good morning.” I tell Julius and Nick. Anna is eating her scramble eggs with orange juice on the counter. Julius is reading the newspaper on his tablet while drinking coffee. Nick is making my breakfast, but I don’t feel like eating.

    Too nervous to eat anything. He serves me scramble eggs and two pancakes. I eat it either way, not wanting to throw it away. I check my phone and see that Ashton texted me. I don’t read it and force myself to eat my breakfast. “Finish.” Anna takes her plate to the sink. “Bye, Julius. Bye, Nick. Thanks for breakfast.” She says in a low voice to Nick.

    She still feels shy. Anna walks to Sammy and says goodbye too. I finish eating too and walk to the garage. Twenty minutes later I left her at school. I watch her walk in and drive off to the gallery. I still have an hour to kill. I read his texts once I’m in the gallery and after I called my editor. You available now?

    Didn’t he said 9 am? I rolled my eyes. He is so impatient. Yes, but I’m at the gallery. He responded with an Sent me the pin. I want to get this over with. Maggie isn’t here because she had a family emergency. I go to my office and get some work done. About thirty minutes later I hear someone enter the gallery I get up to receive them. “Hello?”

    I close my eyes hearing his voice. It still sends me shivers. I shake those thoughts from my mind and take a really deep breath and let it out slowly. I walk out and see him looking around. The gallery only has three paintings hanging since I have to hang the others but haven’t got around to it. He’s wearing a navy shirt, jeans, and black Adidas sneakers. He looks so handsome and sexy. I bit my lip and composed myself.

    “Hi.” He turns around and checks me out. He wasn’t discreet about it. Ashton walks to me and stretches one hand. I look down and see a cup of iced coffee in his hand and in the other a hot coffee. “You still like iced coffee right?”

    “Yes.” I take it and drink it. I already had a minor headache from not having some at breakfast. “You want to talk here? Or another place?” I ask him. “Here.” I nod. “Let me close the place. I don’t have someone to attend clients.” He doesn’t say anything.

    Him being this calm makes me nervous. Yesterday he was furious. In all the years I’ve knowing him I never saw him that angry like yesterday. At one point I thought he will start breaking stuff, to go back to that rebellious teenager before we started hanging out.

    I walk up the studio with him following me in silence. I really hope he listens to me and don’t act like he did when I try to explain it yesterday in the afternoon.

    I open the door to the studio and see all my stuff all over the floor and space. I should have at least think about organizing a little bit. “Hold on.” I start putting away some materials, paintings, sheets, and other stuff that are scattered on the floor. I hear him walking around and stop at the left corner where the window is.

    I get up to see what he is looking at. He is in front of an angel painting with blue eyes and wings. The wings have some thin lines of gold. The eyes are exactly the shade of color as his eye. It took me months to find the perfect tone of blue for that portrait. The background is black with gray clouds and white lighting.

    “When did you do this?” The angel is exactly like him, that’s why it’s a portrait. I’ve never shown it to anyone, except Sarah. Some feathers are falling from the wings. The angel is looking down and his hands are behind his back.

    It can be interpreted like he is bound, or he put them there. To me he is bound, hopeless. He made me feel hopeless. When I started to paint it I didn’t realize I was painting him until I finish it.

    “I started it two months after you left. It took me six months to finish it.” I drag it as much as I could. At the time I didn’t know why. “That’s me.” He’s looking at me now. I bit my lip and nod. I may not want to admitted, but I’m not going to lie either.

    “And that one?” He points behind me. I know what painting he is asking about. “I made it two years after.” In other words one year after Anna came into my life. “It’s a painting of a snowstorm and a street.” I move to the right as he walks closer to me. His eyes goes to me and holds eye contact.

    “I called it Beginning.” I blink and turn to look at it. I still remember that night like it was yesterday.

    “It’s the night that Anna came in my life.” He looks at me confused. “What do you mean came in your life?” I looked down. “Autumn?” Here goes nothing. I only hope he believes me when I tell him the truth.

    “She isn’t my biological daughter. I adopted her.”