Us

T W E N T Y N I N E

Y/N POV
November 8th

Four months later...

These last few months have been nothing short of a whirlwind. Normani is now about eight months pregnant and our baby shower is this weekend at our home in Napa Valley. Autumn handled everything planning wise with the help of Megan. Megan has been a huge help since Amala has been working on her new album recently. Her label has been down her throat so she hasn't had a day off since June.

Yesterday however, I received a phone call from someone I wasn't expecting. Usually I don't answer unknown numbers, but I had a feeling I should. I recognized who it was and they asked to meet for lunch so, here I am.

"Hey Y/n."

"Hey James." he sat across from me at the diner. I ordered coffee for the both of us before he came, so the waiter gave us our mugs as he sat down. The silence was growing awkward as the waiter poured the hot coffee. I used this time to watch the steam rise from the mug to prepare myself for whatever he had to say.

I watched as he grabbed two packets of sugar, flap them back and forth, and rip them open to put in the hot coffee, followed by two small containers of hazelnut creamer. He still drinks it the same. I think to myself. I do the same, swapping the hazelnut for vanilla.

"So how's Normani? She doing okay?" he breaks the silence.

"She's good. Almost eight months now, she's got the glow and everything." I answer, trying to give effort.

"Good, I'm glad." he nods before taking a sip, clicking his tongue twice just as he did when I was a kid.

"So... what's up?"

"Straight to the point. I don't blame you." he takes one more sip before wiping his mouth with a napkin. "The last time we saw each other didn't go exactly as planned. I know your mother can be... well she's not the best at her role."

"That's and understatement." I scoff.

"You're right." he pauses, trying to find the words it appears. "Okay here's the truth. I have been wanting to reconnect with you for years, but your mother had me wrapped around her finger. When we came to see you in the hospital after you were shot, it took a lot of convincing to get her to even consider coming here to LA." he paused again.

"So why come? Why then? Hell, why now?" I asked.

"Because I didn't want to live with the fact that my only daughter could die thinking I hated her when I didn't. I know you may never forgive me for the things I've done, the awful things I've said, but please believe me when I say, I am so sorry. You didn't deserve..." for the first time in my life, I see my father shed a few tears. My eyes begin to water as well. "You didn't deserve that. You were just a kid. You were my kid and I failed you. I was a horrible father and I was complicit in your mother's abuse."

"Why?"

"Huh?" he looks up from wiping his tears.

"Why did you treat me that way? Why did you allow her to treat me that? I-I don't get it." my eyes burn with tears as I try to remain calm.

"Honestly Y/n, we didn't deserve you. We were so convinced what we were doing was for your good. But I see now that it was only to give us control and maintain it. I'm so, so sorry Y/n. I," tears rush down his face as he pauses to clear his throat. "I filed for divorced from your mother a few months ago. It was a long time coming, but I realized that I was missing out on someone who had changed the world all because of who they love. When I saw you and how Normani looks at you, how protective you are over her, I couldn't continue to feed into her abuse. I wanted my child back. I wanted you back."