Chapter Thirty-Three
Renny
Macy grabbed my hand as I rambled.
“We were all silly little college kids,” Macy said.
“I’d like to think we’ve all matured and can handle the here and now.
I love and appreciate Brent and our years together—years that neither he nor I regret, even with the paternity results.
Even with how angry we got with each other in our therapy sessions.
We have worked it through and made a commitment to co-parenting Bracee and Little Brent, because that’s our family unit that we’ve built together. ”
Then it hit me. “So what you’re telling me is the past twenty-something years Brent and I were separated were because of a lie?”
She squeezed my hand. “I apologize for the time you and Brent didn’t get to spend together. I apologize for you and Brent not having a chance back then to see the potential of what could have been for you two.”
“Oh my God, Macy.”
“I’m so sorry,” Macy said. “Brent really is a good man. He just got caught up in wanting to do the right thing by me and the baby for my father. He never had a family of his own. He and I made that dream come true together. He didn’t know.
I didn’t know at the time, though I should have suspected it as Bracee grew up to look more like me, nothing like Brent, and then…
her nose, which was nothing like Brent or me or my family. ”
“Don’t tell me her biological father is…”
I had a feeling I knew, but I wanted Macy to say it. Especially since we were having an intimate moment full of kitchen table confessionals.
She closed her eyes as she said, with hesitation, “Brent’s friend Jalon is Bracee’s biological father. But Brent is her daddy. Jalon knows, and he’s met Bracee, but he has his own wife, life, and his own kids he’s raising now.”
She opened her eyes and we stared at each other in silence.
My heart raced as I thought of all the coulda, woulda, shoulda moments of my life.
Things that might not have happened. Choices that I might not have made.
Men I might not have connected with. Choices taken away from me if Brent and I had had a chance to explore what might have been in college.
I didn’t know whether to be mad, sad, or glad Macy and I had this moment to clear the air between us.
“This is a lot, Macy,” I said. “I’m still processing Jalon. And now I get your father’s insults about Brent and investing in him.”
“My dad throws it in our face that Jalon making the NBA would have paid off for him and for me.”
My empathy level for Brent grew stronger. I couldn’t imagine choosing to come to a new state to be part of a new family unit, and then being slighted because he didn’t make the professional basketball league.
“Brent has never mentioned this to me,” I said.
“He’s a good man, Renny. I’m sure eventually he would have once you two decided on your path forward. Radical honesty, remember? Brent doesn’t keep secrets.”
“But you did, Macy,” I said. “And it kept Brent and me apart for twenty-something years.”
“Not to be petty, but you did send him back to me.”
“Not to be pettier, but you did pass off another man’s baby as Brent’s.”
We paused and then laughed. Her snort and chuckle made us laugh even harder.
“You are too funny, Renny,” she said as her laughter waned. “And that’s why I’m so glad you and Brent finally have another chance to be together. If you want it.”
Brent, followed by Bracee, entered the kitchen at the tail end of our conversation.
“Sorry for being so rude earlier,” Bracee said, a small, hesitant smile forming on her face. “I understand a lot, now. I hope you want to be with my dad.”
Brent smiled at me. “I hope you want to be with her dad, too.”