Chapter Forty-Two
Sin
Forgiveness
I hadn’t been sure it was a good idea for me to accompany Kwame to see my parents. Now, I’m glad I’m here. Watching him be so sincere and seeing my parents give him so much grace made me love all of them more than I ever have.
“Thank you for giving me a chance to explain. Thank you for understanding.”
“Of course we do. That is what family is for,” my mother says and pats Kwame’s knee.
His relief is palpable and brings a tear to my eye.
I’m so glad he found us. My parents’ love for him has moved beyond him being the son of their benevolent benefactor.
Kwame covers my mother’s hand with his. “I don’t have a model for this, Auntie Adele.
I’ve never had a real family. One that expected me to hold them accountable.
One that held me accountable, too. Even when I didn’t know what it was, I yearned for it.
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth sooner. ”
My mom speaks first. “Oh, Kwame. We knew.”
I am shocked. “You did?”
“What?” Kwame says at the same time, shooting to his feet.
My mother wrings her hands and glances at my father. “When we went to file the deed, we saw your mother’s full name and made the connection.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” I ask with exasperation. We’ve been agonizing over it for no reason.
“It was clear he didn’t want us to,” my father says.
“Since when has what anyone wanted stopped you from anything?”
My mother sucks her teeth. “We wanted you to fall in love with him. The minute I think something is a good idea you run in the opposite direction.”
“No I don’t,” I protest.
“Yes, you do,” Kwame, my father, and my mother answer in unison.
“No one asked you.” I scowl but I can’t stop the smile forming on my mouth.
“Fine.”
My mother reaches across the side table between them. “You’re not your father. And none of us is as bad as the worst thing we’ve done. If you love someone, accepting them with thorns and all doesn’t feel like a chore.”
“I love Sin,” he says it like he’s answering a question.
My heart smiles and I wish we were alone. “And I love him,” I add.
My mother nods, her smile as wide as mine. “Yes. That is obvious.”
My dad clears his throat. “Okay. Well now that’s settled. Can we have dessert?”