Sad Angel

Gut Feeling

"What are you doing here Don?" Stevie said in a shaky voice.
"Stevie, I just came by to say I'm sorry. So sorry. I know I can't take it back but please forgive me. It's eating me alive, that's all I can think about is how much I fucked up! How much I hurt you. I was an idiot, no, the worst possible names you can think of, I am all those names. You were a great friend to me in my times of need and I ruined our friendship, I completely destroyed it." Don was sobbing and sunk to the ground on his knees. "I was released early for good behavior and I just needed to see you. I want to try to make things right. Please tell me you forgive me Stevie? Please forgive me!"

Stevie closed her eyes as her tears fell down her cheeks. She shook her head back and forth trying her hardest to form words.

In these last three years, Stevie didn't forget what happened but had moved on. Melody was a huge reason for her to close that dark chapter in her life. But now, it was being opened, she didn't know how to feel.
She took a deep breath then opened her eyes and said. "You need to leave Don. Turn around and never come back."

Don was about to beg some more but was interrupted by a giggle followed by, "Mommy! Mommy! Daddy brought out the tickle monster! Save me mommy!"
Melody said as she ran straight to Stevie.

Stevie panicked but quickly gathered herself and took Melody into her arms.

Don stood up and looked at the little girl in front of him; in that moment he felt something that he couldn't explain while looking at Melody.
Stevie held her tighter.

Melody looked in between Don and Stevie then noticed the tears in Stevie's eyes.
"Mommy, why you crying?" Melody asked.
Stevie smiled at her little girl. "I'm okay my sweet girl. I just...got something in my eyes that's all."

Even though Melody was three years old she could tell something was off.
Melody then turned her head to Don with a scowl and said while pointing at him. "Did that man make you cry mommy?"
Without waiting for an answer, Melody turned her head into the house and yelled. "Daddy! Daddy!"

Lindsey came running thinking they were still playing then came into view of the front door. Lindsey's face turned beet red. "What the hell are you doing here Henley?"

Lindsey quickly walked over and stood in front of Stevie and Melody.
"You have no business here Don." Lindsey said.
"I...I just wanted to make things right with Stevie. To tell her how sorry I am." Don said.

Lindsey was losing patience. "Steph, take Melody upstairs, I'll be up in a moment."
Stevie nodded and turned around, Melody turned her head back to Don as Stevie walked away and stared right at him.

Don couldn't help but be pulled in by Melody. He took a step forward but Lindsey held his hand up.
"Whoa! Stop right there, where do you think you're going?"

Stevie stopped and turned back around after hearing Lindsey raise his voice.

Don looked at Stevie. "Stevie, you're little girl is adorable. She looks just like you. I didn't know you had a child."
Stevie gulped then tried to steady her voice. "Yes. She's my whole world."
"How old is she?" Don asked fascinated by this little girl in front of him.
Lindsey interrupted before Stevie could say anything else. "You want to know more about our daughter, go find a People magazine from three years ago. You'll read it for yourself. Now, you need to leave now Henley or I'll make you leave."
Lindsey stepped forward his fists clenched tight.
Don backed away. "Okay, okay I'm leaving. Again I'm so sorry."

And with that Don turned around and was gone.

Lindsey closed the door then gathered himself before turning to Stevie.
Stevie was slumped down on the floor rocking back and forth with Melody still in her arms.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Melody had never seen her mother cry like this; she was a little scared and confused but held on to Stevie.

Lindsey walked over to his wife and daughter then sat on the floor next to them.
Stevie leaned against him and sobbed.

They stayed that way for a few moments then Lindsey said. "Steph, why don't you go lay down for a bit? I'll take Melody with me to pick up the kids."
Stevie nodded and stood up with Lindsey's help.
Lindsey reached for Melody but Melody clung to Stevie. "No! I stay with mommy." She said shaking her head, her pigtails swinging back and forth.

"It's okay Linds. She can stay with me." Stevie said in a small voice.
"Are you sure angel?" Lindsey asked.
Stevie nodded again and walked upstairs.

Lindsey hung his head and left to pick up the kids from school.

Stevie climbed into her bed with Melody by her side. "Come on sweet girl, lets take a nap okay?"
"Okay mommy." Melody replied; she laid her head in Stevie's chest then said. "Mommy?"
"Yes sweetie?" Stevie said.
"Can you sing me my favorite song? Please?" Melody asked.
"Of course!" Stevie said.

Stevie held her daughter close and began to sing Melody's favorite song, Gypsy.
Melody closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep by the end of the song.

Stevie kissed the top of Melody's head as the tears came back, she laid there silently crying.
She didn't know what to make of Don's visit.
She could tell how distraught he was but still she was hesitant to believe him.
Could she forgive?
She wasn't so sure.

Later that night, Stevie laid cuddled next to Lindsey in bed, all the children were asleep in their own rooms.

They hadn't spoken of Don's visit when Lindsey got home with the kids.
Stevie had pulled herself together and put on a facade in front of her family.
She didn't want the children to see her upset; she had felt bad enough for letting Melody see her crying earlier.

After their nap, Melody had seen Stevie go back to normal so she didn't question Stevie about her episode earlier.

Stevie began to sniffle now.
"Steph?" Lindsey asked looking down at her.
He lifted her chin up with his hand.
She looked right into his eyes and began to sob.

Stevie buried her face back into his chest.
"I think he knows...I think he knows Melody may be his! Did you see the way he looked at her! Why Linds?! Why did he have to come back into our lives?!" Stevie sobbed.
"Shhh...angel. Please don't cry." Lindsey said holding her tighter. "It's going to be okay. He won't come back."
"How do you know that? What if...what if tries to..." Stevie began.
"No Steph! Don't say it. He has no reason to suspect anything. I am Melody's father. Everyone knows that." Lindsey said trying to calm her.
"He won't come back Steph." He repeated.
Stevie didn't say anything, she just nodded and closed her eyes.

*Meanwhile*

Don was staying in a hotel until he could find himself a house.
When he divorced his wife, he gave her everything including the home they had lived in together since getting married.

He couldn't shake off this strange pull that Stevie's daughter had on him.
When he had gotten back to his hotel room he researched Stevie's life, trying to see what she had been up to these past three years.

He found the People magazine article and sobbed as he read Stevie's words speaking of her struggles of the aftermath of the rape.

Don hated himself; he knew he couldn't turn back time but he sure wish he could.

Then he read the part where Stevie talked about Melody. As he read he felt in his gut that there was more to this than what was in the article.
Somethings just didn't make make sense to him.

He also read that Lindsey and Stevie got married. Don was happy for her that she had moved on from what he did to her.

Don's eyes lingered at the photo of Melody as a baby. He studied it for what seemed like hours.
Even though she looked like Stevie, he couldn't help but see himself in her too.
Also, she looked a little like his children.

He pulled out a photo of his children as infants and compared the photos.
He scanned the photos side by side; there was small characteristics but they were there.

Don looked up and stared wide eyed as it hit him.
Melody was his daughter.