EMBER #2
“Why the hell you ain’t tell me you had a child with your dead husband?” he asked before she made it to the door.
“W-W-What are you talking about, Dillan?” she inquired as she walked closer to where we stood.
Dead? Oh, my goodness, my father is dead.
How long? How did he die? Being here no longer felt important.
I was stuck on hearing that my father was gone.
We never had a chance to reconcile. He never got the chance to meet his amazing granddaughter.
My dad had deserted me when I needed his love and support the most, but I still mourned his passing.
“My father is dead?” I asked through a tearful voice.
My mother was now standing next to her husband.
When our eyes locked, her mouth fell open.
Then her eyebrows furrowed like she was trying to understand what was happening.
I stared at my mother, who still looked good for her age.
She looked like an older version of me. The moles she now had on her face only enhanced her beauty.
Neither did the wrinkles around her eyes take away from her physical appearance.
“What the hell are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you to never show your face at my house again when you decided to choose sex over your studies?” Her voice was so vile… so bitter.
“Mom…”
She cut me off. “That’s Mrs. Phyllis Wilbred to you.”
I couldn’t gather the right words to say. How could she act like she didn’t give birth to me? My mother even went to the extent of lying and saying she never had a child. Phyllis Wilbred was a cold ass woman, and not in a good way.
I felt like I had gone back in time. Arguing with my mom and dad over my pregnancy and them shutting me out of their lives for good.
Not once did they look for me or try to be in my life.
The pain. The abandonment. The judgment, it was all too much to bear.
The spinning in my head threatened to take me down, but I couldn’t leave without finding out more information about my dad.
“What happened to my father?” I looked at my mother, hoping she would have a little compassion and give me a response.
She hesitated for a minute while her husband just stared at her like he didn’t know who she was anymore.
“Not that I owe you any information, but he died from a heart attack four years ago.”
Four years ago, and I was just hearing about this now? To say my feelings were hurt would be an understatement.
“Where is he buried?”
“Ember, why would I want to know where that man’s grave is?”
“Because he was once your husband, and you sure do know his cause of death,” he shot back.
An odd noise came from her throat as she began to speak. “Hell yes, I know how he died. That young girlfriend he was with thought she was going to get his money. I put up with his shit for years, so who was more deserving than me?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and didn’t want to hear any more. “Mom, what happened to you?”
“Yeah, Phyllis. You got me confused,” her husband jumped in, staring at her in disbelief. “I don’t think I know who I married.”
“Dillan, cut it out, please. You’re allowing this girl to create mess in our home. We’ve been doing absolutely fine.”
“No, your lies just stirred some shit up. Why did you have to lie?”
“I gotta go,” I blurted, not wanting to be around them any longer.
I jogged away from their door, and they didn’t notice because they were now in a heated argument.
As far as I was concerned, the relationship between my mother and me was dead.
She would never have to worry about me coming back and disrupting her life.
If she was able to live life acting like she never had a child or granddaughter, then so be it.
I would continue on with my life like she never existed.
I prayed my father was resting in peace, but I was closing this chapter of my life for good.
A Few Hours Later
I don’t know how or when I ended up at Cassie’s doorstep, but I stood there feeling defeated. I couldn’t go back to the shelter, and the only other one I found was hours away. If I didn’t have Rhema with me, I would’ve chosen to sleep in my car. But I couldn’t do that to my daughter.
The door slowly creaked open, and Cassie peeked out. When she realized it was me, she opened the door fully and pulled us inside.
“Are y’all okay?” Her eyes went back and forth between Rhema and me.
“Yes, yes.” I looked down at Rhema, my voice low.
“Rhema, come with me, love. You hungry? I’ll get you something to eat, then yo’ momma and I can talk.”
Rhema followed Cassie into the kitchen while I stayed in the living room, wiping away the tears that kept coming. A few minutes later, Cassie returned alone.
“Let’s talk while she eats.”
I nodded, relieved that Cassie was helping me because I had no strength left.
“Talk to me, Ember. Why are you crying?” she asked softly, sitting beside me on the couch.
I didn’t hold back. I told Cassie about the shelter, the fight, how I ended up on my mother’s doorstep, and finding out about my father’s death. She cried right along with me, both of us in full tears. Cassie rocked me back and forth, trying to soothe me.
“You and Rhema are staying in my extra room until you’re able to get another place.
I have a couple extra blow-up beds, and I promise my husband won’t mind.
He’s barely home as it is.” Cassie grabbed a tissue box from under her coffee table and pulled out a few pieces.
She handed some to me and then used the rest to dry her face. “And I’m not taking no for an answer.”
I gave her a small nod. My pride didn’t matter anymore. I accepted her help for Rhema’s sake, if not my own.
My phone buzzed in my back pocket, over and over. “Excuse me,” I murmured, pulling it out.
Amara’s name flashed across the screen in big, bright letters. My stomach fluttered.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Good evening, Ember. I’m so happy you picked up.
Sorry for the late call. I know it’s been some time since you last heard from me, and I wanted to reach you before the night was over to tell you that everything on our end has been finalized.
If you still want to proceed, we can start the insemination process as soon as tomorrow afternoon. ”
My eyes widened. My palms grew sweaty. Cassie leaned closer and whispered, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I mouthed, I don’t know.
“So, Ember,” Amara continued, “if you’re ready, I can schedule you for tomorrow.”
“Y-Yes,” I stammered. “I’ll be there.”
“Perfect. I’ll notify the intended parents. I’ll also send over a few more forms for you to sign electronically, or you can do it in person. Your choice.”
“You can send them now.”
“Got it. I’ll forward them right away.”
“Thank you. See you tomorrow, Amara.”
“See you soon!”
When the call ended, Cassie was already in my face, trying to figure out what had me looking like I’d lost my mind. “Ember, what is it? What’s happening?”
I looked her dead in the eyes and told her, “I-I’m getting inseminated tomorrow.”