*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. thank-you so much.
Angelina:
Tonight I am going out to dinner with my mom. She told me she has a surprise for me but won't tell me what it is. I know that Max isn't coming with us and she told me I can't tell Max. I like secrets with my mom. It must be really big if she isn't telling Max. They love each other a lot. Well, when they don't fight they love each other a lot. My mom gave me a white dress with pink, yellow, green and blue polka dots for me to wear. She brushed my hair out and left it hanging down. Now I know tonight is a special night. I am sitting in the car with my mom as she drives us to a restaurant. "Mom, are you going to tell me where we are going yet?" I ask. I really want to know. I hate not knowing.
"No, Angelina, not yet. It's a surprise," she says.
"Am I going to like this surprise?" I ask.
She is quiet before she says, "I hope so but I just want you to know you may not like it at first but it will grow on you."
"Is it a puppy? I really want another puppy," I say with excitement in my voice as I picture a little yellow puppy in my head. Peaches would love to have a doggie friend.
"No it's not a puppy," she says.
"Okay," I say sadly. I wish it was a doggie but it has to be something bigger I just don't know what. We pull into the Olive Garden parking lot and my mom parks the car.
She turns back and looks at me. "Angelina, whatever happens tonight I just want you to know that I love you."
"I love you too, Mom," I say. I don't know what she means. What is happening tonight? The thoughts are in my mind as she gets out of the car and comes to my door to help me out. I take her hand and walk with her over to the door. When we get to the door the man from the hotel is standing there waiting for us. I look up at him and I am confused. I have no idea what is going on.
John:
I am standing at the door of the Olive Garden waiting for Angelina and Natalie. I don't know how I am feeling right now. I am nervous and excited at the same time. I am a man that performs in front of millions of people but right now I have butterflies in my stomach for this one little girl; my daughter. "Hi," I say as they approach me.
"Hi," says Natalie with a half smile. I can tell she's nervous. She is just as nervous as me.
"Hi, Angelina," I say looking down at her.
She looks up at me with her blue eyes and says, "Hi," but it is a really quiet hi. She's not as outgoing as she was a couple nights ago. I wonder if she's intimidated by me because Max isn't around. "Mom, what's going on?" she asks. She's smart. She obviously picks up on our nervousness.
"We're having dinner with my friend. You remember John don't you?"
"Yes," she says looking at her mom. "But why are we out to dinner with him? Is this my surprise?"
"Part of it," says Natalie. "Shall we go in?"
"We shall," I say as I hold the door open for them to enter the restaurant. Natalie tells them we have a reservation and we are directed to a private location which I enjoy to the fullest. Being a WWE entertainer I get a lot of attention. I really don't want a lot of attention on this particular night. I want to be with Natalie and my daughter. We are seated and given menus.
"Mom, I want spaghetti," says Angelina. She didn't even have to look at the menu before she decided what she wanted. I am guessing she likes Olive Garden.
"Okay," says Natalie, "what do you want to drink?"
"Sprite," she says.
"Okay," says Natalie.
I look over my menu and start up a conversation with Angelina. "So Angelina, do you like to called Angelina or Angie or what?" I ask.
"I like Angelina," she says. "That's the name my mommy gave me because I'm her angel."
"I think Angelina is a very pretty name," I say. "I like it."
"Thank-you," she says. "How do you know my mom?"
Angelina turns the questions back at me this time. "We are friends from a long time ago," I say.
"Cool," she says. "And you're famous?"
"Yes," I say with a smile, "but I am normal just like you and your mom."
"Yes he is," says Natalie with a smile.
"So Angelina," I say. "What grade are you in?"
"1st," she says. "But I'm about to be in 2nd grade."
"That's cool," I say. "I remember 1st grade. They were good times."
"But you're really old," she says.
"I'm not that old," I say.
"Yes you are," she says.
"Okay so I am a little old. So what's your favorite color?"
"Blue," she says.
"Not pink?"
"No," she says. "I don't like pink. I like blue and green."
"That's pretty cool," I say. "My favorite color is green."
"Cool," she says. "My mommy likes orange."
"I remember," I say looking at Natalie with a smile. She returns my smile back with one of her own. "So I heard you play t-ball and take dance lessons?"
"Yes," she says. "I do. I love t-ball and I love dance."
"That's cool. I used to love football when I was little."
"Oh," she says.
I know she probably doesn't care. I don't really know what else to say to her. I am in a strange position. I have never been here before. The waiter comes and takes our orders before leaving the table again. "So how do you like school?"
"I love school," she says. "School is so much fun."
"That's good. School is a good thing."
"I know," she says. "I have a father daughter dance coming up," she says. "And Max is going to take me because I don't really have a dad."
I look at Natalie and her face is turning red. "Why don't you have a dad?" I ask. I am just curious to hear what she will say. That is the only reason why I ask.
"My mom told me she loves my dad a lot but that they wanted two different things in life. She said they never worked out and they broke up before he knew about me but she told me that if my dad knew about me he would love me a lot. She said that she's sure he does love me even if he doesn't know about me," she says. It almost makes my eyes fill up with tears.
"I bet your daddy does love you and I bet you he loves your mommy too," I say looking at Natalie. She looks down at the table trying not to acknowledge my look. I can tell she's uncomfortable.
"Well," says Natalie, "How was school today, Angelina?" She changes the subject to further prove she is uncomfortable.
"It was good we are finishing up for the year," says Angelina.
"You don't have that much time left," says Natalie.
