(There is no sex for in this chapter, this part of the story is important for the plot. If your used to reading my work, then you know that I there are just some parts of the story that are like that.)
*
Summer 2009, Jen was forty-four, divorced, and had four kids. Anthony was twenty-three, Amanda was twenty-one, Andras, was nineteen, and Antonia was eighteen. Jen's career gave her the opportunity to raise her kids in peace and still make a good living.
She purchased an old plantation home in Mississippi, which had been abandoned for many years, and had spent the better part of two years refurbishing it. Andras and Amanda were close to their grandparents, but their grandparents never thought much of Anthony or Antonia, because of the reasons behind their conception.
Still, their mother loved them all dearly; and nothing would ever change that. Anthony was her pride and joy. She saw his father in him, and her heart still ached for his love. If only she could have told him about his son. Anna being her baby, held a special place in her life.
Jen sat on the porch of the old house, looking out into the bayou that took up most of the west side of the yard, watching the sunset. She sipped along on her tea, and thought about life.
"Hey mom, I was trying to fix that old lamp in the small parlor, do you still want the library in there?" Anthony came towards her.
She looked up at him, his long dark hair and crystal blue eyes taking her breath away, just as his fathers did. "Yes, I think that will be a great place for it, but don't worry about the lamp, I'll get a new one."
"If you're sure? I know I can get it to work, it just may take a while."
She nodded her head. "Tony, come sit with me," she patted the seat of the swing next to her. He came to sit with her and she took his hand, "I've been thinking about something, and I want your opinion."
"Mom, you know I always tell you how I feel."
"Good, then tell me how you would feel if I found your father."
"I don't know." he shrugged his shoulders, "How are you going to do that? After what you tell me happened, I'm not so sure that it's possible."
"But this time Tony, I know I can, with out any interference." She looked out to the water, the sun dipped lower, "I wonder if he hates me."
"Why would he hate you mom? It wasn't your fault, I mean, a little strange because of the circumstances, but hey, I turned out ok."
She reached up and stroked his face, "Yes baby, you did." Jen took a deep breath, "I thought, if we got the house finished in time, maybe we could have a reunion here, maybe he would come."
"Do you think that's a good idea? Gran and Pop may think other wise."
"They have nothing to say, this is my home, and I think that I will invite whomever I please." she smiled at him, "honestly, I thought about contacting him and inviting him out."
"Do you think he would come, it's been a long time mom?"
"Well, we won't know unless we try." she half whispered, half spoke.
"I'm not sure mom, I mean, he doesn't even know about me."
"Tony, if you don't want to tell him who you are, then don't. And if you don't want me to tell him, I won't. Just because I named you after him, doesn't necessarily mean you're his, I mean, if you don't want to tell him, we won't say anything." She looked back across the water, "We were so young, and I never got to tell him about you, but you know what, I bet that some where deep in his heart, he knew." she looked back at her son, smiling.
"Mom," he looked at her, lost for words, "I'm going to go put my tools up, do you want something to eat?"
"Yes. Do we still have left over pizza?"
"No, Andy ate it. But we do have chicken and potato salad left over."
"That sounds good."
He stood up, she caught his hand, "Tony, thank you."
"For what mom?"
"For understanding my heart."
"Your welcome mom." he bent down and kissed her cheek, before going back in the house.
Jen sat alone with her thoughts, watching the sun fade into night. The lightening bugs' danced through the Spanish moss filled oaks, the crickets' chirped as the dew started to set.
She had already written the letter to Anthony, as she had so many times before, but this time, she knew where he was, and it was time he knew. She stood up and stretched, the swing drifting on its own behind her, wondering of what he would think of her now.
***
Three weeks later a truck came barreling down the dirt road that came from the highway into the main drive of the grounds.
Andy was outside with his dog when he saw the dust thrown up in the air, and watched the truck maneuver down the twisted road. He laughed, thinking the driver must be crazy, considering the shape that road was in.
He watched it bank and almost miss the last turn, spending more time in the grass then on the cobblestone drive. The truck corrected itself and slowed as it jarred along the paved rock. Andy looked at the passenger as he passed, wondering who this man was, and why he was here.
The truck came to a halt in front of the main walk and sat there as it idled down before the driver shut it off. Andy walked towards the back of the truck, watching the person inside. He thought it a bit odd that this person would just sit there, thinking that maybe he was a salesman, until he saw the Georgia plates.
