Chapter 18: Truth Hurts
Angie sat there silently as she agreed. Nick and Joseph had already left to collect the cars and park them out front so that they were ready when the other two arrived in the lobby.
“Angie, I tried my best but you caused this. You can only blame yourself. You don't love or care for Glori so just leave us be. She doesn't need you breaking promises and coming in and out as you please.” Pablo said as sincerely as he possibly could.
“But she needs me. I'm her mother.” Angie stated as the tears began flowing even harder.
“Angelina, you've never been a mother. You put yourself, drinking and drugs ahead of her and you always think about yourself. Yes you gave birth to her but a mother you have never been.”
The words stung as Alexander said those words but she knew he was right. There was nothing more to say and it was obvious that as usual Angie had no plans on changing or fighting for her daughter. Both men looked at her and slightly pitied her but she made her choices and continuously hurt Gloriana.
“The suite is paid for so if you'd like to stay the night in it go ahead. Just be out by noon.” Alexander informed her as he placed the keycard on the table, and gathered his paperwork.
Both men walked out of the suite and to the elevator. They remained silent until they entered the elevator. As the elevator made its way down they talked about what had happened upstairs and how it had to be done.
“Angie would have tried to take her from you and she's not fit. We did the right thing.” Alexander reminded Pablo.
The elevator doors opened and both men stepped out. They continued to the lobby doors where Nick and Joseph stood waiting. They each climbed into their vehicles and left the hotel and headed to Pablo’s villa.
As they pulled in the driveway at the villa out ran little Gloriana her curly hair bouncing up and down as she ran to the car. Pablo flung his door open and grabbed her, tossing her into the air. Her laugh was intoxicating to him. She noticed the second car but didnt recognize it.
“Papa whos car is that?” She asked nervously.
“Oh just a friend that wanted to surprise you in the morning but your awake now so they came now.” Pablo smiled and put her on the ground.
He could see the little wheels in her head trying to guess who it was but she just looked up at him instead. Stella had turned on the lights in the yard by then so it was well lit. The door to the second car opened and out stepped Nick. Gloriana’s face twisted in confusion.
A moment later she put everything together. She looked at Pablo with the biggest and brightest eyes. Her excitement building and twinkling in her eyes.
“It’s uncle Nick Papa! Does that mean-”
Gloriana didnt even finish her question before the second door opened and out stepped Alexander. Gloriana squealed loudly as she took off as fast as she could. Alexander knelt down just enough to catch her when she jumped into his arms.
“Uncle Alex! YOUR HERE! But its not christmas or summer so is something wrong?”
“No my sweet princess I just missed you and needed to see you. Is it me or have you grown since I last saw you?
“I’ve been eating my vegetables like you told me to. And I missed you too Uncle Alex. When do you have to leave?” As she asked Gloriana looked down sad.
“I’ll be here for at least a week to spend with you and then a second week for work. So two whole weeks.”
Gloriana squealed again in excitement. Pablo, Joseph and Nick all looked at eachother in surprise but it was expected. Alex didnt want to be a father but he was an amazing uncle to her and wouldnt have hidden his trip from her.
“Glori if your going to daycare in the morning you need to go back to bed hiney.” Stella said.
“Papa can Uncle Alex and Uncle Nick tuck me back in?”
“Of course baby. I’ll be in the downstairs den if you need me okay?”
“Okie Dokie! Come on, I want you to see my room. And Uncle Nick I want a bedtime story too.”
Gloriana guided them to her room and they could hear her giggling in the distance. After about twenty minutes both men made their way to the den where Joe and Pablo laugh and handed them a drink.
“She has quite the imagination. And damn she's smart for a five year old.” Nick sat down looking like he just got beat up by a group of kids.
“You're doing an amazing job with her. She did ask about Angelina but I changed the subject. Thank you Pablo and you too Joe you're raising our girl respectfully.”
Both men were surprised to see such emotion on Alexander's face. That man was a rock and nothing broke threw his skin. But one thing was for sure he loved the hell out of Gloriana even if he didn't want to be her father. The men finished their drinks and called it a night.
Giana was still shaken up when she got up in the morning. She had stayed at Mike's house because she was too scared to go into her house. She remembered she had fallen asleep on the couch but when she woke up she was in Mike’s bed. She got out of bed and went to find Mike.
She walked into the living room and found Mike asleep in his recliner and her mother asleep on the couch. She noticed a small bag on the counter with some stuff in it for her. She quietly got dressed and without saying anything to anyone she headed off to work as if nothing had happened.
She got to the daycare later than usual but the kids were happy to see her. Their smiles and hugs made everything brighter and her mood happier. She didn't tell anyone about the night before. She quickly decided on her plans for the day and noticed breakfast and lunch had already been decided.
At about 9 am her classroom door opened and a tall handsome man walked in. He was accompanied by Gloriana who was ecstatic to see Giana. She didn't really pay attention to who dropped her off but made sure they knew to sign her in.
Her day went by smoothly and during centers Giana noticed Gloriana at a table by herself coloring something she drew. Giana went over and sat with her so she wasn't alone.
“May I join you?” She asked and Gloriana shook her head excitedly.
“I’m drawing my family. Here's my papa and my uncles joe, nick and alex. Oh and my two gold fishies.”
“Your family looks very happy.” Giana replied.
“We are happy. My uncles are here for two whole weeks. They surprised me last night.”
“That sounds like quite the surprise.” Giana smiled and began drawing her own picture.
Most of the kids had been picked up by their parents. Just then the classroom door opened and in walked a tall handsome man. His hair was neatly pulled back into a man bun. He was wearing dark colored jeans and a very nice and form fitting white collared shirt.
“Papa you're here!” Gloriana hopped out of her seat and rushed to hug him.
Giana cleaned up the crayons Gloriana was using and put her drawings into her book bag and took it over to her.
“Miss Gia. This is my Papa.”
“I’m Pablo we met the other night.”
“Oh yes. Nice to meet you again”
Giana shook his hand as he admired her beauty. Giana then told Gloriana goodbye and walked away. Pablo walked out with Gloriana in his arms and loaded her into the car. As he began to leave he saw Giana on her way out with a parent talking and smiling.
Giana got into her car and was so glad that she had a great day. She had changed out of her work clothes before leaving work to head home. It was a beautiful afternoon and she wasnt ready to go home just yet. She decided to go to a local park and walk around. She rolled her windows down and headed out of the empty parking lot.
Giana pulled into the parking lot of the park and wasnt surprised at how many cars were there. It was the nicest day so naturally lots of people would bring their kids out to enjoy the air. She changed into her sneakers and locked up her car.
She used to come here all the time when she was little. Giana stopped at the ice cream cart and got herself a vanilla chocolate swirl ice cream cone and went back on her way. Before her sisters destroyed her phone she would walk around listening to music but today she just listened to the children's laughter and the birds chirping. She walked the path for close to fifteen minutes before she decided to sit down on a bench in front of a tiny pond.
She was enjoying the sun's golden glowing rays coming over the trees. She sat in silence thinking to herself about what's been on her mind. She still hadnt read the letter from her Tia Sophia. Then her mind wandered to Gloriana and how shes managed to be so happy and bubbly with her mother always forgetting her.
She was picturing the man that had picked Gloriana up from class today and wondered where other than the daycare had she seen him before. She couldnt figure it out. But she caught herself thinking about how handsome he was. It wasnt many times shed seen someone as handsome as him.
She stood up to walk back to her car when she heard a voice behind her. She figured it was one of her students since this was the only local park that wasnt at a school or the preschool. She turned around and saw a cute little face running in her direction. She stopped and waited for her.