“What happened?”
“Anaias got sick after having you,” he said, a sad expression on his face. My heart skipped a beat, and he must’ve sensed my anxiety peaking, so he took my hand and squeezed gently, calming me. “Her sickness had nothing to do with you, sweetheart. It had everything to do with the lack of care she received from the hospital when she went in for a checkup a few months later. A lot of things were overlooked, and her pain wasn’t taken seriously, and then…”
He didn’t finish, but he didn’t have to. I knew all too well about the stories and horrors of Black women and their pain not being taken seriously. I hated that my mom wasn’t able to receive the care she deserved, but I knew that she was at peace now and no longer hurting.
I hugged my dad, and he patted me, thanked me. I then told him that he didn’t have to continue talking about the past if he wasn’t up for it, but he insisted.
So, I listened as he continued to tell me more about my mom and my bio dad’s relationship. He made sure that I knew how much they loved me, and how much they would’ve wanted to be here with me. He told me more stories about how she was when they were younger and answered any questions I had about her.
“So, whatever happened to Trenton?” I asked after he’d gone through every story he could remember.
He didn’t reply. Instead, he got up from the table and exited the room, leaving me confused. A few moments later, he returns with another box. My eyebrows furrow as he quickly sifts through it before pulling out an old newspaper. On the front page was a news article from May 2000 about two brothers who tragically died in a car accident on theirway back from the younger brother’s college graduation. Below the photo of the two brothers smiling was the names Trenton and Terrence Green.
“A few years after your mom passed, he did as well,” my dad explained as I continued to read the article. “I remember it like it was yesterday because the story of him and his brother's passing shocked the nation. His brother was a college football superstar, and he was set to be the No. 1 draft pick in 2000. EvenIwas rooting for him.” He sighs, reclaiming his seat beside me. “Trenton didn’t have the best relationship with his family, so no one ever fought me when it came time to get custody of you. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
I let the mountain of information settle in my brain as I sink back into the chair. I was so desperate to keep digging for more information, to reach out and see why none of them had ever even tried to contact me after all these years, even though they knew I existed. There was a part of me that felt hurt, but also annoyed.
However, it was only a small part of me.
The bigger part of me, of my brain…my heart, didn’t care about things I couldn’t change. Deep down in my heart, I knew that nothing I learned would change the fact that I alreadyhavea loving family. Maybe one day in the future, I’ll decide to go searching for the answers to the questions I had, but for right now, I was fine just knowing that I had been raised in a house of love. I was fine knowing that I wasstillsurrounded by so much love.
I could stress about the past and what-ifs another day.
I smile, taking my dad’s hands in mine. He smiles apologetically at me, but I shake my head as I wrap my arms around him. He does the same, and I melt into his embrace.He was warm and comforting, and I always felt so loved whenever he was around. I had so much love in my heart for him, and I hope he could always feel it.
“Papa, I don’t care about the past,” I tell him. “Am I sad that I never had a chance to know my mom or the man who was my biological father? Sure, but I’m thankful that I’ve always had you in my life.You’remy dad.You’remy family. Always and forever.”
“Oh, how I love you, Pip,” he chuckled, calling me by a childhood nickname I haven’t heard in years. “You’ve grown to be such an amazing woman, and I love you to the moon and back. I’m blessed to be loved by you and your siblings. Y’all are my heart.”
“Wow, Pip?” I chuckle as we break apart. He smiles lovingly. “I haven’t heard that one inyears.”
“Well, someone’s gotta keep the nickname alive since your brother up and moved away,” he jokes.
“Ugh, he always made me so mad when he called me that when we were little,” I reminisced. “It’s not my fault, I took my height after my mom, and he and Zaiyre took after you and Uncle Rick.”
The nickname Pip (short for Pipsqueak) had stuck with me since middle school, when my siblings shot up like beanstalks, while I grew like molasses. Darren was 6’5 by the time he got to high school, and Zaiyre was 5’11 by the time she turned 15. Meanwhile, I’d stopped growing taller once I hit 5’7 at 17. I might be the middle child, but I hated standing in the middle of those two.
“Aww, you know we love you, shorty,” he continues to tease, and laughter bubbles between us.
Being around my dad was always a good time, and I’m soglad that I took the day off to come spend it with him. We spent the next few hours going down memory lane as we ate the food that had finally been delivered.
A little after 3:30, I walked down to the corner to get my niece and nephews off the bus. They were excited to see me, and I stayed another 20 minutes just to hang out with them before getting on the road back to New South.
Kay had called about an hour ago to ask if I could pick up Morgan from her doctor’s appointment because she didn’t think she’d be done with deliveries by then. I assured her that I would, and she thanked me before going back to work.
It took me less than an hour to arrive at the hospital where Mo’s appointment was being held, and I was even early. So, I parked and made my way inside to wait for her. It wasn’t as packed as I thought it would be, considering that it was hard to find a parking spot, but I guess that made sense, seeing as this was the main lobby and each floor had its own designated waiting rooms, so maybe that’s where everyone was.
“Hi, may I help you?” A woman asked as soon as I approached the receptionist’s desk.
“Hi, could you please tell me which floor Dr. Briarwood is on? This is my first time here, so I’m not even sure where the elevators are.”
“Yes, of course,” she nods. “So, you’re looking for theoffices on the second floor, in the third wing. The elevators are on the other side of this wall behind me. Once you get off, go left and follow the signs all the way to the end of the hall.”
“Awesome! Thank you so much!”
“Of course,” she smiles with a nod. “Have a nice evening.”
“You as well,” I nod before heading towards the elevator.
