Moments In Time: The Complete Novella Collection (32 page)

“But,” he continued,” as I said, I respect
the decisions you felt you had to make, and I acknowledge that I
was partly to blame for everything that happened. I didn’t treat
you well, the way you deserved. For that I am very sorry.” He
kissed the top of her head.

Melisa lifted her gaze to his face, his
glistening eyes. “I forgave you a long time ago.”

“We can’t turn back the clock. But we can
sort of undo the mistakes of the past by making the most of our
second chance.” He glanced at her stomach, even if he couldn’t see
it under the covers.

“Yes,” she said simply.

“But I would like us to find a way to see
our son. I know we won’t be able to get him back, and he probably
has no idea who we are, but I think seeing him is the only way I
can find closure.”

Melisa bit the corner of her lip. It would
crush Heat if she told him she had already tried to see Ben and
failed. Maybe if they went to the agency again, they’d meet a
kinder person who would have pity on them as a couple. Maybe Heat
would find the right words to convince them to give them something
to hold on to. “Let’s visit the agency next week.”

Melisa and Heat had just finished eating
breakfast when the doorbell chimed. Heat placed his knife and fork
on his empty plate and looked at Melisa.

Melisa smiled and nodded. While he was away,
she concentrated on breathing and reminded herself over and over
again that it was time. She had been forgiven and now she would
forgive as well. Too many great things were happening for her and
she was so filled with happiness, it left little space for
bitterness. When her mother walked in, wearing black slacks and a
blue cardigan, she was calm and ready to have a normal conversation
with her. Heat made himself comfortable in the living room, giving
them space to talk.

“Mom, have a seat,” Melisa said. “Do you
want something to eat or drink?”

Her mother shook her head and lowered
herself into one of the chairs. “I just want to talk.” She offered
an unsure smile. “I’m so happy you’re fine. I thought that car was
going to… run you over. It swerved at the last second.”

Melisa refused to think of that moment,
refused to think of almost dying. She wanted to concentrate on the
new lease on life she had been given. “I was lucky.”

“What did the doctors at the hospital say?
Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” Melisa decided not to tell
her mother about the pregnancy yet. “You wanted to talk to me?”

“Yes.”

Her mother folded her hands on her lap under
the table, but before they disappeared, Melisa saw them tremble. “I
messed up so many times. I was a horrible mother. I can never
forgive myself for what I did to you.” She wiped away a tear.

Melisa didn’t say anything, waiting for her
to continue.

“I want you to know I’ve changed. I’m back
in control of my life. I have a job now, at the post office.” She
gazed down at the table. “I haven’t touched a drop in two
years.”

“That’s good,” Melisa said, hoping it was
true. “I’m happy for you.”

“I was a horrible mother. I know that now.
And I would like to make it up to you. Please give me another
chance.”

“I’m a grown woman now. I no longer need
taking care of.” Melisa leaned forward and squeezed her mother’s
thin, cool hand. “But maybe you’ll be a better grandmother.”

Melisa’s mother’s eyes widened and her mouth
fell open. “Was that it…what caused you to faint? You’re
pregnant?”

“Yes,” Melisa said and her mother placed her
other hand on top of Melisa’s.

“I will. I’ll be the best grandmother ever.
I promise you that.” She paused. “I’m sorry you had to give up your
other baby. I feel guilty. I should have—”

“Don’t blame yourself. Let’s just focus on
the future.”

Her mother nodded, and their tears dripped
onto their clasped hands and mingled. Melisa and her mother had
both made mistakes, but her unborn child was giving them a new
beginning. “Thanks, Mom.”

Melisa held tightly onto Heat’s hand as a
woman opened the door and walked into the office where they had
been told to wait. This woman had soft, kind eyes and a warm smile.
Maybe she would be more open to helping them than the lady who had
turned Melisa and Carlene away the last time.

She shook their hands and settled into a
chair on the other side of the desk, placing the folder she was
carrying on the table in front of her. “It’s lovely to meet you,
Mr. and Mrs. Dane. I’m Hilda. I hear you want to get in touch with
your son.”

“Yes,” Heat said. “If that is at all
possible.”

Hilda leaned forward and placed her folded
hands on the folder that contained all the answers Heat and Melisa
were desperate for. “You do understand that when you gave away your
son for adoption, you gave up your parental rights?”

Melisa nodded. “I’m well aware. I’m hoping
that…”

“Miss… Hilda,” Heat continued. “We are not
here to ask for our son back. We would love to just see him, even
once, to make sure he is happy and well. We in no way want to
disrupt his life.”

Hilda nodded and flipped the folder open.
“It says here you had a semi-open adoption. According to the
conditions, you were allowed once a year to send a letter to your
son, to be forwarded to your son by this agency.”

