Chapter 6 "Reason To Live"

Arwena's smile spread across her face as she walked up the stairs. She was back from work, and she knew exactly what was waiting for her.

“Mommy!” Nathan’s sweet smile greeted her before she reached the door, his arms enveloping her with energy, his small frame exuding heat and affection. She laughed and leaned down to kiss the top of his head.

“How was your day, Mommy?” Nathan looked up expectantly, that big, bright smile of his lighting up the entire room.

Arwena smiled and touched his nose, causing him to shrink back in mock indignation. “My day was great! How about yours?” she said, yanking him into an embrace and letting the rush of pleasure at his giggles filled the room.

“Awesome!” Nathan was excited, hopping with the pure, innocent thrill only a child could muster.

Five years since that dark period of her life when she thought everything was losing its shape. The baby she had once thought might destroy her life had become her greatest reason to live, the source of her happiness, and her one guarantee that in every moment of darkest, life could be beautiful again.

Although she had put that past behind, she could not forget about Nathan’s father, Mr. Tandre. How could she? Nathan looked an awful lot like him. Every time she looked at Nathan, it was like looking in the face of the man she had worked so hard to forget. No matter how she wanted to escape that part of her, she still couldn’t forget him.

“Where’s Daddy?” she asked, cuddling her son.

“In the kitchen,” Nathan replied, pulling her hand and drawing her toward the room with excitement.

“Hey, Archie,” she said as she walked in, kissing Archie on the cheek.

“Perfect timing! “Dinner’s ready,” Archie said with a friendly smile, setting the steaks on the table, then leaning in to kiss her back.

For all these years, Archie had kept his promise. He had stood by her and Nathan, never wavering. Whether or not he was Nathan’s biological father had never mattered—his love and care spoke louder than any blood relation. They had always been honest with Nathan; he knew Archie wasn’t his real dad, yet he treated him as if he were. Archie wasn’t the traditional type, but so what? He had always been there for them.

As they sat down to eat, laughter and conversations filled the air. Such moments were what Arwena adored. But at that point, Archie said out of nowhere, “Wena, I’m glad you’ve finally reached out to your parents. Things are good now, right?”

Arwena froze, her fork halfway to her mouth, the smile on her face fading as she stared at him, confused. She felt a twist of queasiness in her belly.

“What do you mean, Archie? What do you mean things are good with my parents?” she asked, masking the sudden panic rising in her chest.

Archie looked at her, confused. Both of them glanced at Nathan, relieved to see he was too focused on his food to notice the tension in the room.

“Wena, that’s not something you need to hide from me. I’m happy for you! Your mom called earlier. She even gave her number and told you to call her when you have time,” Archie continued, not dropping his smile, unaware of the brewing storm within Arwena.

She didn't know what to feel. Nathan didn’t even know he had grandparents. And her parents—they didn’t know she had a child. It had been five years since she last spoke to them—since she had walked away, leaving behind the pain of the past. As far as she knew, they were still angry at her, still resenting how she had left without a word.

"Wena, your mom's number is on the counter; call her."

Arwena cleared away her food, stood up, and walked over to the counter, her hands shaking as she reached for the sticky note with the number written on it. Her heart leaped in her throat as she walked back to the table. She sat, trembling as she dialed the number. It rang, each ring echoing in her ears as she held her breath, her heart racing, overwhelmed with fear and longing.

"Hello…"

Arwena's throat felt tight and her eyes watery as a soft, familiar voice came through the line.

“Who’s this?”Her mother asked, her tone careful but hopeful. “Arwena?”

"Mommy,” Arwena said, her voice cracking. Her heart lurched as she struggled to find words, the enormity of the moment finally hitting her. “How are you? Where’s Daddy?”

Her mother’s voice shook, and she released a quiet sob. “We haven’t been okay, Arwena—not since you left."

Guilt swept over Arwena like a tidal wave. She shut her eyes and struggled to suppress the lump in her throat. “I’m so sorry, Mommy. I shouldn’t have left you.”

“We are the ones who should be apologizing, honey,” her mother’s voice trembled. “It took us five years to find you.”

“How did you get my number?” Arwena asked.

“We saw your name and number in a widely read real estate stock listing magazine in Maine,” her mother said.

Arwena smiles faintly. She had worked for years to be the number one real estate agent. Her name in a business magazine was an accomplishment she had been proud of—an indicator she was successful.

“Mommy, it’s me who did the wrong thing. If either of us should apologize, it’s me,” Arwena said, attempting to put a note of cheer into her voice. But despite her effort, the sorrow still hung heavy in her words.

“Arwena, come home,” her mother begged, managing to choke on emotion. “Your daddy and I miss you.”

“I miss you both too, Mommy,” she whispered, smiling thinly through her tears.

“Come home, sweetheart, please,” her mother urged again. “The truth is... your daddy and I need your help.

The words stuck in her throat.

Is she ready to meet the people who have wronged her?

Could she forgive them?

Could she really go home?