I kept having to remind myself to take things one step at a time but I couldn't seem to shake the feeling of being overwhelmed!

Power and I had the most beautiful mommy and me breakfast and I was reminded of just how mature and intellectually developed my baby boy was. One would have never guessed he was the product of rape.

We arrived to my parents house a bit late but that was nothing out of the ordinary for the birthday person. My mother and father had done a magnificent job decorating for Power with the Batman theme from balloons and jumping houses they had really outdone themselves.

My mother had invited a good bit of the neighborhood kids and to my surprise there Angela was with Rj and Kay enjoying the festivities as if the custody dispute and many other factors weren't occurring.

"There goes the birthday boy! Just dive right on in!!" Said my mother kissing and hugging Power.

"Where's dad?" I asked.

"He's not feeling very well so he's lying down. With all the decorating he over exhausted himself. He just needs a little nap, give him a hour or two!"

Hearing those words dampened my spirit and I could see the disappointment in Powers face.

"Papi okay? Will I get to see him today?" He asked looking up at my mother.

"Yes Ofcourse And If he isn't up in a hour we will just have to go wake the giant. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."

"Promise?"

"Mami promises!" My mother assured giving power a even bigger hug before sending him off to enjoy the festivities.

"Mom I've been meaning to tell you something."

She replied, "Is now really a good time Madison?" Without even giving me eye contact.

"I think it's really now or never."

"What is it Madison?"

"Ms.Charlotte is in town and she really would like to see Power. She's been threw so much and experienced all of those losses, I think she's seeking closure with peace."

"Tell me you didn't invite her to my home?"

"Madison are you crazy! How do you know what this woman's intention are!?"

Sighing deeply I tried to avoid this bickering, "Mom just give her a chance. She has really been threw a lot and I feel partial to blame."

I could tell my mother was trying religiously to withhold the anger boiling within, but it was written all over her face.

With little to no time left to absorb Rick was appeared with Ms.Charlotte and unbeknownst to me Ericka entering the party.

The breath nearly left my body as I gulped hard attempting to do the same as my mother by withholding my anger, but it was incomplete.

Seeing the two people I despised walking side by side next to mS.Charlotte made my blood boil.

"Hello Madison!" Ms. Charlotte smiled greeting me with open arms.

"Hello, I need you all to follow me!" I demanded in the most unfriendly manner making eyes with Ericka directly. She looked like a kid being parted from their parents but I was moving to quickly making them cycle in a u turn heading back to where they had just entered threw the side backyard gate.

I was so angered that Rick didn't even dare speak when I first approached he dropped off like a fly, getting out of my path of destruction.

The moment we made it out of sight of the party's guest, I turned sharply stopping us all in our tracks with an expression to kill.

"Madison before you go off may I have a chance to speak?" Asked Ericka before I could utter a word.

"Yes Madison, I wouldn't have made this sacrifice if I didn't know she had good intentions please listen." Ms.Charlotte pleaded.

"Madison I've come to a point in my life that I don't want to hate or be spiteful anymore, what happened to you I can only imagine how you felt. So as a woman I want to show you my support."

"It's a little late for that don't you think, today is all about my little boy and I don't want this madness to interfere. As for you ms.charlotte with all due respect, I really went out on the limb trying to make things work between us, but I must say this move here, bringing her an uninvited guest from my past, wasn't beneficial at all."

"Madison, don't blame Ms.Charlotte please. Her intentions were well, I just wanted to make things right with you and for the sake of Kamron. I feel like seeing and being apart of power is a great means of closure."

"Yeah well my child isn't a pawn for closure. He has his own issues to deal with concerning what he witnessed.I made a mistake inviting you."

"You're right Madison. I totally understand why you're upset with me, but please just please allow me this day to be with Power. Ericka will leave and you all can hatch things out at a later date." She pleaded desperately.

"I'm really trying to be a better person..." I took a brief pause exhaling a flashback of our history. "You can stay But she has to leave."

Ericka glimpsed down at the wedges she was wearing, inhaling silently as she agreed and said her goodbye's to Ms.Charlotte.

I didn't feel the need to hang around what needed to be done had been done and I turned to head back into the backyard.

I couldn't believe MS. Charlotte had actually attempted to bring someone she knew would be uninvited as a suprise guest to my child's party. I was abit bothered by her actions and after all I had done to just have her attend she took such a risk.

"Madison." She called making her way over to me.

"It's not even worthy of speaking on, I'd rather discuss it at a later date, Listen today is about Power, your grandson, Lets just make the most of the moment."

"You're right, well I better go say hello to my sweet Power and where should I put these gifts?" She asked holding them up with a smile.

