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“We’re back together and we’re happy, Tameka,” she said as her parting words.
“I’m glad you remember everything, Rodney. I truly am. But don’t forget that you have three children. Do not let her get in the way of your relationship with Eva and Kevin.”
Fine lines spread across his face as he looked at me. “Tameka, I’m sorry for the way that I treated you. You didn’t deserve it. You gave me all that a man could ask for in a wife, and I squandered it away being unfaithful and selfish.”
“Rodney, it’s behind us now. I’ve moved on. I have a husband, and you have a wife.”
“Don’t remind me,” he blew out in a whisper. “You know, it’s funny how life works. I had it all, and I thought it wasn’t enough. Now,” he looked back at his empty living room to make sure we were still alone. “Now, I have no one to love me except the two kids you’ve given me. I don’t even know if her kid is mine yet, but I had to talk her into coming here to make sure she didn’t go through with an adoption.” He sounded weak and dismayed discussing Melody’s possible betrayal.
I reached for Rodney’s hand and squeezed it tightly. For the first time in a while, I truly felt for him.
“Rodney, we all get the Karma we deserve in life. Now, it’s time to start putting good karma out in the world so that it will come back to you. When you do good to people, good comes back to you. I can honestly say this is true. So do good by our kids. That’s all I ask of you.” I let go of his hand and smiled.
“I will continue to do that, Tameka. I promise.”
“Good. Did you tell them I’m here?”
“No, Melody started tripping before I got the chance to tell them. I’ll go get them now.” Rodney backed away from me with a look of relief on his face, and we exchanged a smile.
When he returned, he had Kevin and Eva by his side. Eva ran over to hug my waist. “Mom, I missed you!”
“Hey, Mom,” Kevin said as if he wasn’t ready to leave.
“See you guys in two weeks,” Rodney chimed in. “Come here.” He pulled our children in for a hug.
“You guys go ahead to the car,” I said, and they went racing off to see who would make it to the front seat first. “Bye, Rodney,” I said, hugging his neck quickly. “I wish you the best.”
“Tameka?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to do better with building a relationship with you and Jeb, so we can raise our children in a healthier environment. From now on, we are in this together.”
“I would like that Rodney,” I said. Being cordial and respectful was all I’d ever asked of him since we divorced. Finally, we were having a breakthrough. Hopefully, it would last with that witch Melody lurking around.
I drove home listening to the stories of the kid’s wonderful weekend with their father. These were the types of tales I wanted to hear, the magical ones they would remember for a lifetime and cherish forever. Eva’s bright smile as she talked about the time she spent with her father was enough to bring a tear to the corners of my eyes.
“When we went to the Dad and Daughter Paint Night, Dad’s picture of a peacock was so funny, Mama. He painted the feathers in three different colors, and it looked like a baby painted it,” Eva laughed.
“Rodney has never been into the arts,” I said and laughed along with Eva. The moment was innocent, and it was what she needed from her father. “You guys really had a good time with your father, huh?” I asked.
“We really did,” Eva said, smiling.
I looked back at Kevin, and he was sticking his finger in his mouth as if he were pretending to vomit about the paintings. “What about you, Kevin?”
“Well, when Dad wasn’t doing all of that girly stuff with Eva, we got to play the game and go fishing. I had fun learning how to fish.” His little brown cheeks perked up into a smile when he talked about his time with Rodney.
Thank you, Rodney. It’s about time you gave our kids what they deserved, I thought and made it up in my mind that I would call him and thank him and tell him what an impression he’d made upon the kids.
“See, he did something for both of you. And you have to let Eva have her time with him too,” I said, knowing Kevin wasn’t used to sharing when it came to his time with his father. Instead of making an effort to reach Eva, his father usually casted Eva aside because of her attitude toward him. Now, that had changed, and I was happy for my daughter because she deserved a father who understood her needs too. I could only hope that the past year had changed Rodney forever.
When I pulled into the driveway, I turned the car off, and the kids jumped out running full speed to the front door.
“I got the TV first,” yelled Kevin.
“You always get it… Mama!” Eva turned to me for help as her brother sped past her and reached the door first.
“Listen to me, guys. Before you whack each other’s heads off trying to get inside, why don’t you go to your rooms and look at the surprise Jeb and I have for you.” I used my key to unlock the door, and they bounded up the steps, heading to their rooms.
