Chapter 12
We had spent the rest of the day celebrating with our family before heading to the dorm for the night. Laying in bed, Angel lays with his head on my chest and his hand on my stomach and he's quiet. "What are you thinking?" I ask. "About you and the kid." he says as he raises his head, looking at me. "Are you happy?" I ask. "I've never been happier. I got a beautiful wife and a kid on the way. It doesn't get better than this." he tells me. "Do you want a boy or a girl?" I ask. "I don't care as long as it's healthy." he tells me. "Same here. You know, I wanted kids. That was all I wanted but Thomas made sure it didn't happen for me. Then seeing his mistress…" I start. "Hey, everything happens for a reason amor. It's wasn't meant for you to have one with that fuck." he tells me. I look at him and say "I know that now. Angel, you've been so good to me. I honestly don't know how I lived without you before." I tell him. He moves to hover over me and he says "Well, let me show you how you get to live now mi amor." before kissing me softly. We start to shed clothes and he makes love to me nice and slow.
The next morning, I tell Angel, "I'm going to go to confession before work." Kissing me softly he asks "You want me to have the prospect stay with Letti?" I nod and say "I won't be long." He nods and we head out to the main room. "Prospect is going to take you to work. I'm headed to the church for a few. I won't be long." I tell her. "I got it." she says before hugging me. I walk into the church and to the back pew like I always do. I kneel and do the sign of the cross before thanking God for providing for me and asking for protection over my family and my unborn child. I see the confessional open and walk inside. "Forgive me father for I have sinned. It's been a couple of months since my last confession." I say. "How have you sinned my child?" he asks and I smile, recognizing the voice. "A couple of months ago, I ran into my late husband's mistress. His very pregnant mistress. I was jealous. I wanted to be a mother. I wanted a family and I was jealous that she was getting the child I wanted." I say. "That is understandable." he says. "I spoke to my husband about it and we talked about starting a family and now I am here, asking for forgiveness for being jealous so that I can truly be happy about the baby growing inside of me." I say. "Everything happens for a reason child. Everything you went through. All of your suffering, was not for nothing. It was to lead you to the love you found and the new life you've created. I believe you have sacrificed more than enough to be forgiven." he tells me and I smile.
After confession, I head to the shop and see Letti talking to a customer. She turns to face me and is holding a newborn. "Shannon. What are you doing here?" I ask. "I need to talk to you." she tells me and she looks exhausted. "Yeah. Okay." I say. "Letti, we'll be in my office." I tell her and she nods. We walk into my office and sit. "What did you name her?" I ask. "Lanie Marie. She's two weeks old." she tells me. I just nod. "I wanted to apologize. I knew Thomas was married and I start a relationship with him anyway. Now, he's gone and…" she starts and I cut her off. "You're rich and with a child to raise." I say. "I love the life I had, without children. I didn't want her but Thomas wouldn't let me abort her and now I'm stuck with her." she tells me. "What?" I ask. "I don't want her. I never wanted kids." she tells me. "Tell me why you're really here." I tell her. "I don't want her. Thomas always said you wanted kids but he didn't want them with you." she tells me. "What are you asking?" I ask. "I want you to adopt her and raise her. If not, I'll just dump her somewhere." I say. She puts the baby back in the carrier and stands. "You wanted kids? She's all yours." she says. "Shannon, wait. You can't just leave your baby here." I tell her. "Here's my card. Call me when you have a home for her then." she tells me before walking out. I sit down and Letti walks to the door. "What happened?" she asks. "I need to call Angel. She wants me to adopt the baby." I tell her and she looks at me shocked. The baby starts crying and I pick her up. As soon as she's in my arms, she stops crying. "I'll watch the front." Letti tells me. I pick up my phone and call Angel. Looking down at the baby in my arms, he answers and I say "I need you to come to the shop. We've got a problem." We end the call and I just look at Lanie. "I won't let anything happen to you baby girl." I say to her as she drifts back off to sleep.
Angel walks in and asks "Who's baby?" I look up at him and say "Shannon came by. She doesn't want her." I tell him. "What?" he asks, confused. "Thomas' mistress. Said she wanted to abort her and Thomas wouldn't let her. She doesn't want her." I say, looking back down at the baby. "How old is she?" he asks. "Her name is Lanie Marie and she's two weeks old." I tell him. "So, she won't know we aren't her parents." he tells me and I look up at him shocked. "I told you I wanted a big family." he says. "But this is Thomas' baby." I tell him. "No she's not. She's ours. I'll call Bishop and have him get the lawyer to draw up the papers. We'll adopt her." he tells me. I look at him and ask "Are you sure?" He kisses me softly and says "I'm sure baby. Lanie is ours." he says and I say "I love you." Smiling he says "I love you too." Two hours later, we are sitting in my office with Shannon and the club's lawyer and signing papers for Shannon to give up her rights to Lanie and for me and Angel to adopt her. As soon as the papers are signed I say "You can go. You're not needed here anymore." She snubs her nose in the air and says "I finally get my life back." I look at Angel and he says "Get the fuck out of here." he tells her and she leaves us in the office with the lawyer and the baby. We get home and see that one of the spare rooms has been set up for Lanie. "Vickie came by to set it up." Bishop says. "Please tell her thank you for me." I say and he nods. They all leave us alone and I sit on the couch, feeding Lanie with Angel sitting next to me. "Won't be long, we'll be feeding two babies." he says. I look at him and smile. "I want a big family too." I say and he kisses me before we watch our daughter drift off to sleep.
