Sinful Past

CHAPTER 5

Putting the pieces together

Dianna was completely devastated. She had nothing to be ashamed of but she did not want her business or her truth to come out like this. For days she was depressed and avoided school and talked to Paige and Isaiah who remained supportive despite all that came out. 

Hailey King had destroyed her life over a boy who was completely over her. Olivia hated seeing her daughter like this and tried to get her out of this depressed state. "Are you ready to go back to school? You can't stay home forever. None of this is your fault and the more you run away the harder it will be to move on. I support you 100% honey but you have to make a move," she held her hand sympathetically.

"Mom, I know you are right but it's hard," Dianna admitted hearing the doorbell ring. "Let me get it," Olivia indicated getting up to answer the door. Paige stood on the other end with a look of deep concern written on her face. Olivia was happy to see her and quickly invited her in. Paige walked directly over to her friend and hugged her. "When are you coming back? I miss you like crazy," Olivia kissed her daughter on her forehead and said, "I love you. I am going to the shop and I will be right back." Dianna hugged her mother for what felt like an eternity. 

Olivia looked up at her daughter. "I will always love you and be proud of you. You will know who you are in Christ. Nothing you face or go through changes that. Always listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying," she squeezed her one more time. Dianna watched her mother leave appreciating her even more.

Paige reached for her hand and held it gently. "I am here for you. I am right by your side and you are not alone. But you have to come back," Paige suggested. "I know you are right," Dianna admitted. "Besides that, you are missing all the action. Hailey's gotten a lot of backlash for letting all that information out. Thus, her social status has fallen drastically in school. And a certain Isaiah still wants to talk to you," Paige informed her.

"I don't know if I am quite ready to face him," Dianna answered honestly. "Fair enough but school is not an option," Paige said looking directly into her eyes. Dianna smiled looking at Paige's mothering nature. They continued to talk for hours when Dianna realized her mother was taking forever to return back home. 

  Dianna tried calling her mother and the call went to voicemail. Paige too started to wonder what was going on. Two police officers knocked at the door startling both girls. "Dianna Pearson," the female officer said sympathetically. "I regretfully inform you that your mother passed a few hours ago in a car accident."

Surviving The Storm

Dianna felt the wind knock out of her and cried inconsolably saying, " No, No... not my mother." The officers braced Dianna from falling backward. Paige and Dianna wept in each other's arms. 

 Dianna spent nights with insomnia thinking about her mother's last moments, the words or messages she said to her, and the new trajectory of her life. She could not sleep, hardly eat, and spent most of her time crying. She had no idea who she would live with because she was only sixteen with a handful of relatives. Dianna wanted her mother back so badly. The incident at school was mediocre to her now after losing the person she loved the most. Paige's family helped her to cope, make funeral arrangements, and packed everything away. 

 A few days after the funeral Dianna met her mother's half-sister Joy Renalls. Joy was different from her mother and Diannah picked up on it right away. Her mother rarely talked about her and Dianna felt Aunt Joy simply showed up because she wanted to get her hands on what few assets her mother left behind. "My beautiful niece," she showed up sobbing and pulling Dianna in a hug. "I am so sorry this happened," she said with puffy eyes. Dianna did not know how to respond to this woman. Aunt Joy wore expensive clothes and jewelry. Dianna could see she had expensive taste and wondered why she would even show up after all these years. 

"Aunt Joy is nice to meet you," Dianna said trying to be cordial when she pulled up at the house. "Baby, I had to come when they told me the news of my sister's passing and the option of putting you in foster care. I told them no niece of mind is going in that horrid system," both Paige and Dianna looked at each other. The realization hit home. Aunt Joy was from out of town and she would have to relocate.   

Paige's mom intervene knowing how close the girls were and how she loved Dianna as her own daughter. "Hello, Ms. Renalls I was a friend of your sister. I would not mind having Dianna stay with us until she goes to college," she suggested. "it is your call ma'am and whatever arrangement you would want to make instead of uprooting her at such a fragile time," she continued. Dianna saw the petite woman glare at Paige's mom with abrupt fire and disapproval for her interference. 

"You are not family. I am capable of taking care of my niece," Joy said bluntly. Dianna hated how Joy was so rude to the only people who had been her rock. "Paige and her family have treated me like their own and were the ones with me from I got the news of my mother's death. They are my family too," Dianna challenged her. 

Dianna could see her aunt did not like to be challenged. "Thank you but My niece is under my guardianship and I will gladly take it from here," she pointed out. Dianna's eyes burned with tears but she could not cry in front of this woman.  She hugged Paige and her mother as they left disappointed and concerned about Dianna's welfare and her new guardian. 

When they were gone Joy looked up at Dianna from head to toe. "Do you prefer those people over me?" she said. "It's not like that. I just have known them longer," Dianna said trying to settle the tension.

    "I am all you got and I suggest you be grateful and not act like a spoil little brat," Joy fumed regaining her fake composure. "Your mother acted as if she was better than me for years. I was the daughter from the affair and your mommy dearest was the child from wedlock. She had everything," Joy said bitterly. Dianna could see this woman was toxic and harboring resentment in her heart.   

"You did not like your sister so why do you want me?"  Dianna asked weary of the situation. "Because she no longer has a say," Joy gloated. Dianna wondered how Joy got her name because she seemed nasty and revengeful. 

"Don't delay this. You have no choice. I am blood and your cozy family does not have a say. You have two days to say goodbye and we leave for Atlanta," Joy smiled putting on her shades and kissing Dianna on the forehead. Dianna was at a loss for words. Within weeks her whole world had taken so many twists and turns. She did not know who she was anymore.