Stone Cold Heart

• Epilogue •

20 years later.....

"Hello and who are you with?"
"My wife"
"Who are you for?"
"Dr. Crowford"
"Okay, just sign this sheet and I will page her."
"Okay." I said grabbing the clipboard from her hands. We all went to sit patiently while I signed the papers.
"Mason? Is that you?" I turned my head to see a face I haven't seen in forever.
"Mackenzie?" my eyes almost bulged out of my head when she came running up to me. Giving me a big hug, I wrapped my arms around her tightly.
"I missed you so much" I said.
"I missed you too!"
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I can say the same"
"That's a long story"
"Same"
"Who is she?" My wife, Delilah asked.
"This is my sister, we um lost contact a long time ago."
"So, are you going to answer?"
"yeah um-" I was interrupted but my doctor

"Hello there, Mister sorry to interrupt." We all turned our heads.
"Oh, I didn't know you know Mackenzie"
"Yeah she is my sister"
"Good then I think that both of you can help each other through this journey"
"I think so too" Mackenzie said.

"Now, how about, Mackenzie come with me. I'll get someone to escort you to Miss. Roxy. I'll be back momentarily."

"Okay no problem" I replied before Mac got up and followed behind her. She looked back and waved to me. But....it was as if.... her eyes were empty. What happened these pass 20 years?

When the lady came back, she sat down to speak with us.
"Okay so l, we are going to have to go over some paper work that your wife would have to sign. As we spoke about over the phone, you will be put under a 24-hour surveillance but it's because for protection of your own safety so don't worry." As she slid the few sheets of paperwork in front of us. Delilah took a pen out of her purse and started signing the papers.

After everything was said and done, I said m goodbyes to my wife and kids then waited for the next step. Which was to go and speak to a counselor.
"Hello Mason, my name is Dr. Del Rey, can you tell me why you came here for an outpatient therapy?"
"I....I kind of have a drinking problem."
"Kinda, or you do?"
"I-I guess I do"
"There you go, now tell me when did you take your first sip of alcohol. It doesn't have to be a Calico Jack or anything big but something small as a Blue Moon."
"Well, I had my first beer at 15. I remember I was playing a baseball and we had won so later that night when the adults went to sleep me and the boys hid behind the bleachers and had a couple of beers."
"Do you recall what happened that night?"
"Uh....no"
"Now why do you think you started drinking in the first place?"
"Uh....I don't really wanna talk about it"
"Why?"
"Because I don't okay!" I yelled as I got up and knocked over the chair I was sitting in and stormed out the room. I was stopped by two nurses one said "Sir, you are going to need to calm down " before you freak out the other patients."
"Leave me the fuck alone!" I yelled as I pushed the nurse out of my way shoving her into the wall. I went storming out of the facility.

I called Delilah to come pick me up. She did and I went back to the house.
"What's going on?" Delilah asked.
"I don't wanna talk about it. I'll be back I'm going out." I said as I grabbed my keys.
"Baby please don't"
"I don't wanna go back there."
"Hunny" she pleaded as she held my hand. Instantly I felt at ease, I took a deep breath in and out slowly.
"I.... don't want to talk to this stranger about my past.... about what happened 20 years ago.
About my.... father. Or if you can even call him that. I....haven't talked to my mom in so long. It's been almost 7 years."
"Well why don't you go see your mom?"
"That's the thing I don't know where she is."
"Maybe your sister knows"

Next day...
After Mackenzie came from her meeting, I approached her just before my AA Meeting.
"Hey can I ask you something?"
"It's about mom isn't it?"
"Yeah"
"Do you know where she is or could be?"
"Yeah....she actually is the one who is paying for my inpatient treatment."
"That's good"
"She lives with her now husband of 5 years, Richard."
"Wait. Is that-"
"Yeah that's him"
"Saw that one coming"
"Same. They live in Mapleberry County it's not too far from here"
"Okay do you remember the address?"
"Yeah 4732 Ruth street"

//An hour drive away\\
As I was looking around the neighborhood. I was astounded by how beautiful it was. I pulled up to eighth Place that was two stories high and about a couple feet wide. I parked my car nearest to the place and got out. Her house was a light violet hue with black lines to cover the border. It was so beautiful. Knocking on the door suddenly my heart began to race and my palm begin to sweat. I waited a few seconds before the door was answered by this little boy. I asked "who are you little one?"
"I'm Zach"
"Hey Zach so do you know who the adults are here?"
"Yeah."
"Can you get them"
"Okay I'll be back"
Just when he turned around to close the door, I saw a woman with short light brown hair approach the door asking "Zach, who is at the door?"
"Mami it's some random guy"
She looked up at me and said "that's not a random guy you're.... your"
"Hey mom" she burst into tears as she came up to me and gave me a big hug and a lot of kisses. I couldn't help but cry as well.
"Mason. My baby boy." She says in between each sob and kiss. After a few moments of hugs and tears she let me inside. The place was so put together I couldn't believe my eyes. It's completely different from my childhood seeing broken glass and alcohol spilled everywhere. You can actually hear an echo of laughter filled throughout the house. I feel so safe in here. I took my jacket off because it was raining out. She took it and hung it up near the kitchen. When she came back, she sat down next to me asking me about my life. Then it got to the part what I wanted to talk to her about.
"So... mom I...I'm sorry I didn't visit you."
"No baby don't be. I didn't want you to see me behind a thick glass."
"But you didn't deserve 13 years. That's 13 years you missed of events. Like my first child being born. My marriage. I'm married for the second time now."
"Mason you think I don't know that?! If I didn't.... end it. I feared that he would have killed you guys first and I couldn't bare it. I would've killed myself if god forbid anything happened to you guys. Y'all are my world and no matter how far we are you know Mami will always be there with open arms to save y'all."
"Thank you, mama. I love you"
"I love you too sweetheart.... that after when everything happened, I knew what the consequences would have been. Yes, it was in self-defense but since the gun he used on me was registered in my name they deemed it as voluntary manslaughter, with premeditation. Which was technically yes and no. Yes, because I been wanted to years before hand but I just didn't want to lose you guys but No because I had no idea he stashed my gun where I couldn't find it."
"That's messed up"
"I know and I know you guys had a rough life and I'm so sorry for that."
"No mama it's not your fault. It was that asshole of a man or if you can even call him one. Excuse my language."
"It's okay honey."
"So, you have another son?"
"Yeah, after I got out of jail Richard purposed to me and that same day we got married at a courthouse. 9 months later there was Zach."
"Do Mac know about him?"
"Yeah, speaking of which how is she doing?"
"She is doing okay, how long has she been at the facility?"
"About a few months"
"That's good"
"Do you think that talking to me would help your recovery?"
"Of course, and my wife is on the way with our baby girl Alya"
"Ima be a grandma to 6 oh my"
"Well in this house you'll be okay"
"I know baby. I'm just glad to have you here in my life again."
"I'm not going nowhere"
"Nor am I because a mothers love is stronger than anything in this world."

THE END