“I wrote every year on his birthday since
the day I saw him last. I was hoping his adoptive parents would
give the letters to him, if and when they decided to tell him about
the adoption.”

Hilda shuffled some pages around. “There are
no letters in here, which means they must have been forwarded to
the family that raised your son.”

“I’ve never received a response.”

“That’s because you agreed to a one-sided
kind of communication. You offered to write your son, but there was
no promise he would get in touch with you.”

“That was all the adoptive parents would
agree to.”

Hilda shook her head. “Unfortunately the law
is the law, and those parents, or your son, can never be forced to
get in touch with you. And it was up to them to give him those
letters or not.”

“There’s absolutely nothing you can give us?
A photograph, maybe?” Heat’s voice was desperate. “We want to see
what he looks like, nothing more.”

Hilda closed the folder again. “I’m so
sorry. My hands are tied. Believe me, I wish I could help you, but
I don’t know how to.”

“We understand,” Heat said and walked out of
the room.

Melisa stayed and pleaded further with
Hilda. “I gave our son up for adoption without telling my husband.
We were not in a relationship at the time. I was barely seventeen
and couldn’t raise a child. I wish my husband could get to see him.
Please. You really don’t have a photo of him?”

“Mrs. Dane. I understand your pain. I truly
do, but there’s nothing I can do. I’m so sorry.”

Melisa nodded and rose from the chair
slowly. “Thank you for your time.”

Hilda also stood and hugged the folder to
her body. “I wish you both the best.”

“Thank you.” Melisa picked up her purse. She
found Heat sitting on a bench overlooking a small garden. His face
was hard and his posture straight. He didn’t turn when she
approached, and she didn’t want to disturb him. He was hurting as
much as she was.

“I know I promised you we’d be fine,” he
said finally. “And we will be eventually. We’ll have another child,
a family, but how do I live from one day to the next knowing that I
have a child I have never met? A child who must be thinking his
parents disposed of him because he was unwanted. How is he supposed
to know he was unplanned, but he is wanted?” Heat wiped his
eyes.

“If he received my letters, he’d know. He’d
know he is loved.”

“I guess that’s all we can hope for.” Heat
moved closer to Melisa and held her close.

Melisa leaned her head against Heat’s and
together, they watched the swing in the garden swaying back and
forth in the wind.

“Let’s go home,” Melisa said finally, and
Heat helped her to her feet.

When they got to the car, parked about three
minutes away from the orphanage, Heat climbed in first and while
Melisa took one last look at the orphanage. Then she heard a voice.
Her gaze swept the car park, but apart from the two of them, it was
isolated. When she opened her door, the voice got louder. Hilda was
running toward them, waving something in the air.

Melisa leaned into the car, threw her purse
on the seat, and hurried to meet a panting Hilda. Heat followed
close behind her.

“What is it? Did you find something?”
Melisa’s hopes skyrocketed.

Hilda placed her hands on her knees to catch
her breath, then she straightened up again. “Yes. When I picked up
the folder, a letter fell out… from your son. It must have been
overlooked somehow.”

Heat and Melisa reached for the thin
envelope at the same time.

The envelope had been opened; Melisa’s name
was scrolled on the front, but she allowed Heat to open it while
she waited impatiently, about to burst.

Heat read the short letter out loud.

Dear Ms. Bergfeld,

My name is Ben Elson. My parents died in a
car crash last year. They left a letter telling me you’re my birth
mother.

Thank you for the letters. If it’s possible,
I would like to meet you one day. If you’re interested, you can
call me.

Ben

The letter was written a year ago, and at
the bottom of the page was a phone number.

Melisa grew cold; goose pimples popped up on
her arms as tears streamed down her face. “My son, my son,” she
said. She reached for the letter and held it to her lips.

She gazed up at Heat; his face was pale even
as a huge smile stretched across his face. Before Melisa could
inhale another breath, he scooped her off the ground and lifted her
high. Holding tight to the letter that was now damp from her tears,
she lowered her forehead onto his as they both laughed, overwhelmed
with joy. From the corner of her eye, Melisa caught a glimpse of
Hilda walking away. They would catch up with her later. This was
their moment.

“This is it,” Heat said lowering her down
again. His cheeks were as damp as Melisa’s. “We can meet our son.
We are complete.”

“And now we can really start living. I love
you, Florian Dane.” Melisa kissed her husband and gave thanks for
her answered prayers. Their happily-ever-after had finally
begun.

END OF BOOK 3

Note from
the Author

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Books by
Dori Lavelle

Entangled Moments (Moments in Time #1)

Rekindled Moments (Moments in Time #2)

Bittersweet Moments (Moments in Time #3)