6. Scarlett
SIX
SCARLETT
I watch as Brandon plays with a sweet little girl. I love how social he is with other children, he's so damn sweet with them and always willing to play and share whatever he's got with them.
After being shown around AllBeck Management and being given my access code and badge for Monday morning, Brandon and I went to the day care facility they had. I assumed it would be a room, but I was wrong. It's on the ground floor and has access to the garden where the children can play. When we arrived, the children were doing arts and crafts and their teachers, Zoe, Amanda, and Laurence, greeted Brandon and encouraged him to play while Susie spoke with me about the facility. It's such an amazing thing to have on site, and it gives parents peace of mind.
The job working for AllBeck Management is amazing and perfect as it's something I could do to utilize everything I have learned in my business degree, but the downside to it is Axel Beckett. God, seeing him again has stirred so many emotions inside of me. I never thought I'd be face to face with him, I guess that was foolish of me.
What I hadn't expected was his anger. He was so cold and angry about me keeping Brandon from him. I hate that I hurt him by doing so, but I did what I had to do. I was in a bad way when I left my home, left him and Noah behind, it took a lot for me to grow and become the woman I am today, but now that I've seen Axel, I understand my actions have consequences and I'm facing those right now.
"What's got you looking so glum?" Evelyn asks as she takes a seat on the bench beside me. When I left AllBeck Management offices, I called Evelyn letting her know I was finished and on my way to the playground where Brandon could unleash some of his energy.
I sigh. "I got the job," I tell her with a wry smile.
She claps her hands looking gleeful. "That's excellent. I truly appreciate you doing this, Scarlett, I wish you didn't have to."
I place my hand over hers. "You've taken care of Brandon and I for the past five years, Evelyn. Me doing this is finally something I can do to help you in return."
She nods, patting my hand and giving me that soft motherly smile. "I'm lucky to have found you," she says softly.
She has no idea how much she has helped me, how her love and devotion to not only me but also Brandon helped us both become the people we are today. She encouraged me to finish school, to get my degree and not give up. She was on hand to babysit whenever I wasn't around and loved taking Brandon for the day. Without her, I wouldn't be where I am right now. I owe her more than I could ever say, and I love her. She's like a second mom to me, and I was so lucky I walked into her shelter.
"So why are you so down?" she asks. "Getting the job should have made you happy."
"It did, it does, but my boss is Axel Beckett," I tell her. "Brandon's father."
She presses her lips together, her hand gripping mine. "I see. I take it he knows that he's Brandon's father?"
I nod. "He does, he's so angry, Evelyn. I don't know what to do."
"And rightly so," she says pointedly. "I know we've spoken countless times about this, Scarlett, but you should have told the boy he was going to be a father. You were hurt, and you were devastated by the events that took place that day. The words your brother spoke to you, cut deep. That boy instantly dismissed what you had because your brother hurt you. Together, their actions broke you."
I nod. They did break me.
"But the boy still needed to know about his son. So, what happens now?" she asks.
"He's coming over this evening to speak about that. I have no idea what to do. What if he's so angry that he takes my baby from me?"
"That's not going to happen," she says adamantly. "You need to think about Brandon, Scarlett, think what's best for him and what would benefit him. You do that and you'll be guided right."
"How did you get so wise?" I ask her, knowing she's right. This isn't about what happened before, this is about our son and what's best for him and that means him getting to know Axel and for the two of them to have a relationship.
"Did you speak about your brother?" Evelyn asks me, and I shake my head.
I haven't spoken to Noah in five years, and I really don't intend to do so either. My brother hurt me more than I thought possible, but listening to him tell me he wished it was me that had died shattered me.
"Maybe it's time to put the past where it belongs and start anew?"
I sigh. "That's not something I've thought about," I tell her. Whenever I think of Noah, I always think of what he said and how awful he was that day. "I guess I'm scared about letting him in, letting both Noah and Axel in. They hurt me, and I don't, can't let them do the same to Brandon."
"People change, Scarlett," Evelyn whispers. "It's been five years, maybe it's time to let the pain go?"
I raise my head and look up at the sky. "How?" I ask, unsure of how to let it all go.
"You take a deep breath, and then you reach out. Extend the olive branch, if they don't take it, you'll know you tried, and that's the best you can do."
"Axel said he would call every day when I left."
She tuts. "You changed your number as soon as you left, you never gave him the chance."
I hate that she's making sense, her perspective isn't on my side, nor is it on his, but it's one that benefits us both. She's seeing this for Brandon's sake. She's my voice of reason, and I'm so very grateful.
"I guess tonight, we'll hash it all out?"
She nods. "That would be for the best. Only then can you finally move on. Don't be afraid, Scarlett, you've grown so much, you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. No matter what happens, you have Brandon and me."
I rest my head against her shoulder. "You're right."
She pats my hand. "Aren't I always?"
I laugh, just as she had intended. "Yeah, you are."
I hope tonight goes smoothly. I don't want to argue, and I don't want to cry. I just pray we can resolve things for Brandon's sake.