Chapter 10: Two Wrong's Don't Make A Right

August 2023

New York, New York

...Sleep doesn't always come easy...

It is always in the middle of the night that his demons come and haunt him. His nightmares have nothing to do with his job, but with the beautiful children he has sired. Internally, he flinches. The idea of just being a sperm donor does not sit well at all, but that is what he's been regulated, too. The soft breeze that pushes through his window, reminds him of the nights in which his daughter would burrow into his side, cuddled between himself and her mother. It was on these balmy nights that Iyana would be restless. He would hold her close, allowing her to hear the rhythm of his heart before going to sleep.

He propped his head up and opened one of the case files that was on his night table. He flipped through the case, pulled out paper and pen and began to go over the cases before tomorrow's briefing. He knew that his involvement in his work was horrible, but it was the only thing keeping him sane.

October 2023

Arlington, Viriginia

...They say all is fair in love and war, but what about the children, where do we fall?...

Penelope knew that she was in trouble the minute the sales associate came back and told her that her thirteen year old child would be sporting a 36 DDD as a freshman in high school. Unlike the other freshman at the Kalem Friends School, Iyana would be a year younger. And from the way the student body looked, Penelope knew that Iyana was going to be the odd man out.

It wasn't until a month into the school year that Penelope received a call from Iyana's school, requesting an emergency meeting with Iyana, her parents, her homeroom teacher and school social worker. Penelope took everything in stride until she and Kevin walked into the classroom to see Iyana sitting in the front of the room, with tear stains on her face.

"Yana, baby, what happened?" Penelope asked as she stopped before her daughter.

Iyana didn't say a word to her mother, she turned her attention to the chalk board.

Kevin placed his hand on Iyana's shoulder and gave a tight squeeze, "Do you hear your mother talking to you?"

Iyana didn't flinch, she continued to stare at the chalk board, the tears steadily flowing down her face.

And without a second thought, Kevin snatched Iyana out of her chair, pulling her to her feet.

"Answer me, little girl."

Iyana looked at Kevin, hatred seemingly reeking from every single pore, before she snatched away. "GO TO HELL!"

Iyana's outburst caught Penelope off guard, but before she could say anything, Kevin backhanded Iyana clean across the mouth.

Before Penelope could intervene a calm soothing voice could be heard behind them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lynch?"

Penelope turned to see Mrs. Kendricks, Iyana's home room teacher standing behind them. Penelope gave her a soft smile as she turned.

"Hello, Mrs. Kendricks."

Mrs. Kendricks eyes landed on Iyana, her eyes turning hard as she met Penelope's gaze.

"Mrs. Lynch, do you and your husband normally discipline your children in this manner?"

Penelope stared at Mrs. Kendricks, before answering, "How we discipline our children is none of your business."

"It becomes my business when I see a child being physically abused."

"She was out of line," Kevin interjected. "She needs to remember her place."

Mrs. Kendricks glanced at Kevin before turning back to Penelope. "Who is Derek Morgan?"

Penelope head cocked to the side, "Excuse me?"

"Who is Derek Morgan?"

Penelope took a deep breath before answering, "He's-"

Kevin spoke forward, "He's nobody important."

Mrs. Kendricks watched as Iyana flinched at the comment. "He must be somebody important if his shooting, caused Iyana to have an emotional breakdown in class."

Penelope's body lurched forward, "Shooting? What are you talking about?"

"Every morning the students watch the news, to learn and discuss current events and they flashed that the arrest of an serial rapist in Topeka, Kansas, led to the shooting of FBI Agent Derek Morgan."

Penelope turned her attention to Iyana who was standing there arms folded tears streaming down her face. She instantly wrapped her arms around her daughter.

"Baby, I'm so sorry."

Iyana broke away from her and shook her head. "Don't touch me."

"Yana-"

"No," Iyanna held up her hand as she moved away from her mother, "What if he's dead? Do you know what it's like to watch the news and-" Iyana never finished her sentence, she just shut down and turned her attention back to the wall.

Penelope had always had her fears about Derek and his job. She respected and understood why he did what he did. Yet, what Penelope was becoming to recognize as a pattern, was that she had not considered the damage that she had done to her child, by pushing Derek away.

Penelope looked at her Mrs. Kendricks and gave her a sad smile, "Derek, is Iyana's biological father."