"I'll take them to the table. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."

I took a grip of the four bags filled with gifts and walked them over to the table of gifts my mother had set up.

"Where's Allure?"  Rick asked stepping to the side of me with a beer in hand.

"With her father."

My response was dry and short. Just how I wanted it to be. Without making any contact I could tell from the silence I had taken him aback from my response.

"You're playing house, is what you're insinuating?"

"No, Allure is with her father and what you and your wife are doing is more suitable for the description of playing house. Who invited you here?"

"Your mother said it was an open invitation."

"Well If I were you I wouldn't be here when my fiancé arrives."

Rick clenched his jaws allowing his eyes to trickle down to my fingers to confirm my comment.

"You have a man you barely know around the kids."

"Oh I know him well. Besides it's none of your concern. Now I'm attempting to be cordial however I should warn you to leave."

"Madison."

"What rick?"

"Do you know this man."

"You've met him."

"Who?"

"You'll see if you stick around...-- however Again I'd advise you not to. There's no telling the outcome of your presence."

"Don't threaten me when it comes to my child."

"It isn't about your child, this is about you being here."

"I'm leaving, just wanna make sure you understand everything that happens on Monday is going to be your own fault."

"Now you shouldn't be threatening me, especially not about my child."

"It's not a threat. It's a promise I'm going to act on, I'll see you in court."

I rolled my eyes in utter disgust, refusing to respond to Ricks comment. He had to be one sick individual to continue on this charade.

While I had the moment I took a second to see what Power was up to and my sights set across the yard.

I could see power talking with Ms.Charlotte and seeing that smile across his face let me know I had done the right thing. My mother was close by like a hound dog, observing their every move.

This was a time for me to sit back and realize hat forgiving and forgetting was apart of life. If Ms.Charlotte could forgive me for everything that occurred and even accept our rocky history, I needed to do the same with the people around me.

Starting with my mother and Ericka. The space I was entering In my life was like a sun setting I wanted to start over fresh.

Seeing power so happy surrounded by family reassured me that having his family was important.

As the next hour rolled by, everyone unwinded and relaxed and this settled peace gave me a feeling of nostalgia.

"You look gorgeous." My father said surprising me enormously.

"Hey daddy! Mom said you weren't feeling well."

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just been working hard and needed a nap."

"Well I should tell you we have a guest."

"Guest?"

"Powers biological grandmother is here. She's over there with him. Now before you ring me out dad, we're working on forgiving and rebuilding."

"Well." Said my father staring in their direction. "I don't oblige, it looks like their bonding and your mom is smiling so that's a good thing."

"Thank you dad."

"Ofcourse darling....well let me make myself known." He uttered taking a stroll.

Just as I drifting my attention to Angela feeding her daughter Kay I was snapped out of the day dream.

"Madi May."

I turned in the calling direction and smiled at the sight of Steph and my beautiful girls dressed so nicely.

"Don't y'all look adorable, give me love."

"Is all this for Power?"

"Yes it is."

"Oh wow look at the jumping house, I wanna do that."

"Then you go right ahead but can I at least have a kiss first?" I laughed stopping Gigi in her tracks as she turned quickly kissing my cheek and dashing away.

"Well at least I have you." I sighed kissing Allure as Steph handed her over.

"Your hair is pretty."

"Mommy's hair is pretty you say? Why thank you. I think your hair is prettier."

"Can I do the jumping house?"

"Oh you're just gonna leave me too?"

Allure giggled clasping my cheeks as she kissed my forehead warming my heart.

"Why thank you gorgeous, go say hello to mami and papi first."

"Ok!" She cheered hopping out of my arms.

"Well at least you got me left."

"I always have you left."

"Where the fried chicken and mashed potatoes at? I might leave you for that."

I chuckled giving Steph an elbow. "I'll fix you some. That way you can watch me walk away."

"Damn you just gone tease me like that."

"Oh yeah." I uttered strutting away towards the inside hypnotizing my fiancé with the sway of my hips.

I couldn't express how happy I was to be apart of this all. I felt loved for the first time in forever and was enjoying the moment.

Within 10 minutes I returned with a special plate made for Steph, filled with chicken legs, tuna salad, and mashed potatoes. I planned on grabbing him a soda out of the cooler by the tables, but to my humble surprise Angela was standing shoulder to shoulder holding a conversation with Steph that nearly took the wind out of me.

Just what the hell could she be talking about with him, let alone while holding her daughter and giggling.

The fury within me boiled as I stood frozen attempting to quickly debate my next reaction, hoping not to over react. But I couldn't control myself.