"I know," she says. "And I am sad. I don't want school to end."
"I know," says Natalie.
We are soon brought our food and we eat in silence but shortly after we eat Natalie and I look at each other giving the signal that it's time to tell Angelina the truth about who I am and what's going on. I am not sure I am ready for this. I'm not sure Natalie is ready for this.
Angelina:
John, my mom and I just finish eating and my mom says to me, "Angelina, John and I have to tell you something but what we tell you, you can't tell Max okay?"
"Okay," I say. I don't know what they have to tell me but it is a really big secret. I don't know why she doesn't want Max to know. Maybe she thinks they will fight again. They fight a lot.
I look at my mom and I can see she is starting to cry and I look at John and see he took my mom's hand. "Angelina, John," says my mom before she starts to cry.
"Mom, why are you crying? What's wrong?" I am really worried about my mom and worried about her crying. My mom is a strong woman and doesn't usually cry. She doesn't even cry when Max hurts her.
"Angelina," says John. "Your mom is trying to tell you that I am your father."
"You're my dad?" I ask. He can't be telling the truth. If he was friends with my mom why didn't she ever tell him?
"Yes," he says. "I am your dad. I never knew about you until yesterday."
"Mom, is this true? Is John my dad?" I ask. I feel like I want to cry but I don't know if I am sad or mad. I don't know if I am happy or what. I just want to cry. I'm only 7. I can't determine my emotions.
"Yes, Angelina. It's true. John is your dad."
"Mom, why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't know," she says. "I should have. I should have told your dad too but I didn't and I am sorry. I am really sorry. I love you."
"I know, Mom. I know you love me. So You are my dad?" I ask John.
"I am," he says. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. I wish I was."
"Me too," I say.
"I would like to be here now if that's okay. I want to get to know you and spend some time with you. Is that okay?"
I look at my mom. I don't know how I should feel. I want to spend time with John and I want him to know me. I want to know him too. I just don't know how I feel right now. "I guess it's okay," I say.
"I won't if you don't want me too," says John. "I want to be your father now. I want to be in your life but only if you'll let me."
I start to cry and my mom wraps her arms around me and John comes over to my side and sits down next to me. He wraps his arms around me too and lets me cry. They both let me cry. My mom is crying too. "Okay," I say. I want him to be in my life and I want him to be my father. "I want you to be my dad."
"I will be your dad," he says. "I promise. I will be here for you no matter what."
I feel my mom cry harder as John tells me this. "Okay," I say. That's all I can say. I don't have any other words to say but okay. This was a lot of information to take in but I really would like to know my dad. Now I see why Max isn't allowed to know. He won't be happy when he finds out. "Mom, why are you crying?"
"Because," she says, "I feel so bad. I kept you and your dad in the dark for 7 ½ years. I kept you from having a father and I kept him from having a daughter. I was selfish. I always wondered what it would be like when this day came," she says, "and now I know and I don't feel very good about it. This day should have happened on November 10th, 2004. I'm sorry, John and Angelina."
"It's okay," I say. "He is here now. It's okay."
"It's okay," says John. "WE already talked about this. It's okay. We can go from here. We are going from here," he says.
"Okay," says my mom.
"Angelina, what do you say I pick you up tomorrow to go out for ice cream and to take you to the park? Would you like that?" he asks me.
"I would like it," I say. "I would like it a lot."
"Good," he says. "We'll have fun."
"Okay," I say. "I like having fun."
After everything is done my mom and I go back home for the night. Max isn't there which upsets my mom even more. She told me to take a shower and when I was done she was on the phone trying to call Max. I walk over to her after I have my pajamas on and my hair brushed. "Mom," I say.
"Angelina," she says hanging up her phone and putting it down on the coffee table. She picks me up and puts me on her lap.
"Who were you calling?"
"I was trying Max again. He has his phone turned off. He's probably working late again tonight," she says. "And that's okay you and me had a crazy night huh?"
"The craziest," I say. "I like John."
"I do too," she says. "I'm glad I told him and I'm glad I told you. How do you feel?"
"I feel good," I say. I feel a lot better about it now. John seems like a nice guy. It's is worth giving him a chance.
"That's good," she says. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"It's okay," I say. "I still love you. You're not perfect. None of us are."
"I know," she says with tears in her eyes and a little laugh.
"Why are you crying?"
"Because I love you so much," she says.
"I love you too," I say.
"I just want you to know Angelina whatever happens you and me are going to be okay."
"Okay," I say.
"But now it's time for bed so let's go," she says as she stands up and carries me upstairs. I like when she carries me. It makes me feel like a baby again. She carries me to my bedroom and lays me down on my bed. She pulls the covers over me and kisses me good night. "Good night, Mommy."
"Good night," she says as she kisses my forehead. "I will see you in the morning."
"See you in the morning," I say with a smile. She turns my light off and leaves the room. As soon as she's gone I say my goodnight prayer. "Dear God, my mom is really sad. I don't know why. I just want her to be happy again. Thank-you for giving me a dad. I really like him. I can't wait till he takes me for ice cream tomorrow. Thank-you. And God if it wouldn't be too much trouble can you make my mom and dad fall in love again? I know it's asking a lot but I think my dad will make my mom happy. Max doesn't make her happy and I don't like Max that much. Please let my mom and dad fall in love again. It would mean a lot to me. In Jesus' name, Amen." I really want my mom and dad to fall in love again. I think that would be really cool and then we can be a family and Max can't hurt my mom anymore.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.