Chapter Twenty-Three: Moving On

For the first few days after the results were delivered, Manny stayed in her room and sulked. She only got up to take care of the twins and go to the bathroom. She barely ate anything either. Even though Manny had the phone number of Chris' relative in the states, she decided not to call. She wanted him to decide for himself whether to come back or not. After three days, Emma went straight to the Daniels' house and made Manny get up.

"You're done sulking Manny! You need to be a proper mother to your children. Why don't we take them on a walk? It's beautiful outside," Emma suggested.

"I don't want to go anywhere. I'd rather stay here. Chris isn't coming back," Manny replied, crying.

"So what if he doesn't? You don't need to cry over him anymore. What you need to do is start thinking about Lily and Lucas, especially their future. Heather and Jason aren't going to be able to support the three of you forever. They have four children of their own to think of," she explained to her best friend. It was hard for Emma to see Manny acting like this, so she knew she had to do something to help her. She noticed that Manny sat up straight and stopped crying.

"You know what Em? You're right!" she exclaimed. "Will you help me look for a job today?"

"Of course I will," Emma told her. The girls got Lily and Lucas dressed and grabbed their strollers from the little room with all the baby supplies in it. Manny called Jason down and asked him if he could help bring the strollers upstairs. Then Emma and Manny strapped the babies in their car seats, brought them upstairs, and clicked the car seats into the strollers. "We're going to find Manny a job," Emma told Jason and Heather. Everyone said their goodbyes and they were off.

"I need to go talk to my parents about something first," Manny said to Emma as they walked away from the house. They arrived at her parents' house about five minutes later, and Manny knocked on the door. She thought she saw someone in the upstairs window, but when she looked a second time, she didn't see anyone. After ringing the doorbell twice, she tried the handle to see if it was locked, and it was. She grabbed her keys out of her purse and unlocked the door with her old key. Emma helped her carry the strollers up the steps and into the house. "Mom! Dad!" she called up the stairs. "I need to talk to you! I'll be in the living room." They sat down on the couch and waited. Sure enough, Manny heard her parents coming down the stairs.

"Manuela, Emma," Mr. Santos acknowledged them without saying hello.

"We didn't hear you dear," Mrs. Santos said; a fake smile on her face.

"Did you want to even look at your grandchildren?" Manny asked coldly. Her parents walked over and peered into the strollers, but did not ask to hold them.

"They're beautiful babies," her mother commented and sat down.

"This is Lily Adila and Lucas Wade Santos," Manny said proudly. She had given them her last name on their birth certificates, and was glad that she did.

"Those are very nice names," her father said and sat down next to his wife. "But why did you come here today?"

"I thought you'd might like to at least see them since you didn't come to the hospital. They are ten days old. However, I also came to ask you about my money that is in the bank. I need to get it, and I can't without your permission until I turn eighteen," Manny explained.

"What do you need the money for?" Mr. Santos said, raising his voice a little.

"I need to buy a car. I've had my license for six months now. I need to be able to bring Lily and Lucas places without having to walk," she told them.

"Well Manuela, that money is for college, so no, you cannot have it," Mrs. Santos said, without discussing it with her husband first.

"But mother!" Manny started to say.

"No buts Manuela. Do not argue with your mother. I agree with her completely. You are only seventeen, so for another year we have a say in how the money is spent. If that is the only reason you came, then I suggest you leave," her dad said, getting up and moving towards the door. He opened it and held his hand out, a gesture that commonly means 'get out of my house.'

"It was nice seeing the babies dear," Manny's mom said, being as fake as the smile on her face. Manny stormed out of the house with Emma close behind her. She didn't bother saying goodbye. When they were around the corner and the house was out of sight, Manny stopped and turned toward Emma.

"They don't even remember how old their daughter is! I'm sixteen and my birthday isn't until July 25th…" Emma interrupted her before she said anything else.

"Today is your birthday Manny!"

"Today's the 25th?" she asked.

"Yes it is. I was waiting to see when you would figure it out. Once we're done looking for a job, I'm taking you out to lunch to celebrate. Happy Birthday Manny!" Emma said.

"Thanks Emma. I don't know what I'd do without you," Manny said, hugging her.

They walked all the way to the mall, which wasn't very far, and began looking for a job. Manny didn't want to go to The Dot in case Chris came back and they weren't on good terms. She didn't want to have to work with him. Emma suggested a bunch of stores that were hiring, but Manny kept turning them down. Finally, they were walking by Cassandra's Boutique, their favorite clothing store, and Manny noticed a 'Help Wanted' sign in the window. She ran in and asked for an application. It took her ten minutes to fill out, and when she handed it back, the manager told her that she had time for a quick interview.

