Lessons Learned

Chapter 8

"Daddy!" I sob when he opens his front door.

"What did Brantley do now?! I'll kill him!" he yells before taking me into his arms.

"It wasn't Brant this time. Can you call Stacey to come over?" I sniffle.

"Of course, baby," he tells me before ringing Stacey and Brady's house.

"I don't know, Stace. She's hysterical, but said it wasn't BG this time. She asked me to call you. I know nothing. She wants you here before she says anything." My dad doesn't realize that I can hear everything he's saying.

Ten minutes later, Stacey is opening the front door.

"So, what's going on? Are you okay, sweetie?" she asks me worriedly.

I take a deep breath and blow my nose. My mouth is gaping open like a fish as I try to find the words. "A woman came into the school today. She asked to speak privately with me. I didn't have time during the day, obviously because I had to teach my kids. I told her I would meet her at the cafe around the corner. Nikki agreed to follow us there. Oh god, she's probably freaking out. I need to call her. Anyway, I met the woman there. I asked who she was and she was hesitant to tell me. Finally, she told me that her name is Sophia." I look up at my dad to see his reaction. I notice him tensing up. "She told me that she was my mother," I finish before a new batch of tears begins to fall.

"That bitch! How dare she show her face!" Stacey yells before getting up to pace.

"Stacey, think of the baby. You can't get yourself too worked up. Calm down," my dad tries to be the voice of reason. "Listen girls, I know your mother left us, but maybe she had her reasons. I'm not saying they were good reasons or that she was right for leaving, but maybe there's things that we don't know. Maybe we should hear her out," he speaks cautiously.

Stacey and I exchange glances. "I want nothing to do with her. She didn't want us. I don't want her," Stacey states calmly before standing up and leaving the house.

"I want Brantley," I whisper as I wipe away tears.

My dad puts his arms around me and holds me close. "Every thing's going to be alright, darling. You just wait and see."

~ BG POV ~

I wake up to the sound of Briel's ring tone. "Hey baby girl. I miss ya'," I whisper.

"Brantley," Bri cries and sniffles.

I sit straight up in bed. "What's wrong, darlin'? Are ya alright? Is it mama? Stacey?"

"No. Nothing like that. We're all fine. I'm sorry I scared you," she whispers sadly.

"Then why is mah baby girl cryin'?" I ask her curiously.

"A woman came t-to sc-school today. She w-wanted t-to talk to me. She to-told me her name was So-Sophia and that sh-she's my mom," Briel breaks down crying into the phone.

"Oh baby girl. I'm so sorry. I wish I was there right now. I don't know what to say. What did you say to her?" I ask her nervously. Mah poor baby is so strong.

"I to-told her that I-I didn't have a m-mother and I left her si-sitting there," Briel lets out dis cute lil' hiccup.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. What can I do for ya? I don't know how to help ya," I tell her, helplessly.