Chapter 6- secrets

"Lets go to the park please Ginger" Manny wined

It was 2 months after Manny and Craig first saw each other again. They had clicked and Manny remembered what it was that made her fall in love with him. Manny was now the one begging Ginger to go to the park. Even though Manny wanted to hate Craig she had some sort of magnetism to him that made her want to be with him at all times. They called each other now and always wanted to take there kids to the park.

"Fine mom" Ginger exclaimed

"Now go play" Manny said pointing to Missy

Ginger ran to Missy in the sandbox and helped her dig a hole.

"Your mom make you come here?" Missy asked

"Yeah did your dad make you come here?" Ginger asked

"Yeah, Manny is all he talks about now. I think he wants to marry her or something"

"Craig is all she talks about too. I think she wants to marry him" Ginger replied

"That's great" Missy said with a smile

"I know" Ginger squealed

They gave each other a high five and started digging there holes again.

Meanwhile….

"Hi, sorry I took so long I had to talk Ginger into coming to the park"

"I know it was hard to convince Missy"

"So…I know this is kind of rude to ask but what happened that would make Ginger's dad leave?"

"I don't know. Maybe he didn't' love me anymore. Maybe he thought I was annoying but I don't like to talk about that time. I hated the time in my life you know?"

"Why?"

"I was a mess then. I neglected Ginger, I mean I wasn't feeding her, giving her baths, or giving her any type of love. I was just a mess. I don't tell many people, acsually I don't' tell anyone but do you want to hear the story?"

"Sure"

"Ok, Ginger's dad and I got in a big fight and he said he was never coming back. I thought he was kidding. I waited a couple of days and he didn't come back then a couple of weeks and he still didn't come. I lost all hope. I started doing drugs, and drinking more. I wasn't taking care of Ginger at all" Manny said about to cry "I did the only thing I could do to keep her safe. I'm a good mother I really am and I didn't' want to do it but I did to keep her safe."

"What did you do?"

Flashback-

2 years ago….

"Ginger your going to go to Aunty Emma's house today ok?" Manny asked

"Yeah" Ginger said

Manny was packing Ginger's stuff into a small suitcase.

"Mommy, why are you packing my stuff?" Ginger asked

"Because you are going to go have a sleepover at Aunty Emma's!" Manny said with a smile trying to hold back the tears that were going to come out

"Oh, I love to sleep over at Aunty Emma's including with the new baby!" Ginger exclaimed

Manny stopped packing Gingers stuff and looked at her. She gave Ginger a smile.

"You know I love you right Ginger" Manny said giving her a hug

"Yeah I know you love me mommy"

"I just want you to know that, I want you to remember that everyday" Manny said a tear rolled down Manny's cheek

Ginger wiped it away. "Mommy why are you crying"

"I'm crying because I'm going to miss you" Manny said with a smile "Now let's go"

Manny drove to Emma's house. Every five minuets she would look in the back to see if Ginger was there. If she was a live and every time she looked back Ginger would give her a smile. That is when Manny knew why she was doing this, because she was taking care of her little girl. She didn't like having Ginger seeing like this and the only thing she could do was help.

Manny got to Emma's house and brought Ginger to the front door. Manny took out a note from her pocket and handed it to Ginger.

"Give this to Aunty Emma or Uncle JT when they open the door"

"Ok mommy" Ginger said with a smile

"I love you Ginger" Manny said "I love you very much and that's why I'm doing this because I love you."

"Ok mommy"

"I love you, you love me we're a happy family with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you won't you say you love me to" Manny and Ginger sang together.

"I'm going to go now Ginger but don't ring the door bell until I leave" Manny managed to say tears streaming down her cheeks "I'm going to miss you"

She gave Ginger one more last hug and then started walking away.

"Bye mommy see you tomorrow" Ginger said waving her hand with a smile. Manny drove away uncontrollable tears flowing and Ginger rang the doorbell.

Emma came to the door.

"Hi Ginger, where's your mom?" Emma asked

"She left. She said I'm sleeping over"

"Oh ok. I didn't know but it's still fine for you to sleepover. Go put your stuff in your room"

"She told me to give you this!" Ginger said handing Emma the note

Emma took the note from Ginger's hand and Ginger ran into the house. Emma shut the door and sat on the couch.

Dear Emma,

I love Ginger very much but I am lost right now. I can't take care of her. And since I love her I have decided to leave her with you and JT. You are one of my closest friends and I trust you to take care of my kid since I can't right now. I'm going to come back as soon as I get myself cleaned up. I just want Ginger to have a better life that I can't give her right now. I love you and I love Ginger. And please tell her that every day. That I'm not leaving her, that I'm just on vacation. Thanks a lot Emma.

You best friend,

Manny Santos

Manny was now crying.

"I loved her Craig, so that's why I did it. And I know this sounds bad and dumb but I had to find myself. I didn't want Ginger to see me in all the pain I was in I didn't want her to go through with that. I loved her Craig" Manny said now crying on Craig's shoulder

"I know you loved her" Craig said patting Manny on the back

"I feel like such a bad mom" Manny said in tears

"You're not a bad mom you did what was best for your kid. Everyone makes mistakes. And not everyone can fix them back but there is a mistake I want to fix Manny"

"You want to bring Missy's mom back to life?" Manny asked

"No, I want you to go out with me"

"Craig I can't" Manny said

"I know you don't' want to get hurt again but I wont' hurt you Manny I'm was dumb and stupid then"

"Craig it's not you I just can't"

"Why?"

"Because..." Manny started

"Becuase what?"

"Craig...I'm getting married"