Redemption.

Chapter 6: Good Terms

Diamond

10:35 AM

     The boys and I watched Teen Titans and ate strawberries we covered in sugar. I didn't really plan anything for us but to spend quality time with Owen, but dealing with Patrick it may not even happen. My mind wasn't even in the right, since when has it ever been? I don't know what to do about Anthony. What he said to me has been on my mind ever since he said it. I know how bad he can hurt me. What can I do about this?

     As I went to pick up another strawberry, the doorbell rang. I wiped my sugary fingers on my jeans then went to open the door. A part of me was nervous, what if it was Anthony? I reached for the knob and opened the door. To my surprise, Patrick and Owen stood there. Patrick held  a duffel bag and Owen held a small Spongebob suitcase.

     "Hi mommy!" Owen greeted, coming to hug me.

     "Hey Owen." I replied, I looked up at Patrick confused. I let them enter the house and set their bags down.

     "Uh, Patrick, what's going on?" I questioned.

     "Owen and I will be staying here for a few days, you know, so it'll be easier for you to spend time with him." Patrick wore a small smile on his face. Something told me that that wasn't the case but I refused to ask further questions. Owen ran over to his brothers and hugged them, getting excited.

     "They seem so close already." Patrick said with a smile. His mood was so different from when I last saw him, it scared me a little.

     "Uh, yeah."

     "Okay, I'm gonna go take these bags up to Owen's room, I'll be back."

      With that, Patrick grabbed both bags and sauntered up the stairs.

Patrick

     I sat both of our bags down besides the small twin sized bed. Something in me is telling me to get answers from Diamond. Why did she cheat? Why did she keep the baby? Why did she leave? Five years is a long time and I'm not waiting any longer. Honestly, I don't know why I waited so long. Maybe I was too upset with her.

     Down the hall, I heard someone walk up the stairs. I peaked into the hall and watched as Diamond entered her room. I took this moment as my chance to speak to her. I left Owen's room and strolled down the hall and entered her door, closing it behind me.

     The sound caused her to briskly turn around toward the door. "Diamond we need to talk...please." I told.

     "Patrick, I don't know..."

     "Diamond quit with the excuses for once, please. I need to talk to you. Maybe if we talk things out, this conflict between us may die down. Because, honestly, I'm tired of this 'beef' between us. You're the mother of my child and we don't need to continue this act with each other. Especially when Owen is starting to learn new things, we don't need him to grow up between this." I told. She will talk to me whether she likes it or not.

     Diamond exhaled deeply. She sat on the bed and spoke. "I want to squash this between us too. I'm trying to teach myself to stop running from my problems, but it's hard. Whatever it is you want to say, say it...I'll try not to get offended, emotional, whatever the case may be. I just want this all to end."

     I nodded. "Okay."

     I took a seat next to her trying hard not to invade her personal space. "Diamond...I just want answers, for everything. All of your choices and reasons for everything. I just want us to speak to each other like civilized adults, and not screaming at each other." I exclaimed with every lick of tranquility I had in me.

     "Okay...what do you need to know?"

     She sounded uncomfortable, but it didn't stop me from talking. "I just wanted to know why you did what you did. You know, everything concerning Anthony. The affair, the baby, leaving, everything."

     Diamond sighed. "Patrick...at the time, I was so dumb and naive. Shit, I still feel like I am," she said, glancing down at her engagement ring. "That day that me and Anthony had sex, he seduced me and I couldn't fight it. I want- I needed to, but I couldn't. I felt so weak. I swear it wasn't mean't to happen. I don't even understand why I went over there from the start. What did I think was gonna happen?"

       Diamond shook her head as she reminisced. I just sat and listened as she explained to me everything. On the inside I was feeling mixed emotions. Anger, wretchedness, want...I couldn't explain. "When I found out I was pregnant again...I can't even describe how I felt. The fear I felt was on another level, especially because I knew it wasn't yours. And I came to find out, this was all a part of Anthony's little plan. He got me pregnant on purpose. I wanted to get rid of the baby so bad but I couldn't, it wasn't in me." Diamond began to shed a tear.

     Fuck. Seeing her cry as she explains everything triggered my tears, but I tried hard not to let them fall. "Then, I made up all of these lies because I knew the truth would hurt so much more. Patrick, I never mean't to hurt you. Ever." Diamond looked me in my eye. I could tell she noticed them glazing up because she looked away. "I trashed something that mean't so much to me. Which is us. Then the news of Dustin's death, and you getting the custody of Owen. It just tore me apart. I had to get away from everything, my problems. That's kinda why I moved back to Puerto Rico with Anthony. Why I even decided to get with him? I don't even know myself. Probably because he's the only one who made me feel wanted at the time. Just maybe."

     Diamond wiped her tears away. Mine never fell, no matter how bad I wanted to let it out. "I apologize for everything, Patrick. I know I don't deserve your pity and I don't expect it either. I only ask for one thing from you and that's forgiveness."

     My feelings were just in one mash up. What am I feeling right now? "I do...I forgive you Diamond."

     Diamond tried to smile through her tears but failed. She cried more, probably not expecting forgiveness from me. The past is in the past and we need to learn to put things behind us. That's one point for our talk. "I know this was hard for you to tell me, I could tell by the sound in your voice and your facial expressions. I just want to thank you for telling me everything. Can we just agree to leave all of this behind?"

     "Yes, please." Diamond replied. She held out her hand as if she's going to give me a hand shake for our agreement, but I rejected it and pulled her into a hug. I held her tight, admiring the moment. She held me just as tight, sniffing her tears away. "Thank you." She said.

     I pulled back, staring into her glossy eyes. My hand gently gripped her chin and pulled her lips to mine. She didn't hesitate to kiss me back. I could tell she wanted this just as bad as I.