Two days until thanksgiving and here I was back at home in my old home feeling condemned.

Power had finished his bath and was downstairs playing his video game "fortnite".

"You know bed time is approaching?" I said coming down the stairs where he was.

"Papi said I don't have one." He replied with the biggest smile and I couldn't argue with that.

I walked into the kitchen where my mother was holding Allure singing the ants go marching song, making her gleam with joy.

As much as the lady irked my nerves, I couldn't help but smile with joy that she was attempting to bond.

"Madiiiii" !! Allure clapped noticing my presence.

"Madi?" My mother repeated. She calls you Madi? Not mommy?"

"Yes ma, she hears the people at my job say it all the time. I don't mind."

I picked Allure up kissing her cheeks making her giggle. From the silence I could tell my mother was withholding her thoughts of disagreement.

I sat Allure back down heading over to the refrigerator and grabbing some grapes.

"You planning on having anymore kids?"

"Nope"

"And why not?"

"After all I've been threw you don't know the half."

"So you're tubes are tied then?"

"Nope"

"Well seem like you're still in the business"

"Mom, if the right guy comes along then maybe, I'll have my consented child."

My mother turned in my direction, just staring at me.

"Consented? Are you saying you were—-?"

"Okay I finished my famous sauce!" Angela interrupted coming in through the front door.

"I'm gonna go bathe Allure." I uttered knowing it was my cue to leave.

As I arrived upstairs I remembered my best friend I lost Vanessa and how her case was still being ruled an accident. Til this day I still didn't know the truth.

I ran the tub half full of warm water and Elmo bubbles before placing Allure inside, where momentarily I could hear footsteps it was my father.

"Hey I hope this is a good time, as I can see it's not." He chuckled. "Rick wants to speak with you on behalf of the case, I told him about it and he has something you may want to hear." Dad added.

"Well I'm kind of in the middle of bathing Allure, can't it wait?" I uttered.

"I'll finish up for ya." My dad said stepping inside.

"He's waiting in my office down stairs."

I sighed trying to remain respectful, before leaving my dad with Allure and heading downstairs to my fathers office where I found Rick. He was seated in my dads chair with a few papers in his hand.

"What is so important?" I asked shutting the door behind me.

"Would you like to appear at Kamrons parole appearance to speak?"

"No he shouldn't know where I stay so I don't care if he gets out."

"It's not that simple Madison if he gets out unless we go to custody court he has the right to still try to get custody of power, which you know he will do."

"Well when we get to that part I'll deal with it, however now I'm more concerned with what the hell was in that plastic bag you had."

A smile surfaced across ricks face where he set the papers down.

"That was just something I've always needed. In the next 48 hours I'll know The truth." He marked starting me directly in the eye.

"Why do you insist on making this harder than what it already is. Why can't you leave well enough alone. This is like Kamron all
Over again. Rick you know She's yours, but after what you did, you don't deserve to have the blessing god gave to me." I expressed relentlessly, exhausting myself mentally.

I was saying the words I had never thought I'd say.

"Madison I really do believe you need to seek therapy or counseling, she was a baby that was made maybe in the wrong light because I'm married and you were vulnerable but you were a willing Participant. I don't want my daughter growing up without me and I don't want to grow old without her."

"Rick stop it, damn it! It's not as easy as a damn speech. My mother hates me because of that child and you very damn well did take advantage of me so don't attempt to try to down play it, now that you know the truth, leave my child and me alone. Please."

"Madison I don't care what you think of me. Just let me love her the way I couldn't love you."

I looked down at them marvel floor before looking back up at rick.

"Just leave well enough alone."

"Madison, I was your first everything don't forget that." He called out as I shut the door behind myself just wishing this was a bad dream.

Coming out I bumped into Angela. She was hanging up her cell phone.

"Is rick in there?" She asked sort of looking at me skeptically.

"Yeah, he actually is." I replied brushing past her.

I headed back upstairs to where my dad was finishing up bathing Allure.

He wrapped her inside a Mickey Mouse towel where she was again falling asleep.

"You got the magic touch papi." I smiled taking her from him.

"You were the same way, always sleeping. Good girl though, just always sleeping."

"Don't remind me." I smiled as he followed me to the door where we both could hear my brothers entrance being made.