Beyond The Pale

Abuela

Raina's POV

I didn't really know what to do, so I hugged her back. Monty's expression was unreadable, but honestly I think he was just happy to have his mother back in his life. This would change things, if she was around to stay. Khaleesi would have two grandmothers. She pulled away from the hug and gave me a smile. "It's so nice to meet you," she said, her Spanish accent heavy, but her English was perfect.

"It's nice to meet you, too." I replied, and her hand instantly went to my belly. I started to recoil, but I didn't. She had every right to feel her granddaughter move. Monty stood next to me and gave me a kiss, and after she was done with my belly, we all took a seat. "Raina, this is my mom, Marguerite." Monty said shyly, and his mom beamed. "You can call me Marge," she winked, and the waitress took our orders. I wasn't hungry, so I was just going to snack on Monty's fries and try to keep my thoughts in order.

"I probably owe you both an explanation." She began, with a heavy sigh. Monty gripped my thigh under the table and I winced inwardly. No doubt his nerves were shot, but he definitely underestimated his strength. I loosened his grip with my own hand and he looked at me apologetically before taking my hand in his. "I.. have been a horrible mother to Montgomery. I thought of myself as being...loyal to my husband, but now that Martin is gone, I have realized I made a terrible mistake. I missed out on the majority of my son's life because I was blinded by love."

I wanted to tell her she didn't owe me an explanation for anything. She owed my Monty. As a mother, there wasn't anything I wouldn't do for my child. I couldn't imagine letting a man beat Ashe senseless and still being capable of loving someone as awful as Monty's dad. "I know it makes no sense," she said with a tearful shudder, and a part of my heart broke for her. I can't imagine loving someone so much that I pushed my only child away. It was obvious Martin had done his damage on the both of him. Bruises heal. Mental damage takes a lot longer.

"He beat me, and Monty, for the better half of our lives. It started when Monty was young. Martin was an ex marine, so he drank. A lot. More than we could afford, but he always found a way. He didn't want children, and when I found out I was pregnant with Monty.. Martin wasn't pleased, but I thought he'd get over it. But he never did."

Monty looked down as the waitress brought us our food, but eating was the last thing on our minds. Once we thanked the server, she continued. "Raising Monty was difficult. Martin didn't help at all, if anything was Monty's first bully. He would tease him endlessly, and once Monty turned 6... He began to hit him. First it was little stuff, he'd walk in and Monty would greet him. In return, Martin would hit him as hard as he could in the arm. Monty thought it was a game. So, one day, he hit Martin back."

Marge looked at Monty, and he nodded his head. He remembered. "That was the first time he really hurt him. And Monty didn't cry a bit, and frankly I think Martin took it as a challenge. He wanted to see Monty in pain. He wanted to see him cry, and he never would. That's why he kept doing it. He wanted Montgomery to know he was tougher than him, and he wasn't. Because I watched him..." She wiped her tears, and it wasn't until she did that I realized I was crying too. My heart shattered for my Monty, and his mother. I just wanted to get him home and love on him.

I realized that I may have been the first person in his life to love him voluntarily. "I watched him beat Monty senseless and Monty would get back up and beg for more. He was never afraid of him, and that infuriated Martin. So, when Monty moved out, Martin didn't have anyone that he could hurt for fun anymore. Because I was done. I was done feeling the pain. I'd already lost my son. I despised Martin, and when he left, I was so glad. I have never felt so... Free."

Monty immediately spoke up. "So, you couldn't deal with him hitting you... But it was okay for him to hit me?" He accused, and she shook her head. "All you had to do was cry, Montgomery! All you had to do was show him it hurt and he would have quit! But you begged him, you begged him to hit you again, and he thrived on that. I didn't know how to help you, son. But I'm trying now." Monty shook his head in exasperation, and I squeezed his hand. "Im trying mom. But I don't know what to say. I won't have him fuck up my life again. Not now that I'm happy. So if there's any possibility of him coming back and finding you, you need to walk away now, because I won't put my family in danger." He said flatly, and she nodded.

"He won't be back, son. I promise. He's long gone. All I want is to be in your life. I know it'll take some time, but I don't want to lose you again." She pleaded. She excused herself to go to the restroom, and as soon as she'd left the table, I gave Monty a kiss. "I'm proud of you baby." I whispered, and he hugged me tight before placing his hand on my stomach. "I love you three so much. I can't let her back in if there's a possibility of him coming back. You understand that right?" I nodded, kissing him once more. "You're grown Monty. But as a mom, I also sympathize with her. She was afraid. But she's trying. You could at least give it a shot. For Khaleesi and Ashe. You'd be setting a good example for them as far as forgiveness goes. But it's all up to you." I assured him, and he sighed heavily.

Marge returned to the table and we all tried to nibble at our food and make small talk. "How far along are you?" She questioned, and before I had a chance to answer, Monty did. "She's 20 weeks and one day." He said proudly, and I rolled my eyes. "I'm miserable." I retorted, and Monty rubbed my belly lovingly. "Halfway done, babe. Then she'll be here." He replied, and Marge smiled at us. "My Monty is going to be a dad. That's so... I love it." She murmured, and for the first time, Monty smiled. "I've got a son, too." Monty whispered, and my heart fluttered.

"His name is Ashe. He's almost 5. His dad isn't in the picture, so... He's mine." Monty said defensively, and Marge's eyes got wide. "Montgomery, I am so proud of you. You're twice the man your father was already. I hope one day the two of you will let me meet him." She muttered, and I nodded. "My only stipulation is that Ashe is treated no differently than Khaleesi once she's here." I replied, and she assured me that would never happen. "Ashe is just as much mine as Khaleesi is," Monty began, and I inwardly applauded him for being such a man. It was a turn on. He may be young, but he was so manly.

"I don't want Ashe feeling out of place. He's mine. Maybe not by blood, but by choice. He is my son, just as much as Khaleesi is my daughter. So in the future, I want you to know, you'll be his Abuela too. No favorites, no special treatment. If you buy for one, you buy for the other. If you take one to spend the night, they come together as a package deal. I can't stress that enough. Because if he ever feels left out, or mistreated, I'm gonna go the hell off, and it's not gonna be pretty." He retorted, and we both looked to him in shock. "I will love them both the same," Marge said simply, and he nodded. The waitress brought us the bill, and I paid for the three of us.

As we went to leave, we both hugged Marge, and as soon as she got in her car to leave, I took Monty in my arms. "I don't want to drive," he whispered into my hair, and I nodded. "Leave your Jeep. We'll come back for it in the morning. We're making a pit stop at the store though. My graduate deserves a celebratory drink. As long as he can handle his alcohol better this time than he did the last." I joked, and he kissed me. "I promise not to act a fool."