Not A Word

Chapter Twenty

Tara

There was a knock on the door and I jumped at the sound. I stood and slowly opened the door. Standing there was a very sad looking woman. "I'm sorry for intruding on your home. Greg was just being nice. I don't think I can take him up on the offer though." I whispered.

She looked confused, "What are you talking about?" a hand fell on my should and I met her sad eyes. "Greg explained things to me. I should have known that the only reason you would ever be here would be because of Greg's large heart. I know that I would have offered you the same comfort that he has given you. Please do not leave on my behalf. I wish that you would stay, for I do not know that I could live with myself if I let you leave knowing that you are alone."

She looked so sincere that I was taken aback for a second. This woman was apologizing to me? It disentangle any sense. She had just met me moments before and had been calling me a lb underage tramp. I cocked my head to the side in confusion as I looked her over. "You dont make any sense." I stated. "You just met me and now here you are apologizing. Why?"

Now it was her turn to look confused, "That is what people do when they find they are mistaken. I feel bad for being harsh on you. I wish that I had not overreacted and simply waited for answers. When I find that I react without thinking I apologize to the person I have hurt." she explained.

"Apologizing is a normal thing?" that didn't make sense. There had never been a person in the world that apologized to me. Maybe a person or two that had told me they were sorry I was ever born but never a true and meaningful apology.

She seemed to gain understanding after a while. "You have truly never had a person apologize to you, have you sweetie?"

"Why would they apologize? I'm the one that is wrong." I stated the mantra my parents had beaten into me when I refused to apologize to them.

The lady took a step back in shock, "You most certainly are not in the wrong. Whoever told you that you were are the ones who are wrong. I can't believe someone would act so cold and heartless to a child." she stretched.

I held back the smile that threatened to form. She was ranting, not because of men or something I had done but, because of the things that had been done to me. The feeling of not being blamed was nice, even if it would only last a short time.

She ushered me out of the loo. "Come on, Greg is making lunch. You have got to be starving, you definitely look it." she tsked. the

I began to walk but then stopped. "What is your name?" I asked when she turned to look for an answer as to why j stopped.

"Denise. I'm sorry I had assumed Greg had told you who I am, that was wrong of me."

I shook my head, "The times that I have spoken to Greg he has brought you up. He mentioned your beauty but not your name." I looked at her a while longer before adding, "He really does love you."

She smiled and nodded, "I know, and I love him back greatly."

I smiled at the sheer wistful look on her face as she thought of the man in the other room. No doubt she had a wedding already planned out in her mind to the detail. I could definitely see Greg and her marrying in the future.