Page 94 of Full Circle

“Just spit it out,” I sighed. She wasn’t going to be able to relax her face until she said her piece.

Marla huffed before refilling her own wine glass. “I talked to Wesley earlier. After he left The Comfy Cushion. He’s pretty determined to make things right between y’all.”

“And you believed him?” I asked incredulously.

Maggie grimaced, a very un-Maggie-like expression. “He did reach out to me a few years ago when I started my social media accounts…and I may have told him to leave you alone.” She held up her hands in a placating gesture. “I thought it was best because of how freaked out you were over Iris!”

This was all the opposite of what I expected them to say. I assumed both of them would assure me I had done the right thing by telling Wesley to leave town. Instead they were both acting like I overreacted.

“Did y’all miss the part where his daddy is buying my parents’ restaurant?” I reminded them. “How am I supposed to forgive him for that?”

“You’re supposed to hear him out,” Marla replied. “You’re making assumptions and it’s gonna cost you.”

I jumped up, too infuriated with the situation to sit still. Wine was also spurring me on, but that was a whole other issue.

“He’s the one who left me! On the day my father died, in case y’all forgot! Wesley Madden is the love of my life and he left me.”

Maggie’s mouth curved into a triumphant grin. “You said ‘is the love of my life.’ Present tense.”

Sputtering, I snarled, “Semantics!”

Marla shook her head. “I agree with Maggie. Celeste, you’re letting your pain make the decisions for you. None of us know what really happened. Y’all were kids in a very bad situation. Both of you deserve to hear the truth.” She shot me a pointed a look. “Including Iris.”

The very thought of it had me sinking back onto the couch in defeat. “Desiree will take her from me,” I whispered.

Marla shrugged. “Seems to me that Wesley has more than enough money to pay for a lawyer and get her back. Wouldn’t that be a chance worth taking if it means you get the family you always wanted?”

If only it were that simple. “Assuming, of course, Wesley forgives me for not telling him about Iris from the beginning. He’s gonna be madder than a rattlesnake when he finds out.”

Both of them paused to consider that.

“Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tell him,” Maggie finally admitted.

Deep down, I knew she was right. I just wasn’t prepared to face all the feelings that came with it. My daughter meant more to me than anything, and it was a huge risk to lose her permanently and hope that Wesley would fight Desiree for custody. It was something I had always wanted to do, but never had the funds to pursue.

“Your parents never wanted this life for you, Cee,” Marla said quietly, thereby starting the tears flowing again. “They both worked so hard to provide for you, and baby girl, this ain’t it.”

Her words echoed in my head long after they all went to bed. Maggie invited me to share the spare bedroom with her and have a “real sleepover” like when we were kids, but I needed the space.

As moonlight filtered in through the windows, casting shadows that danced on Marla’s hardwood floors, I tossed and turned with indecision. Ultimately it didn’t matter what kind of life my parents wanted for me. They left me, whether it was their own choice or not, and I had to deal with the consequences. Feeling guilt-ridden that they might not be happy with how things played out wasn’t really going to get me anywhere.

The fact was that I hadn’t thought about how drastically different my life could have been in a long time. Being a teen mom wasn’t something I would have wished on my worst enemy, but it would not have been nearly as hard with Wesley’s help. I had a feeling that Iris would have had him wrapped around her finger from go, and it certainly would have helped to share the emotional toll of parenthood with her dad. I always wanted them to meet, I just figured it would have to wait until Iris turned eighteen.

Marla was partially right—pain and fear were making my decisions for me, something Mama and Daddy never abided by. I could visualize Mama next to me as clear as day, a ghostly figment of my memory, with her wild brown waves and soft hazel eyes. She would rest her hand on my knee and gently remind me, “Be brave and be kind. That’ll take you far in life.”

Suddenly I missed her and Daddy so much that my bones ached. None of what had happened was fair to any of us, but maybe this was my chance to make it right.

“After all,” Mama’s memory reminded me, “life always comes full circle.”

She was right, of course. I just didn’t want the circle to break.

CHAPTER 45

REVELATIONS GALORE

WESLEY

“Will you be returning after the funeral or have things developed further down there?” Phillip asked in his usual clipped tone.

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