CHAPTER 32
"Never mind, it's all right. Love just isn't for me."
"Don't say that, Babe. I don't want you to lose hope. I do not know how but I do know that happily ever after is yours."
"You must reduce viewing those romance movies. I am fine, really? As long as I have got Melissa, I am really fine."
"Him working in the company is simply a revenge against me. And because of what we had talked about earlier. I came to know that he dumped me because the company was having some sort of crisis so he had to marry another woman to save it"
"His mother became mad at me and decided to fire me by making me homeless."
"Even if that is not his fault but I still think he is an ae. He never actually loved me. If he had, he would have told me everything right from the beginning rather than making me a fool."
"But that is not what d me off the most. He thinks I never loved him and eloped with somebody and got pregnant. I do not know if he knows or he is in denial that Melissa is his."
"In as much as he is an ale, I am trying so hard not to feel any form of pity for him."
"Please not. He doesn't deserve it. Given all that we had been through together, I don't think he would have the courage to look me straight in the eye and effectively accuse me of cheating on him."
"Life is totally crazy!!"
"I know!!! But not now that I am sticking by him, do you think fear and pain are what are making him so in denial?"
"Meaning. I am sure he never expected to find you here in FAREO ISLAND, then discovering that he is a father? Men can be such big babies and sad ists as well."
"I do not know and honestly, I do not care. It is a sad history but I am grateful that I came out strong. I have found O'Shea and my daughter which is the best thing that has ever happened to me."
"I am grateful for you too and I am so proud of you and Melissa. There are times when I wonder where you get your strength from. You are so strong"
"Hold up! Did I hear you say 'Strong?' Bonnie chuckled. "You might want to take that back, Sis. I cry a lot. I cried even today after the fight with J'onn."
"I promise you that we all cry and lose it at some time. But how we rebound from that is what makes us strong. And I'm proud of you for that. No cap!"
"No one ever knows what to say to make me better."
"Surely! You are worthy of all the compliments."
"Sure, I want to ask. Don't freak out."
"You say this when you are going to say something that freaks me out."
"I'm listening, Go ahead."
"What if J'onn wants you b."
"Never!!!!" She interrupted Megan before she even had a chance to complete a sentence.
"What if he wants to be in Melissa's life?"
"I'm bringing it up because this isn't about you anymore. Your little princess is part of the equation. And trust me, you've got the most beautiful daughter in the world. I don't even know how to tell you how proud I am to be her aunt."
Bonnie sighed and massaged her temple. "Honestly, I haven't even considered it because I didn't think that the day would come."
"Melissa is the best thing this life has ever been able to offer me and I would never want her to be harmed. She has been tolerant and accepted that her father is dead. So I would rather it stays that way. Else I would have to go to the extent of spinning webs of lies and outlandish excuses as to why J'onn is no longer dead."
Megan's eyes widened. "You said that? You told her J'onn was dead?"
"Please do not stare at me like that. You know I am not an evil person. You also know how probing Melissa could be, especially when she really wants to know the answers.".
"I think that day I was not in a very good spirit, she asked the question, I remembered all the shtty things he'd done to me and I just lost it. I don't even know how that came out of my mouth. It just came out."
"Wow! And she didn't cry afterwards?!";
"You know that is going to happen. You know how manipulative and emotional Melissa was."
"She wept so badly I wished that I could take back my statement but it was already too late. I had to whip out the Bible and read to her some verses of G od's assurance not to abandon or forsake us. We prayed after that, and she settled down, and I treated her with an ice cream."
"So you two essentially had a funeral for J'onn in your honor indirectly?" Megan inquired, still shocked, so hard working to refrain from laughing.
"It wasn't done willingly. Sometimes these children will push you to the point of no return."
"So since then, she never spoke about the Daddy issue?"
Bonnie rolled her head. "A couple of times when she does a family tree. I think she is more interested in having a baby brother at this point than a father."
"So if J'onn wishes to be a part of her life, which I highly doubt, then it is going to be very difficult."
"Also you know how clingy Melissa is? I don't think she could deal with the distance.".
"My life is here. J'onn has a life miles away. He has a business to run and a lot of investments to attend to. He is always busy. I do not believe he would have time for her.
"She will need him to go to her school plays and so on and so forth and I am quite sure he does not have time for this."
If ever I see him again, I will just ask him to leave and never come back here.
"I do not know but I think he is still married to his arranged wife. They should have children and I do not want Melissa to have a step-brother/sister. It is always poisonous.".
We do not need J'onn or his finances. I am working so hard just to save for her and college so that we won't have to rely on him at all."
"We've existed without him up to now and will continue to do so. I just want my baby to be healthy and contented."
Megan agreed, "What about her request for a baby brother?
Anyway, there was always a moment when that request would always annoy me because we know how stubborn she could be but not anymore."
"Okay?!" Megan responded, looking confused, expecting an explanation in detail.
"I had it in mind that I was going to talk to you about it. You and O'Shea, you two are taking forever!"
Megan laughed, "You have got to be kidding me.".
No, I'm not. I know you both want to have some time for yourselves before children are on the scene but you all are dragging your feet about it. Melissa wants a baby cousin."
"Between you and Melissa, I can see that you are more manipulative.".
"No, I am not. Let us not even argue over this. Melissa is Miss Manipulative. All she needs to do is to give you puppy dog eyes and boom!!!! She has already crawled into your heart."
Megan laughed, knowing she had a point.
"Aunt Megan!" The very energetic voice came through as she ran towards her where she was sitting.
"My love." Megan hugged her.
Stepping back, she kissed the little girl on the cheek.
"You look so pretty and your hair, Wow!!!, so pretty,"
Melissa's hair had been well-combed into a ponytail and she was getting dressed in leggings, coordinating top, her jacket, and sneakers.
"Thank you. Mommy curled my hair and Jennifer picked out my dress."
"Did you say thank you?"
She nodded happily, "I did."
"You are excited about this trip. Aren't you?
"Yes, where is Uncle O'Shea? I thought he was going with us?"
"Yes, my love. We are going to pick him up from the airport. We're going to have a great time!"
"Go kiss your mommy goodbye so we can go."
Melissa nodded, then sped back over to Bonnie.
Bonnie
"I am going," She wrapped her daughter in a bear hug after which she smothered her face with kisses.
"I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too, mama." Melissa leaned in to give her mom a hug and a peck on the cheek.
"Be good to your aunt and uncle."
She nodded.
"Hang out and I'm going to call you every day, okay?"
She smiled, "Yes, Mommy,"
In no time at all, Jennifer, her nanny, came with Melissa's box containing her belongings for the weekend.
"Let's leave so as to catch up with our flight." Megan stood up.
Bonnie did the same.
They proceeded out of the house, with Jennifer in tow carrying Melissa's baggage as well as her iPad.
They got to the car where the driver had already arrived. Jennifer concealed the box inside the trunk, while Bonnie bid farewell to her daughter Megan who also occupied the back seat. She waved until the car had disappeared from sight.
She went back into the house with Jennifer. But Jennifer packed up immediately and made herself ready to leave.
"Goodnight ma'am,"
"Thank you, Jennifer, Goodnight."
"Okay, you're off for the weekend since Melissa won't be home till Sunday."
"Okay, ma. See you Monday."
"Bye"
"Goodnight"