No Regrets

Chapter 2

     I looked at him surprised, "How can you be my dad? You look nothing like him." My dad was a blonde hair, blue eyed man and the person sitting in front of me was the complete opposite of him. 

     He stared at me with such affection only a father could have and answered, "Because I am not that man your mother raised you to call 'dad.' I am, however, your real dad." He noticed the confusion taking over my face and asked, "Maggie, do you know what a stepdad is?"

     I shook my head, "No I don't. What is that?"

     He took a long inhale and began, "Well, when a mom and dad fall in love, they can sometimes decide to have children. And sometimes they fall out of love and because of this they separate, that's called a divorce." He looked at my puzzled face and continued, "When a divorce happens, mom falls in love again. But with someone else, no longer dad. They will get married which would make that man the child's stepdad. In your case, me and your mom had you but when you were still in her stomach, we left each other. She was in love with Liam and had married. That would make Liam your stepdad." He pointed at himself, "I am your dad and that will never change. Does that make sense?"

     I exclaimed, although it was a lot of information, I understood the best I could. Mom had me when she and him were married and then they stopped loving each other. Mom married my dad, and he was my dad from then on. "Why did you never tell me?" I wondered why I had never met him. He looked so kind and gentle unlike dad, and I wished he had raised me instead of dad. 

     He looked taken aback and had to think on it momentarily, "Because I could not find you. Liam took mom away and I was not able to find out where he had taken you both. Until now! That's why I am visiting you today."

     This was a lot of information to process and I had trouble understanding it fully. But from what he told me, I was able to grasp that the man that hurt my mom and made me scared to be around him, would never come back into my life. My real dad has come to save me and to protect us both from dad. "I'm glad you found me, dad!" I said wanting to hug him but was afraid to as I never hugged dad- Liam, I never hugged Liam.

     We both stood in an awkward silence, not knowing what to do. I had my reason but as for my real dad, I wondered why he did not hug me like mom did. His kindness and loving eyes he had when he looked at me made me believe he was as affectionate as her. He smiled with warm eyes at me, and he began to talk, "I haven't seen you in so long! Where do you go to school?"

     My heart began to beat fast, I had so much to tell him about everything, "I go to Redwood Elementary School!"

     "What grade are you in?"

     "I'm in first grade, my teacher is Ms. Miller."

     His look saddened, realizing how much time had passed since he last saw me over six years ago. Dad had missed my first word, steps, first day of kindergarten, all the accomplishments a parent was ecstatic to see. He missed it all because of Liam who stole it all away and he was not there to see my first accomplishments; memories my mom would cherish forever, and my real dad would mourn. But he quickly put on a smile and kept asking me questions, "Is she nice to you? Or is she mean?"

     "She is super nice! We had a pizza party, and I ate so much pizza." I dreamt about today's pizza party. Ms. Miller had bought two boxes of pizza for us to have and after slicing each slice in half, she passed out our juice and small pizza slice. Though small, I did not mind, thankful that we had got the pizza instead of the other classes which had none. 

     "Do you have any friends there?"

     I nodded, "I have one best friend, his name is Jaime. But I have a lot of friends; I talk to everyone in my class." Extroverted by nature, I was, capable and willing to talk to anyone and everyone. It's what made therapy so easy for me to fall into. Dr. Jones would say something, and I'd reply with such joy. Everyone in my grade knew me and underclassmen and older classmen would sometimes talk to me too.