Their Second Chance

Chapter 5: The truth

Ashton Pov:

    “It’s the night that Anna came in my life.” I look at her confused. “What do you mean came in your life?” She looks at the floor. Like she didn’t what to say the next words. She lets out a loud sigh. “She isn’t my biological daughter. I adopted her.”

    The words keep repeating in my head. Not her biological mother. She adopted her. Anna is adopted. She’s not hers or mine. That much I know. I read the lab results this morning that writes in red letters we aren’t daughter and father. I thought she was Autumn’s.

    I still came because I wanted her to explain everything. And to see her. I used this as an excuse to spend more time with her. I missed her so much. Did she missed me? I don’t care if Anna isn’t mine. The brief moment I thought she was, my heart loved her. When I read the result my heart sank.

    “What?” I didn’t expect this. I looked at the painting and get closer. There is a little baby basket with a baby inside wrap in a white blanket. “How old was she?” From the painting it tells me that it was night, and the snow was falling hard. “One week.”

    I look at her. How can someone abandon a baby in the middle of the night in a snowstorm? I’ve come across weird patients in the hospital, but nothing like this. “It was four years ago in January. I only had Sammy for a week.” Sammy? Who’s Sammy? Another child? Is it her boyfriend?

    “He’s our dog.” She smiles as she sees my face. Her dog. Sammy is a dog.

    “Oh.” I stay quiet to let her continue. She looks at the painting and see a few tears fall. “She was so little.”

    Autumn shakes her head. “Sammy woke me up at two in the morning. He was howling and scratching at my bedroom door. At the time I thought he wanted to pee, since he was a puppy. But when I opened the door to walked him she was there, on my doorstep. I looked around and saw the street empty. Only the snow was falling.” I look at the painting seeing all the little details as she stops talking.

    I look at her again as she continues. “When I got her inside she was cold, really cold. I started the fireplace and put the basket close to it. Sammy stayed by her side whining.” She cleans her tears. “I gave her warm water and called 911. They told me what to do. When the paramedics came and examine her, they say she was healthy and to keep her warm, feed and hydrated.”

    “She stayed by my side all night. I didn’t slept at all. I called Sarah to buy some stuff for the baby. In the morning Social Services came. They said that all the places that can take her where full because of the season. Since I had my foster license she stayed with me.” She drinks the iced coffee as she looks out the window. I walk to her and stand behind her. In the windows reflection I saw more tears fall.

    It must be hard remembering and talking about this. My hand is over her right arm. After all she was going to be a mom and lost Charlotte. Knowing that someone left their baby like that most have made her angry.

    I want to hug her. To make her smile. But I have no right to do so. I drop my hand and put it in a fist. “I name her. She was only supposed to stay for a few weeks, but it turn to a month and then two months passed. I decided I wanted to adopt her. Four months later the adoption was finalize. No one came looking for her all this years. I vow to never let her filled abandoned or forgotten.”

    She’s looking at me now. “She isn’t your daughter. Apart of me wants her to be biological ours, but she isn’t.” She gives me a sad smile. She wishes Anna was our daughter. “That doesn’t mean she isn’t my daughter. She is mine. I raise and love her.”

    I put my coffee on a near table and go to her. This time I don’t stop or think about it. I hug her. She doesn’t return it but doesn’t stop me.

    She is an extraordinary person. “Anna is lucky to have you as a mom.” I hear her crying and returns the hug. “I’m sorry I screamed at you.” i***t. I pull away and look into her watery eyes. I clean the tears with my thumbs. “I should have believe you when you told me yesterday she wasn’t mine.”

    I take the envelope from my back pocket and gave it to her. “I’m sorry I went to such lengths.” She looks at me confused and opens it. She gasps and punches my arm, hard. “Ow. Woman that hurt. Have you been working out?”

    She really hit me hard. Her punches used to be light and soft. She shrugs. The air feels more light than a few seconds ago. “Punching bag.” Is all she says. That explains it. I take her hands and see that they are red. “What happened?” She shrugs her shoulders and pulls her hands from mine. I know the answer, but I wanted her to tell me.

    “I’m burning this.” I scratch the back of my head, nervous now. Now that we have that out of the way, they are still some unresolve issues between us. The air starts to feel awkward and tense. “Now you know.” She avoids eye contact and moves around the studio.

    Her paintings are incredible. How come she never lets other sees them? She needs to show them. I know for a fact that she doesn’t publicly show them. She calls herself an artist, but she never displays her paintings. “Can I take that one?”

