Chapter 27
Current Day
Idon't know how many hours the surgery took, because I couldn't bear the thought of staring at a clock. The wall in front of me, white and empty, was a blank canvas for my mind to paint beautiful portraits of a life I have dreamt of many times. My heart hurts to think of the years we lost; raising children together, curling up on a sofa while watching late-night television, and our knuckles sweeping against each other's, while reaching for more popcorn. The imagery is simple, but so far out of reach and so far in the past that the thoughts are becoming unfathomable.
My mindset might not be status quo after spending so many years waiting for something I did not deserve. Yet here I am, digesting the truths Amelia has shared with me these past two days, including my connection to the two women sitting to my right.
"We have a daughter, Charlie,"Amelia said. I keep replaying those words. "We also have Annie," whose name was changed from Lucie. I promised to be her papa, and I was not able to keep that promise.
The understanding of what I have … have had all along … should have made my heart stop beating. All this time, my dream was unraveling into a reality, just without me playing a part. My daughters, one biological, and one inherited by being a savior. Clara and Annie—they both sat beside me, unknowing of our relationship. Amelia did not tell them about me, fearing how much turmoil it would cause the girls. I knew she was right, but as I tried not to stare directly at them, I yearned to tell them the truth—that I was their papa and would have done anything to be that man in their lives.
I had to understand the repercussions of being selfish. They were far too advanced in life to find out something as such. Maybe Amelia would change her mind someday.
"Mom never mentioned having a friend named Charlie," Clara finally speaks after hours of silence. Clara, Annie, Emma, and I have been sitting in this waiting room for hours, waiting to hear news about Amelia's fate. Many times throughout the hours, I felt that I should excuse myself. Who was I to be seated in that room after these three women have spent their lives with Amelia?
However, I could not leave, not after being reunited with my girl.
"We haven't seen each other in many, many years," I say to Clara.
"So I've heard," she says. I'm sure she doesn't appreciate the fact that a stranger—as far as she's aware—is seated beside her in this room. Emma, however, hasn't taken her eyes off me. Emma is the only one who knows the truth, because Emma is the only one who has read Amelia's journal. Amelia asked Emma to keep her secret safe to prevent pain on her mother and aunt.
The waiting room door opens slowly, and my heart nearly stops beating. My face becomes cold, and my hand is clammy. We all stand at the doctor's presence, and I notice the tired look in his eyes. "That woman," he begins. "She is a fighter. It was a close call a couple of times, but she pulled through like a champ. Amelia—she is going to be just fine."
Amelia is going to be just fine.
Today is the first day of my life.
Clara and Annie are both in a mess of tears, moving toward the doctor to hug him. And Emma, she's standing back waiting her turn, but she's staring at the doctor with a different kind of look than her mother and aunt. Emma has taken a liking to the doctor I have noticed. I can understand why, after saving her grandmother's life.
I want to hug the man too. He saved my Amelia—something I couldn't do this time.
It was best for me to keep quiet as Clara and Annie asked many questions about Amelia's future. Maybe I should have been concerned with the same, but in our nineties, every new day we wake up is a gift, and rather than worry about the future, I plan to live each day fully, thanking God for the time I am lucky to have with Amelia.
I took my seat, knowing it was the right thing to do. The girls all needed to see Amelia, spending their time being grateful to have her still. I could wait for my turn.
"What's in the bag, Charlie?" Emma asked as Annie and Clara rushed out of the room to go on and see Amelia in recovery. I had a leather briefcase that contained the letters for Amelia. I need to keep them hidden as they are for Amelia's eyes only.
"Just some things I wanted to give to your grandmother," I tell her.
"Like what?" Emma smirks, and this time as I stare at my granddaughter, I notice my smirk etched on her face.
She is mine.She is mine.
My eyes soften and fill with tears. I can't stop the emotions from taking control of me these past few days. "You are very strong-willed, aren't you?"
Emma smiles gently. "Am I?"
"I'm proud of you, Emma."
Emma bites down on her bottom lip. "Charlie, I'm really upset that I didn't know about you all this time. You're my grandfather, and I deserved to know you."
I stand up from my seat and move down two chairs to be next to Emma. "Titles do not matter. What matters is today, how we feel in this moment, and what we take forward with us." I wrap my arm around Emma's shoulders, and she leans her head into my arm. I close my eyes, feeling a tear fall.
"Well, I won't take any day for granted now," she says quietly. "I want to know everything there is to know about you—my grandfather."
This is what I have always wanted.
"Thank you, Emma," I utter.
