“I didn’t know what you would do.”
“So you assumed what I would do?”
“I heard what you said!”
“I don’t remember that conversation very well. It was years ago. But I’m sure I said it to pacify my mother. I didn’t think for one minute you were pregnant, so I said something to shut her up, so she’d be more at easy and not attack you verbally. I was trying to smooth out the situation.”
“I couldn’t lose my child. I didn’t have a lawyer. I couldn’t afford one. You hadn’t paid me yet. I didn’t think I had a chance in hell against your rich mother. You know she would’ve come after me like a lion chasing after an elk.”
“You’re right. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. She would’ve come after the baby. But you had me fighting for you in your corner.”
“I didn’t know if you’d turn against me.”
“You didn’t even give me a chance,” he said. “And for the record, I wouldn’t have deserted you. I would’ve stood right there by your side.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve never felt such guilt in my entire life.”
“If we wouldn’t have run into each other like this, I would’ve never even known I had two children in this world. And we both know you would’ve never told me.”
“I’m begging you for forgiveness,” Bella said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make you forgive me. I know our shot at love is long and gone. And I’m so sorry we lost something so wonderful, but we can remember the good times. Because we sure had some. And we could remain friends, for the sake of the children. We have to get along for them because we both love them that much and want what’s best.”
“Resentment is the poison you feed yourself when you won’t forgive someone. Refusing to forgive is living in the past. And I refuse to live in the past. I don’t want years of future conflict between us. And I never meant to hurt you with some of the things I’ve said. It wasn’t intentional, but I was my heart was aching.” He swallowed hard, then looked at her. “I know you’ve suffered just as much as me. I know how hard it was for you to leave me and hide the kids. But you did it because you feared losing them.”
A tear dripped down her face.
“Let’s move onto the future. You have a wonderful life that lies in front of you. You have a career and beautiful children. And you have a man that wants to get to know his children and be a father in their lives. So stop worrying about what happened. That was then, and this is now.”
More tears slid down her face. “I think that this can be a healing journey for both of us.”
He suddenly embraced her in a tight hug. “I think so too, but it’s going to take time and be a long process.”
She embraced him in that hug. She sobbed into his chest and he stroked her hair, telling her everything was going to be all right. Bella had never felt so free. She could feel the guilt slowly drifting away. She wouldn’t let it eat her up inside. Harvey was right. They had to forgive the past and move forward. They could both have a wonderful life. They could work out a custody arrangement that worked well for both of them. The kids would love to have their father in their lives. It would be good for the kids and give them a stable life.
As he continued to hug her, she knew he was a good man. He wouldn’t pull any fast ones. She was sure of it. The two of them could make this work out. Maybe their relationship ended, but they were both still parents to their children. Both of them needed to be present so they could raise two healthy, happy children. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew they could face it together and support one another. They could take on anything that life threw at them. And they both had the highest purpose: their children’s wellbeing.
“We can sort this out together,” Bella said. “Getting along together is critical to our kids’ stability. And I think we can do this without getting lawyers involved.”
“We can make a shared parenting plan with a visitation schedule, their education, finances, medical plan, holidays, special events, and decision-making guidelines.”
“I want to include you in everything.”
“And I want to really get to know the kids. I want to be a part of their lives. I know if you give me the chance, that I can be a really good father.”
She gazed up at him. “I know you could be. And I’ll try to help them feel connected to you.”
“What if you remarry?”
“Doesn’t matter. You are their father. That will never change.”
Tears welled up in his eyes, and he couldn’t speak. Bella touched his hand softly.
“Thank you for letting me into their lives,” he said.
“I think it’s best we don’t dwell on what happened, but start new,” she said.
Harvey dragged her against him like a drowning man, like he needed her more than anything. His mouth found hers and hi
s kiss was desperate, punishing, his lips forcing hers apart roughly, his tongue plundering her mouth until her knees went weak and she had to sway against him, cling to him or fall down.