Redemption.

Chapter 2: Strangers

Friday, May 15. 7:28 PM

Diamond

It took a hell of a lot of persuasion to get Anthony to agree with our trip back to Atlanta. It would be my first time back there in over a year, the last time I seen Owen. He decided to come also. This decision was probably the most nerve-racking one ever. I don't want any problems there while I'm just trying to enjoy time with my son. It'll break me if Anthony and Patrick does anything while we stay there.

We spent most of our day packing a weeks worth of clothes for our stay in Atlanta. I thought about getting a hotel, but then I remembered mine and Owen's room at my mom's house. The news of my visit with the boys left her ecstatic. It would be the first time she has met them in person also. Tammy hasn't seen them in person yet either. When I called and told her about our visit, she was also happy. I zipped my last suit case up, and carried it out to the car. Our flight departs at 10:20 PM, so we grabbed something to eat before we left to the airport.

The boys were asleep once we reached our gate, Anthony had earphones in listening to music, and I was just waiting, keeping track of time. When 10:15 hit, everyone boarded the plane to Atlanta. Once we sat in our seats, I relaxed my mind for this 3 and a half hour flight.

"Babe...babe," My eyes flew open from Anthony's voice. "We're here."

I sat up in my chair stretching in the process. My eyes peered out the window. The sky was dark, and the plane was pulling up to the gate. I looked over to see that the boys were still asleep. Once the plane stopped and it was safe to exit, every passenger got up and grabbed their baggage. Anthony woke Christian and Antonio up, then we left to baggage claim.

After a few hours, we had rented out a car and left on our way to my mom's house. I laid my seat back and shut my eyes, letting the soft music sooth my soul. The kids fell asleep, and Anthony laid back in his seat, gripping the steering wheel with one hand. Almost two hours passed and we finally hit my mom's street. I lifted my seat up, my stomach itched with nervous butterflies.

7:34 AM

We grabbed all of our suit cases out of the trunk and ambled onto the porch. I knocked a few times and waited for my mom to answer. "Hi! Oh my God, I missed you so much," my mom told enthusiastically after she opened the door. She gave me a tight hug, in the process she saw the boys standing with Anthony. "Oh my God," my mom gasped. She let me go then hurried to the boys, pulling both into a warm hug and kissing them on the forehead.

"Hi 'buela," Antonio and Christian said, hugging back. My mom rose up, greeted Anthony and we all stepped inside. We dropped our bags and took a seat on the couch.

"So, how's everything been back in Puerto Rico?" My mom asked after we settled on the couches.

"Everything has been going great, we finally found ourselves a new home, no problems," I exclaimed while Christian hugged up under me, wanting to be babied.

"That's good, that's good," she replied. "I don't know if Patrick has told you or not, but he's throwing a party for Owen. It's going to be here in the backyard at two."

"No, he never told me." I said, rubbing my fingers through Christian's curls. This whole trip has tired me out, I just want to sleep.

"Well," my mom started, rising up from the sofa, "I know you all had a long trip, so I know you're tired. I'll be up in my room if you need anything." With that she left up to her room. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I grabbed my phone and set an alarm for 10 o'clock, afterwards we all were out like light, stretched out on both couches.