    I point to another painting, it’s one of a big clearing with grass and little flowers on the ground, in the background is the sky in different colors and you can see the ocean. They are three kids playing around with a man. Who are they?

    “No.” She says to loud and fast. “None of them are for sale or to give away.” She starts walking to the door. I look around some more. “Move it Ashton.” I leave too, reluctantly. She unlocks the door of the gallery and opens it. I don’t want to leave.

    “I have a long day ahead of me.” I walk to her and put my hand on the door. With my other hand I pull hers away. I drop my head to her ear and whisper, “I was a fool for leaving five years ago. I won’t make the same mistake. Now that I know the truth I’m not leaving.”

    I kiss her cheek. She blushes, cute. “See you around, beautiful.” I straighten my back and see her eyes wide.

    She mutters something I can’t catch and leave. I’m already late for an appointment. But that’s a promise I’m going to make sure it comes true. I don’t want to lose her again. This is the universe giving me another chance with her. I’m not wasting it. She’s back in my life and I will be in hers again.

    I don’t care what I have to do for us to be together again. Even if I have to start from the beginning I will. Or if I have to barge in like a bulldozer.

Autumn Pov:

    Who does he think he is telling me that? Saying that he won’t make the same mistake. I know he meant giving us another chance. I’m not scare of his words. But in this moment I’m not going to start something with him. He made his bed and now he has to lay on it.

    The day went by in a blur. It’s 2 in the afternoon and I’m on my way to pick up Anna. I want to hold her in my arms. It’s been a hard day. I parked the car and walk to the school entrance. I send some texts to Marcus. We haven’t talked in two days, and it felt weird. I see Anna walking as she talks with another girl. I take a photo and send it to him. Marcus is her godfather.

    I’m so excited she made a friend. She sees me and smiles, they said goodbye. Anna walks over and hugs my legs. “Hi mama. I miss you.” I get on my knees and kiss her entire face. She giggles but starts to protest. “Mommy people are watching.” I stop kissing her. I don’t want to embarrassed her.

    “I missed you princess. How was your day? I see you’ve made a friend.” I take her backpack and hand; we walk to the car.

    “It was good. A boy was pulling at my hair mom, but I defend myself.” She says proud for standing up for herself. I chuckle loudly and shake my head. “You didn’t used violence right?” I open the door and put her in the car seat. “No, mom.” Whining at the possibility of even bothering of hitting the boy and getting in trouble.

    I close the door and get in too. “Who was that girl you were talking too?” I look at her through the mirror. I’m in no hurry. “The girl that accidentally pushed me yesterday. She apologize for what she did. Her name is Mary.” Thank god the world is not lost yet, and they’re parents that still teach their kids about manners and being respectful. “That was nice of her.”

    “Princess were going to Aunt Sari’s restaurant. Do you want to go or stay at home with Julius?” She rapidly shakes her head. “I want to see aunt Sari too. Can I play in your phone?” I give it to her. I put the car on drive and left her school. “Did the teacher gave you homework?”

    “Yes, but I already finish it.” She says playing Project Makeover. The only game in my phone. “When?” She makes a pout; she looks so cute. “Between classes. It was easy.” Sometimes it amazes me how smart she is. When I stop at a red light I see her texting on my phone.

    “Who are you talking to?” She tries to hide what she’s doing, but I caught her.

    “Aunt Sari, mom.” I nod and give her a stern look. She continues playing on the phone not even looking at me. She’s hiding something.

    I parked in front of the restaurant. We named it Vita as in life. It took us months to decide on a name. The one who came up with it was Marcus on a facetime call one time. Sarah and I were having a mini disagreement on two names when he blurted it out. He only said it to stop us, but we both loved it.

    Marcus still doesn’t believe we put that name for our restaurant. I take Anna out of her car seat, and she runs to the restaurant. I take my purse, locked the car, and walked in.

    We hired some staff to help us around, but I know that Sarah has to start hiring more people and the waiters too. I find her talking to Anna and Ashton. What is he doing here? Ashton talks to Anna and she has a big smile on her face. She’s usually shy around men’s she doesn’t know about. I know they meet yesterday, still she doesn’t act this way. Why does she like him so much?

    He’s buttering her up, I know it. I don’t like it one bit. I make way and force a smile on my face. I kissed Sarah on the cheek and say a quick and low hello to Ashton. I whisper in Sarah’s ear, “Can we talk somewhere else?” She nods and stands up. We are in one of the offices. I think it’s hers. She hasn’t decided which one to take.