"I'll be right back. They want to interview me now!" Manny squealed to Emma. She followed the manager to the back room where her office was. Fifteen minutes later, Manny came out to find Emma holding Lily, who was crying. Manny took her from Emma and yelled out, "I got the job Em! Hey guys, mommy just got a job," she told the twins, even though they couldn't understand her.

"Congratulations Manny!" Emma said, excited for her.

"Thanks, I start on Monday and I work during the week from 3:00 to 8:00 at night. That way I'll still be able to work when school starts. Oh, she needs a diaper change," Manny said, referring to Lily. They went to the bathroom and Manny changed her diaper, then Emma took Manny to her favorite restaurant and they ate lunch. The walk home took about twenty minutes. Lily and Lucas fell asleep on the way. It was the busiest day they'd had since they were born and they were very tired.

"I guess they all went somewhere," Manny said when she noticed that Heather and Jason's van wasn't in the driveway. She pulled out her keys once again, but this time was glad that she was unlocking the door to her real home. Emma and Manny lifted the strollers up the steps and took the car seats out of them. They put the strollers in the closet next to the door. Jason told her that morning that she could keep them in the closet so they wouldn't have to drag them up from her room every time they wanted to go out.

Manny didn't feel like going down to her room, so the girls went into the living room to watch some TV. When she walked in, someone flipped up the light switch.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone yelled as they jumped up. "Happy Birthday!"

"Oh thanks you guys!" Manny said and began to cry. This time she was crying because she was happy to have so many people who cared about her. Everyone who had gone to her baby shower was at the party. It lasted for three hours, and she got a bunch of presents. Before everyone left, Jason and Heather gave Manny her present from them.

"It's out in the garage," Heather said. She made Manny cover her eyes and led her to the garage. Jason opened the door for them.

"Open your eyes," he told her. Manny opened them and gasped.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She yelled and hugged them both.

"It's not brand new, but in pretty good shape," Jason said.

"There are only 2,000 miles on it," Heather added. They had gotten her a used Chevy Avalanche. It was black and Manny had always wanted one.

"I love it!" Manny squealed and jumped in the front seat. "Can I take it for a spin?" she asked.

"It's yours. You can do whatever you want with it." Heather told her. Jason went inside and got Lily and Lucas, who were still in their car seats. He helped Manny strap them in the car.

"Come on Emma! I'm taking you home!" she yelled into the house. Before she left, she thanked everyone for their presents. They were all going home anyway.

"Be careful!" Jason and Heather yelled after her as she drove off. Manny arrived at Emma's house before Spike and Snake. Emma waited until they got there because she forgot to take her house key to Manny's.Before she got out of the truck, Manny gave her a hug.

"Thanks for today Em," she said. "I really needed it."


A few weeks went by and Manny loved her new job. Since work started at 3 and Heather didn't get home from work until 5, Emma agreed to go over to Manny's and watch the twins until Heather got home. Quinn, Anthony, and Caleb stayed at day care until Jason picked them up on his way home from work (Jayden took a bus from school to the daycare center). Manny tried to pay Emma and Heather for watching the twins, but neither of them would accept the money. Lily and Lucas were already a month old, and Manny was surprised at how fast the time went by. One day after work, she was in the kitchen, helping Heather make dinner, when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Heather told her. "Just finish what you're doing." She went to answer the door and yelled to Manny. "It's for you," she said.

"Just tell whoever it is to come in," she yelled and put the baby monitor down on the table. Lily and Lucas were downstairs sleeping in their cribs. The bassinets were put away in the baby room off to the side because they had gotten too big for them.

Manny was not prepared to see Chris. He had been gone for so long that she didn't think he was ever coming back. Instead of being happy that he was there, an intense feeling of rage came over her. She ran toward him and pushed him as hard as she could. He fell against the wall next to the kitchen table.

"You asshole!" she screamed, and slapped him in the face.

"I deserved that," was all he managed to say.

"You left us!" she continued to yell. "You abandoned your children and I hate you!"

"I'm the father?" Chris asked, surprised.

"Of course you are! But you're not a very good one," she said, between sobs. "You missed the first month of their lives. You missed so many important things that you are never going to get back!" With each word, Manny was slamming her fists against his chest.

"Manny! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he said, beginning to cry as well. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"Sometimes sorry isn't good enough!" she screamed, her face red and her makeup, mixed with tears, streaming down her face. It was the last thing she said before collapsing from all the emotion. Chris caught her in his arms and stood her up, supporting her with his body. He kissed the top of her head and held her there. They cried together, unable to decide what should be done.

"I love you Manny," he whispered in her ear.

A/N: The End! I'm glad I finally finished the story. Don't worry, there will definitely be a sequel (I've already started working on it).By the way, Cassandra's Boutique is a real store in Canada...it's really a lingerie store, but in here it's just a regular clothing store. I picked that one because of the name and Manny's real name (Cassie). Tell me what you think.