Chapter Six

FIVE YEARS LATER

SHAWNA

I wiped off the sweat from my brow as I dusted off the shelf before neatly arranging the shoes on the shelf. I've been working in this store for five years as a sales girl and yet the manager still treats me like I’m a cleaner. 

My phone rang and I frowned when I saw it was a call from the school. I picked up the call immediately, my expression filled with worry. 

“Hello,” I answered. 

“Shawna, your kids got into a fight with another child. Hurry and come quickly,” the teacher’s voice sounded over the phone before she hung up. 

I frowned my expression filled with concern as I headed out of the store, looking for my manager. She was nowhere to be found. 

“Please, cover for me. I have to go to school,” I said to my co-worker, Laurel. 

Laurel nodded, “Hurry up. You know the manager doesn't like it when you leave.”

“I’ll be back soon,” I said to her. 

I ran out of the shop and hailed a cab to take me to school. A few minutes later the cab pulled up in front of the school and I stepped out. 

I saw my three children sitting down with a frown on their faces while their teacher gave them a stern look. 

“What happened?” I asked.

The teacher turned to me with a haughty expression on her face when she saw me. 

“Finally, you're here,” she scowled. 

“Mommy,” my daughter, Phoebe exclaimed and ran into my arms when she saw me. 

I hugged my daughter and frowned when I noticed the scratches on her arm. 

“What happened to your arm?” I asked her. 

“It was Eric,” my son, Billy answered. 

“He was bullying her,” Jasper, my other son added. 

I pulled my three children close to my chest, kneeling to their level as I kissed each of their foreheads. 

“That’s the type of thing that has turned them into a bully, Shawna,” their teacher scoffed in a rude tone. 

I frowned at her, “What do you mean?” 

“Your kids hurt Eric. You should be grateful his parents aren't pressing charges,” the teacher said. 

My frown deepened, “Hurt Eric? How? Isn't it Phoebe who got hurt?”

“Eric was only playing with her and then her brothers beat him up,” the teacher said. 

“Playing with her? By hurting my daughter?” I was puzzled and upset. 

“Mommy, we beat Eric because he was hurting Phoebe and asking us about our dad,” Jasper said.

My heart skipped a bit when they mentioned their dad. There wasn't any day that went by without me getting reminded of the fact that I had run away with Damien’s triplets condemning my kids to grow up without a father. 

“Yes, he said his mom told him we’re not good kids that’s why we don't have a dad,” Billy added. 

Phoebe’s eyes watered as she looked up at me with those adorable eyes that reminded me of Damien. 

“Is it true, Mommy? Are we bad?” she asked, sobbing. 

“That’s not true honey,” I said, kissing her cheeks, “Your father is working in another city. He loves you and he will visit soon.”

The teacher scoffed, “That’s what you've been saying since you enrolled them in this school.”

I stood up and glared at the teacher. The last thing I wanted to do was lose my temper in front of my children but she was forcing my hand. 

“What do you want?” I asked her. 

“The principal is waiting for you with Eric’s parents,” the teacher answered. 

“Stay here,” I told my children before I left. 

I got to the principal’s office and knocked softly before I opened the door and entered. I saw the Principal seated and smiling with two people who I presumed to be Eric’s parents. 

They were dressed in lavish attire and it was obvious they didn't need money like I did. 

“Good day, Principal Rosa,” I greeted the chubby woman who sat behind the desk. 

Principal Rosa acknowledged me, “Shawna, this is Mr. And Mrs. Harris, they're Eric’s parents.”

My eyes widened slightly as I recalled the ‘Harris’ name was affiliated with one of the top-ranking companies in this town. 

“A pleasure,” I smiled at them. 

The husband gave me a haughty look while the wife gave me a dirty look like I was trash at the bottom of her shoes.

“I wish we were meeting under better circumstances but this has to be done,” The Principal said.

I frowned, “Is this about what happened earlier with the triplets?” 

The principal nodded, “Yes, Jasper and Billy beat up Eric.”

I frowned, “But that was because Eric was bullying Phoebe.”

Eric’s mother glared at me, “How do you know he was bullying her? Were you there?”

I shook my head, “No, but–”

She interrupted me sharply, “Well, shut up! Your kids hurt my son because my son decided to play with your filthy daughter.”

I was mortified by her choice of words but I still decided to keep calm. 

“Please don't talk to me or my daughter in that manner,” I said sharply.

The woman scoffed, “What are you going to do, whore?”

I gasped, beyond livid as I stared at the principal, “Is this why you called me here? To insult and humiliate me?”

The Principal sighed, “Please calm down, Shawna.”

“I’m calm, it’s Eric’s mom who has decided to speak to me rudely. And now I know without a doubt that Eric bullied my daughter because the apple doesn't fall far from the truth.”

“You’re one to talk,” Eric’s mother scoffed. 

“What is that supposed to mean?” I snapped. 

“Settle down, Shawna!” the principal snapped at me. 

I was surprised but I kept quiet and waited for her to say what she had to say. 

“I just want to tell you that we can't keep your triplets at our school again,” the principal said. 

I gasped, “What? Why?”

“Because when we admitted them they weren't bullies. Now they snap at anyone who mentions their father. When will you tell them you don't know who their father is?” 

I was shocked at the principal’s words, “I told you their father is working in another city.”

“Understandable, that’s what anyone without a husband or who doesn't know the father of her child would say,” Eric’s mother mocked.

“I know who my kid's father is. He's just too busy to come here, and how does this affect their education here?” I asked. 

“We are training upstanding citizens, Shawna. You need two parents for that. We can't have just you taking care of three kids and then they start acting out and bullying other children due to your inability to provide a stable, strong, and secure home for them,” the principal answered. 

Her words cut me like a knife as I stared at her serious face. I suddenly realized how my kids must feel every day whenever they were bullied about not having a father. 

“This isn't right, Principal. Consider these kids,” I pleaded. 

“We held a PTA meeting and it was agreed that children with one parent be dismissed from the school,” the principal said. 

I frowned, “PTA meeting that I wasn't invited?”

“It’s strictly for couples, sorry,” Eric’s mother laughed mockingly. 

“You can't be serious, Principal Rosa,” I scoffed. 

“I’m sorry but there's nothing I can do,” the principal said. 

“It’s either you leave this school with your violent children or you stay and I sue you in court for irresponsible behavior. You'd lose the case and your kids,” Eric’s father finally spoke for the first time.

I nodded and smiled bitterly at the Principal, “So this is what this is. A power struggle.”

“You can come back when your husband is back,” the principal said to me. 

With a heavy heart, I walked out of the office and headed to where my children were. They frowned when they saw my face. 

“Mommy, is something wrong?” Jasper asked immediately. 

I shook my head, “No, you've just been asked to stay home for a while. Come, let me take you to grandma. I have to get back to work.”

“I’m sorry for making you work so much,” Phoebe apologized. 

“Me too,” Jasper and Billy said. 

My heart melted at their words as tears clouded my eyes. I hugged them before ushering them toward the road. My children were sweet children and not bullies. 

The only wrong they did was being born without their father around and that was my fault else they wouldn't be bullied by others. 

“Mommy, are we getting punished?” Phoebe asked. 

She was always the smartest among them with her eyes that looked like Damien’s eyes. Despite them being triplets they had different looks but had a unique resemblance to Damien. 

A car suddenly pulled up across the road and I heard my name being yelled out in the main road. 

“Shawna!”

My heart stopped beating at the sound of the familiar voice. I raised my eyes and locked eyes with Damien.