Page 29 of The Surrogate Nanny
“Go ahead,” I urged, unable to take the suspense for much longer.
“I…I almost committed suicide,” she confessed.
The throbbing surged from my leg to my head as I tried to wrap my head around what she said. I massaged my forehead with the heels of my palms.
“I didn’t know what to do. Nori was all that I had, and suddenly she wasn’t there any longer. I’d became severely depressed and almost swallowed a handful of pills until Jonathan knocked on my door offering me the nanny position.”
My vision blurred as I thought about how if it hadn’t been for Jonathan, I would’ve been too late.
My selfishness almost killed my daughter’s birth mother….
“I’m not telling you this because I want to get back at you or something petty like that, but I wanted you to hear it from me. I didn’t want Jonathan to spill the beans and you were blindsided. I forgive you, Anthony because you’ve been sincere and have taken the appropriate steps to make amends with me, including agreeing to 50/50 custody. I’m forgiving you for myself and for Nori because I want her to live in a happy, loving environment, and that can’t happen if I hold animosity towards her father. Do you understand?”
I nodded and cleared the emotion from my throat. “I understand. Thank you, Simone, and I’m sorry.”
“You’re welcome, Anthony. I forgive you. The slate is clean.”
She gathered the album under her arm and left for the stairs, pausing before she was out of view.
“Thank you for choosing me to be Nori’s surrogate.”
“No…thank you.”
“Goodnight, Anthony,” she said before climbing the stairs.
“Goodnight, Simone,” I whispered to an empty room, pouring myself another glass of bourbon. No doubt, it’d be a sleepless night for me.
***
I woke to the mouthwatering scent of bacon and syrup and the sound of R&B music. I groaned and reached for my leg—my new morning routine since waking from my coma. My mouth was dry, and the scent of bourbon nearly made my unsettled stomach turn from bad to worse. I hoisted myself off the couch triumphantly and retrieved my cane that had wedged itself under the coffee table. I limped to a guest room on the bottom floor, relieved myself, brushed my teeth, and ran my fingers through my hair, in an attempt to make myself presentable.
I staggered down the hall at a painstaking pace. My leg was giving me hell, and I was reminded of a slew of upcoming doctor appointments I had soon. I doubted I’d attend all of them. They’d all tell me the same thing: your leg is fucked, you’ll be in pain for the rest of your life, and here are some pills. It was as simple as that.
I wiped a light sheen of sweat from my forehead with the bottom of my shirt before entering the bustling kitchen. Nori sat on the floor, clapping her hands as she wiggled to the beat while Simone sang the lyrics to the song and flipped a pancake.
Shockingly, overnight, my once dreadfully cold house turned into a home filled with life, love, and celebration.
I bent over to pick up Nori and was surprised when she didn’t start hollering for her Mama. What shocked me even more was that she wasn’t fighting to escape me. We were making progress, and I believed 100% that Simone’s presence had everything to do with it.
Simone finally looked up at me from the island stove.
“Good morning, Anthony. I hope you’re hungry.”
“I could eat,” I answered, avoiding her eyes.
She may have moved on and forgiven me, but I haven’t forgiven myself.
“Good. Sit down before your leg gives out.”
“My leg is—”
“Not fine,” Simone asserted, cutting off my lie. “You came in here looking like Fidget fromThe Great Mouse Detective.”
I hid my smile with a kiss to Nori’s head.
“I resent being compared to a peg-legged bat in a purple scarf.”
“You’ve seen it?” Simone asked with a surprised look on her face.