Forbidden Love

~ 43

“Mommy, wake up!”

Rhea's giggle woke me up the next morning. Slowly and reluctantly, I uncovered my face. I blink, close my eyes, and blink again. Streaks of sunlight penetrated the window and blinded me. Rhea hovered over me. “Good morning, baby. What wakes you up so early, hmm?”

Rhea stared at me with her beautiful deep blue eyes as I stroked her bangs and tucked it behind her ears. “Mommy, do you know what day it is today?”

I playfully looked up, making myself looked like I was deep in thought. “Hmm, let me guess. Is it your.. friendship day? You said you were going to make a gift for your friends at school, right?”

“No! That is next week.”

“Hmm, okay. Aha! You wanted me to bake a cake?”

She pouted her lips, her shoulders slumped as she sat silently on my bed. I chuckled and grabbed her to my embrace. “Of course I remember. Happy birthday, Rhea. I hope you grow up to be the most beautiful, amazing, brilliant girl this world could ever have. I love you to the moon and back.”

A giggle escaped her lips as I tickled her neck. “Thank you, Mommy! Can I make a wish?”

“Of course! Let's go,” I dragged my feet off the bed, and walked towards the window. Sitting next to each other with our hands clasped together, we both closed our eyes.

“Dear God,” Rhea squeed my hands. “For my 8th birthday, I want to meet my daddy. Mommy said he's an amazing man. I want you to take care of him, wherever he's at,” And then Rhea turned her head skyward, whispering, “Please tell him that I want to meet him.”

I shot my eyes opened and looked at her as she prayed with her eyes closed. There was a sharp stab right to my heart and it broke. I gripped on her so tightly despite the fact that my palms were sweating. “Oh, Rhea.”

She looked at me weirdly, “Why are you crying, Mommy? Do you miss him too?”

I couldn't even speak, I didn't know what to say. Perhaps this was the breaking point for me. I'd been telling lies to my own daughter for years, and now she made me realized that I'd been lying. That I made my mistake. I clutched her tightly into my chest and stroked her hair softly. I didn't want to cry, I was so sick of tears. So I just pecked a kiss on her forehead and smiled. “Amen.”

She grinned, “Amen.”

Then came a burst through the door, Austin walked in with a small chocolate cake and sang Happy Birthday. I quickly wiped away the remaining heartache and got up. I watched as he lifted Rhea and made her blow the candle. “Yay! Happy Birthday, beautiful.”

“Thank you, mommy.”

“Now, go get dressed,” Austin put her on the ground. “We're going out. Go quick!”

“Where are we going?” I asked, as Rhea left the room.

“Somewhere we haven't been for months,” He said, running his fingers on my hair. “I'm sorry.”

“For what?”

“I haven't spent a lot of times with her.”

I smirked and walked towards the drawer. Oh now he talked. “It's okay. We got used to it.”

“Camila.”

“What?” I turned around, anger crept through my brain. I wanted to tell him everything I had kept inside, but I was too tired. I just left him standing there and started to make my way to the bathroom.