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Three Years Later
“I THINK THIS IS A GOOD spot, Wesley. What about you, Kendell?” Bianca asked, smiling down at their toddler daughter who held each of her parents’ hand.
Kendell grinned, her eyes crinkling from the late morning sun as she looked up at her mommy. “Yes Mommy. It’s the best spot in the whole wide world! Right, Daddy?”
The couple glanced at each other and smiled. “It sure is baby doll,” her daddy confirmed.
God, how he adored this little girl! Kendell had been what their dying marriage needed. It hadn’t taken Wesley but a minute to fall madly in love with the then newborn. True to his word, he had signed the adoption papers making her his legal daughter, too. With each passing day as he held her in his arms, that space in his heart that held so much anger and pain had begun to dissipate. Each time she cooed at him, followed him with her dark, bright eyes as he moved around a room, or trustingly fell asleep in his arms, Wesley’s heart healed bit by bit.
For that very reason Wesley loved and cherished his wife beyond anything he could ever imagine. It wasn’t until months later as he attempted to soothe a cranky Kendell who was suffering from an ear infection that it all became clear to him. If Bianca hadn’t been so insistent on having a baby, he would have never known the healing power of loving a vulnerable and innocent being. And for that, Wesley would forever be grateful to both his wife and daughter.
As the trio came to a stop under a large tree providing lots of shade from the late morning sun, he set the wicker basket he’d been carrying down on the lush grass. Now that his hand was free, he tenderly stroked Bianca’s cheek before leaning down to kiss her lips.
“Baby, I love you.”
Her eyes misted as her man tenderly gazed at her. “I love you, too.”
Kendell shielded her eyes from the sun with her little hand over her brows as she looked from her mommy to her daddy. “I want a kiss too!” she demanded puckering up her tiny lips.
They both laughed as Wesley picked her up swinging her in the air before giving her a big, loud kiss on her chubby cheek. Standing on her tippy toes, Bianca did the same. Giggling, Kendell shyly covered her face. “I love you Mommy and Daddy.”
Taking the blanket that was tucked beneath Bianca’s arm, he kissed the toddler’s nose. “We love you too, baby doll.” Putting her back on the ground he said, “Help me spread this blanket out so Mommy can sit down and we can go play."
“Okay, Daddy.”
Bianca stepped back as she watched the two people, she loved most in this world work together to make her comfortable. Tears of happiness pooled in the corner of her eyes as she looked on as Wesley patiently taught their daughter how to neatly spread the blanket over the grass. She had been terrified that she would lose her marriage, because she had, without his consent or blessing, agreed to adopt their daughter.
The fear of losing her husband had caused her to pack up everything she’d owned and leave him before he could walk out on her. Every day she thanked God Wesley had come through that door when he had. To her amazement, Wesley took to the newborn like fish to water. He wanted to learn how to do everything to be the perfect father.
She felt and sensed the ache in his heart each time he was required to go out on a mission. With every return he expressed how much he missed his family. So it really didn’t come as a surprise to her when an opportunity became available for him to become a training sergeant. Nor was she surprised when he gently suggested that she become a stay-at-home mom. His argument had been that they were financially solid from the money his birth father had given him. They compromised. She agreed to cut back to working twenty hours a week.
Breaking into her reverie, Wesley coaxed, “Come on baby and sit down.”
Bianca held Wesley’s hand as he carefully helped her take a seat on the blanket. Grinning up at her husband, Bianca said, “Put that basket next to me. I’m hungry.”
Wesley chuckled. “Woman, you’re always hungry.”
She tossed back, “And it’s your fault,” as she rubbed her very pregnant belly.
He wiggled his thick eyebrows. “It sure is.”
Bored with her parents back and forth bantering, Kendell tugged on his hand. “Daddy, I want to go play,” she whined.
“The princess calls,” Wesley grinned.
The energetic toddler impatiently shifted from one tiny foot to the other. “I think you better get going before she digs a hole in the grass.
Bianca laughed as Kendell squealed running toward the sliding board as her daddy moaned and walked after her imitating a zombie. Reaching inside the basket, she withdrew a bag of grapes and noticed the letter she had placed in there earlier. The mail carrier had delivered it as they were packing up the car. Briefly scanning it she noticed it was addressed to her with no name or return address.
Slowly opening the envelope her hands trembled as she unfolded the letter.
Dear Ms. Bianca,
I don’t even know where or how to begin this letter. I guess I should start off by saying thank you for everything you did for me. I know I wouldn’t have made it through one of the worst times of my life without your help. I suppose this is also a good time to say I’m sorry for how rude I was to you when we first met.
Just so you know, I did take your advice and continued on with counseling. I’ve been seeing a therapist twice a month since I went back home to live with my parents. You were so right. I did need to see someone to help me work through everything that happened to me.
I’m in college now studying to be a social worker just like you. My dream is to one day work with rape victims. One of the things my therapist encouraged me to do was to join a support group for rape survivors such as myself. It really helped me to know that I wasn’t alone. I want to help others who have been through the same thing as me.
Lastly, thank you for not judging me for not wanting to keep the baby. I know in my heart I made the right decision by giving her to you and your husband. Please promise me if she ever asks about me and why I didn’t keep her, that you’ll tell her the truth. Tell her that my heart knew she belonged with you and your husband.
Ever so grateful,
Kimmy
Bianca wiped away the tears blurring her vision. Tucking the letter back in the envelope she returned it to the basket. She would let Wesley read it later. She’d often wondered about the young girl whose life had been shattered by an ugly act of violence. Now she didn’t have to wonder anymore. She was on the right path to healing and recovery. Kimberly was going to be okay.
Shielding her eyes from the sun, she watched on as Wesley stood waiting at the bottom of the toddler sliding board for Kendell to slide down. Her heart swelled with love and pride for her man as he scooped their daughter up, swinging her around in the air before kissing her tiny nose.
Smiling, Bianca rubbed her belly. Life couldn’t be better.