Redemption: AmBw Romantic Suspense

I whispered, “Kia, come here.”

She never returned.

Leaving the sink, Jalen gave me a sad smile and took the phone. “Hey, Grandma.”

Still with the trench coat and sunglasses on, Yoshiro rose from the table. “You did it.”

“I did.” I gestured for him to head up stairs. “Now, you’re turn.”

Sighing, he took the glasses off. “This will be quick. My aunt will just hang up.”

“Let’s see.”

We headed upstairs. The kids yelled into my phone, telling their grandmother all the things they’d gotten for Christmas.

The whole conversation with my mother, my heart had boomed in my chest. I loved my mother, but her helping Wyatt hurt. I was serious with what I said. It would take a long time to forgive her.

At least, I said what I said. That’s how the healing starts. One can’t beat their mother’s ass. . .unfortunately. . .maybe one day we’ll be okay.

When he got to Yoshiro’s room, he pulled out the burner phone that Kevin had gotten him and dialed the number.

I quirked my brows. “You know the number by heart?”

“Yeah, even though I haven’t called in six years.” He let out a long breath. “On that day, I was calling to tell her that her grandson was born. My aunt answered as usual and hung up.”

“Did your aunt always answer?”

“For most of the years.”

“Maybe, your aunt is the one that’s blocking it.”

“Could be? That aunt is my father’s sister.”

“Hmmm. I thought it was your mother’s sister. I could be right.”

He placed the phone to his ear. I held in my breath.

He closed his eyes. “Hello, it’s Yoshiro.”

A few seconds passed.

He opened them. “Oh. . .okay. I’m so sorry to hear that. My condolences.”

He widened his eyes and stared at me. “Thank you. I’ll wait.”

“What’s going on?” I whispered.

He covered the phone. “That was my uncle. My aunt passed. He said he was going to get my mom.”

“O-kay. That’s good.”

“Yeah.” Yoshiro put the phone to his ear and paced in the bedroom.

Ten seconds passed.

“Y-yes.” His voice went shaky. “Yes. It’s Yoshiro.”

Was that her on the line? My heartbeats picked up. I was so nervous for him.

“I just. . .wanted to tell you. . .Merry Christmas, Mother.” Yoshiro turned to me. His eyes watered, but no tears came. “That’s it.”

I shook my head and whispered, “You can say more. Tell her you love her.”

“I love you too.” He rubbed his forehead. “No. I’m not in Chicago anymore. Yes. . .it has been a long time.”

Several seconds passed, he walked over to the bed and sat down. “It’s okay, Mother. No. Don’t cry. I know. I forgive you. Please, don’t cry.”

My throat burned with sorrow.

She must’ve been going on and on. He just sat there on the phone, stunned and with a sad expression.

“I understand. Don’t apologize.”

Slowly, I backed out of the room.

“I forgive you, Mother. I do. No. . .I don’t think so, not anymore. . .I know you love me now.”

My heart ached.

I closed the door and gave them privacy.

I hope they get their closure. She deserves to know how amazing her son is. . .that no matter what her husband did, that evilness never seeped into him.

Yoshiro might’ve murdered his dad, but he was a better man than her husband could ever be. It would take time for their wounds to heal, but hopefully this phone call would spark the beginning to many more phone calls.

Epilogue

Christmas Eve a year later.

Yoshiro

I stood by the window.

My nerves were a tangle of excitement and fear.

The kids played outside with the dogs. Poppy had good control of the dogs now, teaching them commands like dance and walk the runway. Neither dog slept with me anymore. Every night, they piled into Poppy’s room, jumped on her bed, and lounged on each of her sides.

We’d redid the attic for Kia. She now had her own writing area, a massive shelf for all of her poetry journals, and big bedroom covered in bright pink.

Jalen’s room had even more style. Somehow we’d convinced Ebony to let me take him to the gun range. It became our weekly men’s activity. All of his targets decorated the walls, complete with bullet holes. Ebony shook her head every time she entered his bedroom.

We’d settled into the house just fine. Within this year, so many memories had been made. As soon as, Ebony discovered she was four months pregnant, I took the kids out to the fields, sat them down for a picnic, and asked for permission to marry their mother. They still didn’t know she was pregnant, but they were happy to give me the approval. Granted, Jalen gave me three months of an initial probation process, but I passed. When Ebony turned five month’s pregnant, I made a huge dinner, flew her mother there, and proposed to her. She loved everything, but the surprise of her mother. Still, the visit healed them.