Orchards and Moonlight - a Mialotte story (TNN)

Dad

One afternoon, Carly found herself sitting across from Marjorie at the kitchen table in Marjorie and Reece's home. The air was thick with unspoken questions, the weight of their recent revelations still settling between them. Carly had come to terms with Marjorie being her biological mother, but there was one more question that had been gnawing at her ever since she found out the truth.

She fiddled with the edge of her sleeve, gathering the courage to ask the question that had been on her mind. Marjorie noticed Carly's unease and reached out, placing a reassuring hand on hers.

"Carly," Marjorie said gently, "you can ask me anything. I know there's still a lot you don't know."

Carly looked up, her eyes searching Marjorie's face for any sign of hesitation. She took a deep breath, deciding it was time to voice the question that had been lingering in the back of her mind.

"Who's my dad?" Carly asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Marjorie's face tightened, the pain of the past reflected in her eyes. She had been bracing for this question, knowing it was only a matter of time before Carly asked. Still, it didn't make it any easier to revisit those memories.

"Carly," Marjorie began, her voice tinged with sorrow, "your father... he wasn't a good man. He wasn't someone I chose to be with, not in the way that people usually choose."

Carly's heart sank, her mind racing as she tried to process what Marjorie was saying. "What do you mean?"

Marjorie looked down at her hands, struggling to find the right words. "He was someone who took advantage of me when I was very young. I was in a bad situation, and I didn't have the power to stop him. When I found out I was pregnant with you, I was terrified."

Tears welled up in Carly's eyes as the weight of Marjorie's words settled in. "So... you ran away?"

Marjorie nodded, her voice trembling as she continued. "Yes. I couldn't stay at home. My step-father and mother... they weren't supportive, and I knew I couldn't raise you there. I had nothing—no money, no help, and nowhere to go. But I couldn't let you be born into that kind of life, so I left. I did the only thing I could think of to protect you."

Carly's tears fell freely now, her heart breaking for the young girl Marjorie had been, forced into an impossible situation. "But you had to give me up," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

Marjorie nodded again, tears now streaming down her face. "Yes. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but I knew it was the only way to give you a chance at a better life. I didn't have the means to take care of you the way you deserved. You needed a stable home, with parents who could love and provide for you."

Carly reached out, taking Marjorie's hand in hers, her heart aching for the pain Marjorie had endured. "I'm so sorry, Marjorie. I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you."

Marjorie squeezed Carly's hand, her eyes full of love and relief. "It was hard, but it was worth it to know you were safe and cared for. I've thought about you every day since then, wondering if you were happy, if you were loved. And now, seeing you here... it makes everything I went through worth it. That day you walked into the nursery for an apprentice position, I knew that sooner or later you would find out the truth."

"I may have overheard you and Reece talking in your office a while back. I have your name?" Carly tilted her head, she had never Marjorie mention her full name.

"Yes. I was born, Marjorie Caroline Smith. When My mother got married, she made me change my last name to Van Gould, and when I had you, I got rid of the name Caroline. Giving it to you." Marjorie smiled at her girl. 

Carly nodded, tears still flowing as she looked at Marjorie with a newfound sense of respect and understanding. "Thank you for telling me the truth. I'm so glad to finally know the whole story, Marjorie. I can't change the past, but I'm here now, and I want to be a part of your life."

Marjorie smiled through her tears, her heart swelling with pride and love for the daughter she had never stopped thinking about. "I want that too, Carly. We've both been through so much, but now we have each other, and that's what matters most."

They sat together in silence, holding hands, both knowing that this conversation had brought them closer than ever. The truth was painful, but it had also opened the door to healing and a future where they could finally be a part of each other's lives.

As they sat together, the weight of their shared history slowly lifting, Carly hesitated, her heart pounding with a question that had been building inside her ever since she learned the truth. She looked at Marjorie, the woman who had given her life and made the hardest choice any mother could make. There was something she needed to know—something that felt both simple and monumental.

"Marjorie," Carly began, her voice soft and tentative, "I've been thinking... I mean, now that I know everything, I was wondering... would it be okay if I called you 'Mom'?"

Marjorie's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat as she processed Carly's words. Tears welled up in her eyes, but this time, they were tears of joy and overwhelming emotion. She had never dared to hope that Carly would see her as a mother after all these years.

"Oh, Carly," Marjorie whispered, her voice trembling. "You have no idea how much that would mean to me."

Carly felt a lump in her throat, her own tears threatening to spill over. "I know you have helped me a lot, and you have always been my work mom, and there's still so much to figure out, but... I feel like it's right. You've always been my mom, even if I didn't know it."

Marjorie reached out, taking Carly's hands in hers, her heart swelling with a love so profound it was almost overwhelming. "I've always thought of you as my daughter, Carly. Even before you knew. I would see you every day and just want to tell you, that wasn't my place, but you were never far from my thoughts. Hearing you say that... it's more than I ever dreamed."

Carly smiled through her tears, the bond between them growing stronger with every word. "Then it's settled. I'd love to call you Mom."

Marjorie pulled Carly into a tight embrace, her tears mingling with Carly's as they held each other. It was a moment of healing, of connection, and of love—a moment that neither of them would ever forget.

"I love you, Carly," Marjorie whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for giving me this gift."

"I love you too, Mom," Carly replied, the word feeling natural and right as it left her lips. As they sat there, holding each other, Carly knew that this was the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. They had found each other after so many years, and now, they had the chance to build a relationship that would honour the love they had always shared.

"Now since you and Reece are engaged, do you think I could call him dad?" Carly asked, slightly nervous. Much like Marjorie was her work mom, Reece was her work dad. He was always there for her, no matter what. Her cared for her and he loved her like she was his own. 

Before Marjorie could say anything, they heard a sniffle. Both women turned their heads to look at the sound. They see Reece standing in the doorway of the kitchen with tears in his eyes. Carly was scared of what he was going to say, but his words brought tears to her own eyes.

"Yes. You have always been like my daughter."