The man got out of the truck and stood there, looking around. He straightened his shirt and brushed his hair back, swallowing hard. He held a paper in his hand, looked at it twice and tossed it back in the seat before shutting the door. As he did, Andy approached his side.
"Hey, I bet your looking for my mom."
He turned to him, seeing a tall young man, with golden hair and his mothers smile.
"Yeah, I'm looking for Jen."
"Jen?" Andy looked at him, wrinkling his nose.
"Ah, yeah, Jeana." He looked around, wondering if he was in the right place.
"Oh, yeah, my mom. No one ever calls her Jen." he shrugged his shoulders. Looking at the man, he suddenly realized who he was. He had seen the photographs that his mom had, even though he was much older now, there was no mistaking those eyes. Tony carried the same crystal blue eyes. "I think mom's in the house somewhere, come on, I'll find her for you."
"Thanks." He followed the young man to the house and through the doors, admiring the décor, wondering about Jen, and what she looked like now.
"HEY MOM!" Andy yelled out, echoing through the halls of the large home.
"What is it! I'm in the sunroom, painting."
"There's some one here to see you." he slipped into the doorway. Jen stood there with a tank top and shorts, paintbrush marks strewn over her here and there, a smudge on her face.
"Andy, can you tell them to wait a minute while I wash up." but it was too late, Anthony had already stepped in behind Andy as she spoke. She looked at him, sucked in a quick breath; overwhelmed by emotions and embarrassment by the way she looked. It had been so many years, but his eyes pierced her, as did his smile.
"Hi Jen." his voice was as soft as ever, and it melted her heart.
"Hi Anthony." a demure tone slipped from her lips. She didn't know what to do, should she run to him, should she walk to him, offer him some tea, and spill her emotions?
"It's been a long time baby." He moved around Andy and stepped towards her, not sure what to do himself, but knowing what he wanted to do. He wanted to hold her and kiss her, make up for lost time.
Andy spoke, breaking the weighted silence, "Mom, do you want me to go get you some more tea?"
"Yes, Andy, that would be nice, and some for Anthony too, please."
"Ok, I'll be back." he said in his best Terminator voice.
Jen put her brush down and wiped her hands, then pushed a stray piece of hair from her face as she walked towards him. She started to speak but his voice came first.
"I was shocked when I got your letter," he stepped closer to her, "I couldn't believe it was from you, especially after all this time."
"It's not like I hadn't written you before. I just didn't have the nerve to send them."
"I wish you would have."
"I do too." her voice was softer than he remembered.
They stood close now, still not sure how to react, just like the first night they met. He reached up and touched her face, wiping the paint from her cheek, she smiled, feeling the heat of tears well in her eyes. "Hello Jen." he whispered, love and sorrow in his tone.
"Hi." she looked at him, hoping it wasn't a dream. He grabbed her and held her, squishing her into his body. It felt good to feel him after so many years, and he couldn't resist taking her all in.
"Jen, god I missed you!" he pulled back to look at her, not sure if he should kiss her.
"I have missed you too. But I had something to remind me of you every day." She noticed he still wore her chain around his neck, and she reached up and fondled it with her shaking fingers, "I can't believe you still have this."
"It's only come off my neck long enough to clean it. It was the only thing I had besides a note with your address and phone number on it, and a photograph that I have worn thin." his voice was almost desperate.
"I had something a bit closer to my heart that reminded me of you every day."
The phone rang somewhere in the distance and Andy hurried back to the room where he had left them. He looked as his mom, funny to see her wrapped up in the strangers arms, but held the phone out to her, "Tony wants to talk to you mom."
She felt Anthony stiffen before she eased away, and took the phone from Andy, "Hello." she nodded her head listening to the other end, "Why don't you stop and pick up something for supper from Morgan's, and I'll pay you back when you get home. We have company for dinner, and I'm sure he's going to be staying." she looked at Anthony, as if waiting for his comment.
"Well, I wasn't expecting to be run off." he smiled.
She turned her attention back to the phone, "It doesn't matter, just get enough for the six of us, Mandy will be in soon with Anna, and I don't know if she's going out tonight." Jen bobbed her head again, as if the person on the other end could see, and then said she loved him and good-bye.
