Angels Redemption

Chapter two: New dad?

(Iris's pov)
After stomping my way into my room I slammed myself down on my bed and screamed in my head, WHY?! WHY?! WHY?! Why did this have to happen? Why is this always happening? Tears pool in my eyes and you may think that's pathetic but I've had a very rough go at life and I just don't want to see anyone else get hurt. If one more bad thing happens I'm going to crumble like a buildings pillar that's reached its last years in life. I'm full of cracks and one more knock the wrong way, it's all coming down. Frustration seeps into my bones and I stare at the ceiling wondering what the hell I'm going to do? I had just decided to get up and stop mopping around when I hear a soft, tentative knock at my door.

Knock, knock.

"Iris are you in there? Can we chat? Can I come in?" Says John. Mom's fiancé. My stomach rolls with unease and I feel the bile burning the back of my throat. Getting up and slowly walking towards the door I open it up a crack and look at John with bleary eyes. "What do you want?" I croak out. He smiles softly and something in me makes me like him a little bit. He holds his hands up in a defensive motion and says "I would like to ask you if I can have your blessing to marry your mother." Shock radiates through me and I say "No one has ever asked me for anything." John, looking pleased, says "well there's a first for everything." Smiling slightly I move out of the way and let him enter my room. I keep the door open in case I need to run, but I'm starting to trust this man a little. It will take me a LONG time because every man my mom has claimed to love has hurt her in some way, shape, or form. So men to me are not to be trusted too deeply.

John looks around my room, and he gives a low whistle before looking at me and asking, "may I?" While pointing to my bed. I give him a tentative nod and he sits down on my bed. John looks at me and he says quietly, "Iris I know you have no reason to trust me, or that you have no reason to even accept me into your life. I'm sure you will be uncomfortable with the thought of having a man in the house for good, but I need you to know that I will not hurt you or your mother. I love your mother for who she is, flaws and all. Although to me she has none but that's not the point, the point is I will love your mother, your brother, and you all the same. I will take care of you and I will protect you until my dying breath"

I look at John with tears in my eyes, and I mumble, " I was going to say that 'that's what they all say' until you added the part about loving and protecting us until you die. I have never heard a man say that to me about my mother. Never. And I'm shocked." John looks at me confusedly and asks, "what do you mean by 'that's what they all say?'" I look at him in shock and gulp heavily.

What if mom didn't tell him because she's ashamed? Should I tell him? He needs to know if he wants to marry her. Breathing deeply I sit beside John, cross my legs, and breathe deeply. Looking into Johns eyes I say confidently but shyly, "you'd better hold on to your shorts cause it's a long story."
***
(3 hours later)
I have been in my room with John for three hours explaining everything to him. He never interrupted once, or said anything. But I could tell he was angry, and he was pissed at all those men for harming mom. He was especially mad at Mike for what he did to me, and mom and Thomas.  Once I'm done explaining them to him I stop talking and let the silence engulf us.

He says nothing for 20 minutes and I'm holding in a ragged breath. I'm afraid he won't talk. What if I've just ruined my moms relationship with this man?! I'm about to get up and apologize when John takes my hand and says, "Iris I am so sorry. I hate those men for what they have done to this family. You all deserve someone special. You all deserve to have someone who can stay and try to heal the wounds that have been slashed into your heart for years. I hope to be that man, but I know we will need some time to get to know each other, but Iris I promise you, no harm will come to your mother or you or your brother as long as I'm here. I promise that!" John squeezes my hand and I think for one quick second that maybe I could show him Rafael's letter and explain what's happened. But then I don't even know him yet. Hell I can't even tell mom cause it hurts too much to speak about.

Squeezing back I mumble a quick thank you and I am about to get up when I hear, "well look at you two! Becoming good friends. Iris I'm so proud of you! John how in the world did you ever make her open up?" Mom asks as she enters my room. I pull away from John and decide now is my time to go when I see John give mom a look that says we need to talk. Now. I head out of my room with a quick, "I'll be downstairs." Over my shoulder. Running from my room I'm heading downstairs when I hear the doorbell ring.

Ding Dong!

Looking around I frown weird. Then I say "coming!" When I hear it sound again. Rushing to the door I open it with a slight pant in my breath. There standing in the pouring rain, is a man. He is in his late thirties early forties maybe. His Emerald eyes are like mine, his rich brown hair is speckled with gray. His smile is contagious and his cheeks bones are high. He's tall build is lean. His shoulders are broad, and he has golden tanned skin from working in the sun. He's a handsome person for his thirties/forties. He seems familiar but why? Realizing I've been staring I'm about to speak when his husky voice beats mine.

"Iris? Oh my baby girl... How are you?"
I stare at this man in shock.
Then it clicks.
I know why he's familiar.
This man standing on my front porch after ten years of not seeing him is:
"Dad?"