    “What is he doing here?” I hissed at her. “I don’t know. He just drop by. A few minutes before you arrived. Anna went straight to him like she knew he was coming.” That’s impossible. Oh, no. I walk out. “Anna Victoria Maverick.” She flinches at her full name and turns her head at me with puppy eyes. “Mommy?” Her voice came out low and confused.

    My hand is in front of her with my palm open. “Give it.” She hands me the phone realizing why I’m like this. I scrolled through my texts. Ashton texted me when she had my phone and she answered. I look at her and she hides her face. “How many times I’ve tell you not to do that.”

    I only let her text Marcus since he lives far away. The rest of our family is by facetime call and under any circumstance she can’t text or answer my phone without my permission. “I’m sorry.” I let the anger go. “Just don’t do it again. Okay?” She nods and starts playing with her fingers.

    Ashton has stayed all this time quiet and observing us. He has a serious face, but his eyes tell another story.

    He is only putting on a serious look for Anna. So that she doesn’t take it as a laughing matter, but a serious one. Deep down he is grateful she texted him where we were going. Looks like my little princess is a little matchmaker. But why would she do that? She has never done something like this.

    The door to the restaurant opens and I turn to look who it is. All I can make out is a tall guy. Sarah went to talk to him. Anna left to the restroom. Leaving me alone with Ashton. “You’re too hard on her.” I sit down. “I’m her mother. It’s not the first time she’s done this. I need to teach her to not snoop around other people’s life.”

    “Right.” He drags the word a little at the end. I can hear the sarcasm too. “Are you sure it’s not because she told me where you were going?”

    Anna comes back. Not giving me the chance to answer him. “Did you wash your hands?” Ashton asks her and she nods. I was going to asked her that. I give him a hard look and he puts his hands up. He’s meddling in my and my daughter’s live. Sarah comes over with the guy. I see him clearly now. It’s the guy from the airplane. Roger. “Marabella is it?”

    I bit my bottom lip and look down. I hear someone groaning and see Ashton with a cold expression. He’s looking at me, but I know the coldness is towards Roger. He looks up. I stop biting my lip. “Marabella?” Sarah lifts her eyebrows. I hush her.

    “About that. Sorry. My name is actually Autumn, Marabella is my middle name.” I get up and apologize. “It’s okay. I’m kind of used to it. People don’t really trust strangers.” He looks me in the eyes, and I don’t like it, but I hide my discomfort. “You two know each other?” Sarah asks us. She has a smirk on her face.

    Ashton hasn’t say anything. Anna goes to him and sit on his lap. She starts telling him about her day and I see him relax. She put her hands on his cheeks and squeeze them. She laughs and plays with his hair. He lets her do all of those things not even bother or annoyed by it. It brings me joy knowing he is relax and caring towards her. They look so cute and adorable together.

    “No. We were on the same flight.” I answered. “Roger, right?” He nods. “I’m actually in town to check out some new restaurants out. This one is on my list.” I scrunch my eyebrows, confused. “But we don’t open it for over two months.”

    “Yeah, my editor sends me everywhere. Right now I have about thirty places to visit and sometimes he adds more along the travel.” Hmmm. This smells fishy. “I still wanted to see the restaurant. Take a peek at it. Sorry if I intrude.” Sarah tells him it’s okay. That this way maybe he can promotes us.

    I know what she’s trying to do. She wants me to go on a date with him. She doesn’t care about promoting the restaurant right now.

    I look at Anna and Ashton and found them scolding at Roger. Anna has her arms crossed over her little chest. Her scold looks more like a pout. But I know that look, she doesn’t like the guy. Sarah keeps talking to Roger a few more minutes and he leaves. Not before saying that he hopes to see me again.

    “Are you crazy?” I turn to Sarah. “He’s hot and you haven’t been on a date or slept with someone in months.” I look at Ashton through the corner of my eye and see that he is busy with Anna. “Never going to happened. Also didn’t you see the look of your goddaughter’s face? She didn’t like him.”

    “Please that was all thanks to this guy. He has smitten the princess.” Anna looks at us at the mention of her nickname. “Doesn’t matter. Not going to happened. Don’t try anything. He makes me uncomfortable. Also I’m in no mood to date or sleep with someone.”

    I stand up and hug her. I hear her sighing in my ear. “Come on princess. Say goodbye to aunt Sari and Ashton.”

    She gives Sarah a kiss and a hug. And then moves to Ashton, doing the same. We’re walking out of the restaurant when she turns around. “Bye aunt Sari. Bye Ash.” I widen my eyes and Sarah puts her hand over her mouth. Ashton just smiles at her and wave back.

    She gave him a nickname. In two days!