Forever Scars

Make Things Right

Parker was arriving at 2pm that day. Ryleigh was beyond thrilled to see him again but she knew that she needed to make things right with her mother. Dialing her father's number, she waited for him to answer.

'Good morning, darling!' Her father said brightly.

'Daddy, I need to see you today.'

'Oh, I'm quite busy though. How about tomorrow or the day after or...'

Ryleigh cut him short and said adamantly, 'It has to be today.'

'Ryleigh, daddy is...'

'Please, I have to see you today.'

'Okay. You can come over now.' Her father gave in and agreed.

'Thank you. Goodbye.'

Throwing on her tan coat, she left the apartment and walked to Greenwich Village. Outside the building, a scrawny figure was crouching on the floor. With one look, she identified the figure as her mother. Ryleigh eyed her warily as she decisively walked past her.No matter how resentful Ryleigh felt towards her mother, she was still her mother. She needed to get her mother some help. When she got to her father's townhouse, she knocked the door twice and waited for an answer.

Fortunately, it was her father who answered the door and not his "lovely" wife. 'Hello!'

'Hi.' Ryleigh entered and saw Kate sitting on the couch by the window, carrying Everleigh in her arms. Ryleigh glowered at her. Kate would never be forgiven for what she did. It was insensitive as it was cruel.

Rubbing off the hostility, Kate smiled innocently and greeted, 'Nice to see you.'

Ryleigh wanted so bad to punch her in the face, then and there but because of her father's presence, she fought against her urge. 'Likewise.' She gritted through her teeth. Turning to her father, Ryleigh suggested, 'Let's talk outside, shall we?'

'It's cold outside!' Her father protested.

'Please. Outside.' Ryleigh insisted and her father went out the doors with her.

As the door shut closed, her father asked curiously, 'So...what's this secret you want to tell me?'

'Mum...she's back. She came to Gwen's apartment.'

A horrified look took over her father's face. 'What...are you alright? How...Who?'

Calmly, she replied, 'She scratched me a few times on the face. And as for how, your lovely wife brought her.'

Her father gasped, shocked by her words. 'No...Kate must have thought that she might want to see you. She doesn't fully understand your situation. She just wanted you to have a reunion with your mother...Kate just...'

Making every effort to stop herself from rolling her eyes at the excuses her father was creating for Kate, she said, 'Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter. What I need from you is to put her into rehab to get rid of her drug addiction. Also, I feel that she has some underlying mental issues, get her a psychiatrist or put her into a mental asylum.'

Deep in his thoughts, her father remained silent for awhile. 'Please, daddy. I hate her but I want her to get better. Now that Kate has brought her here, with her mental and physical state, I doubt that she can get back to Navesland. She's been living on the streets for three days now so please...please' Ryleigh added.

'But what she has done to you and considering the fortune that it would cost...'

Silencing his argument, she said, 'I earn a good sum of money. I'll pay for everything. '

Guilt pulled at his heart, he couldn't just let his 18 year old daughter pay for the cost of his ex-wife's recovery. 'I'll pay. It was Kate's fault, I know. To make up for that, it's only fair that I handle the financial issues.'

'Thank you.' A genuine smile made its way to Ryleigh's lips. 'I won't keep you any longer. Bye, dad.' Ryleigh waved her father goodbye before walking away. Seeing that her father went back into his house, she stopped her footsteps and got into a taxi. She did not want him to spend anymore money on her, especially not after he had just promised thousands of dollars to fulfill her request.

'Um actually, before you go to the airport, could you make a stop at Dudley's Bakery in Chelsea?' Ryleigh asked the driver politely. With a nod of his head, he turned the car around. Ryleigh knew that she had to make things right with her fellow bakers as well. After all, she had acted horribly the past two months and they deserved an apology.

As she walked into the bakery, she saw the bakers all in a line listening to Holly speak. They all turned their heads and stared at Ryleigh with incomprehensible expressions. Were they scared? Were they angry? She did not know. 'Um...Sorry Holly. May I say a few words?'

Without answering, Holly moved away and joined the line. It felt awful to be given the cold shoulder but she deserved it. 'There is really no proper way to start this. I have been a terrible person to each and everyone of you and I am really, genuinely sorry.'

'What...' Christi whispered in bewilderment. The rest of them gasped or wore confused expressions, not knowing what inspired this sudden change of heart.

'Someone I really loved left me and I just felt so angry, so resentful and so depressed at the same time. All that negativity just took over me and I took it out on you guys. I know that I said a few things and done a few things that I really should not have. You guys don't know how immensely grateful I am to know that you are still standing here before me even after all that I've done. Thank you, for not quitting on me and I really am sorry for the way I've treated you all.'

Everything that she had said was not scripted or memorized, it came from her heart and that made it so much more sincere and touching. Smiles took over their faces as she ended her speech. 'Is the jolly Ms. Winters back for good?' Holly broke the silence.

'I think she is.' Ryleigh nodded.

Holly gasped, 'Oh my god. Oh my god!' She stepped out of the line and took Ryleigh to the side. 'You and Chapman...'

Nodding her head, Ryleigh said, 'I'm seeing him later actually.'

'You! What! How! Huh...' Holly could hardly speak.

'Um...I gotta go see him. Bye!' Ryleigh giggled and ran out the doors to get back into her taxi.

'I want the full story later!' Holly shouted as Ryleigh left the doors.

Anticipation grew in Ryleigh as the car slowly approached the airport. After thanking the taxi driver, she walked to the arrival gates and waited for Parker. She bit her finger nails as she stood nervously by a pillar. What if he didn't want her after all?

When Parker emerged from the crowd, wearing a crisp suit, Ryleigh's eyes started to water. His shaggy blonde hair and friendly smile was unmistakable. Overwhelming bliss propelled her forward as she ran to meet him. He let go of his suit case and enveloped her tightly in his arms.

'I've missed you so, so much...you don't even know...' Ryleigh sobbed. It felt so surreal that he was standing right before, in flesh and blood. This moment made all those nights of crying herself to sleep, dwelling in her sadness so, so worth it.

'I do know. I felt the same way.' Parker smiled. Lowering his face, he looked intently into her large, blue eyes. Then, he delicately brushed his lips onto hers, just long enough for him to feel the warmth of her skin. The heat rose in Ryleigh's cheeks as he made contact with her but she enjoyed every bit of it. People dropped what they were doing to cheer and clap for them. It was a perfect, timeless moment.

'Let's go.' Parker put an arm around her waist and they walked together through the busy airport.

'How's London?' Ryleigh asked.

'Weather's horrible but the people are very friendly.' Parker replied.

'I have been horrible at the bakery without you.' Ryleigh confessed with a chuckle.

'Not anymore, I hope?'

'No.' Ryleigh stared deeply into his eyes, still unable to believe that he was here. 'Not anymore.'