CHAPTER 44: Second Chances

CLAIRE’s P.O.V.

“I wouldn’t leave you and take our daughter away. You know I’m not that kind of guy. So please, stop worrying.”

After he said that, I felt guilty. He didn’t trust me before, so I’m having a hard time trusting him now. I just nodded towards him, still silent when he opened the door of his car for me.

The first time I saw him in front of the mall, I felt nervous, and I didn’t want to told him the truth. I’m afraid that if ever he found out about Cloey, he will take her away from me using his money. But he didn’t. He stay contented at the fact that I only allowed him to meet my precious daughter along with me.

We spend the day buying Cloey’s stuff. Anything that she wanted, Darren bought it for her. He also tried to give me some money for Cloey’s expenses but I refused to accept it. Because of that, he gave it to Cloey instead. I couldn’t argue anymore, for it was all for Cloey and not me.

That’s how our weekend routine started. Every Saturdays and Sundays, Darren will fetch me and Cloey to our house. I didn’t want to come, though I couldn’t let him take Cloey without me. I’m still having some trust issues despite the fact that Darren already talk to my Dad and to my grandma. Alexa and him also met and my little sister was very delighted to see him again.

Three months had passed. I’m pretty sure that Darren wasn’t just here for Cloey. I know he was planning something else. He’s very vocal about his feelings... He told to my Dad that he wanted a second chance and he will wait for me to give it to him. But I don’t know... It wasn’t that easy trusting him again.

Today is Monday. Yesterday, Darren brought us to a fancy resort... With my whole family. Dad seems fine with having him around... But I wasn’t. I still couldn’t believe that after two years, he will suddenly shows up like nothing happened between the two of us.

“Claire... Come here,” Grandma called me, making me stop thinking about him.

I was currently washing the dishes, while Dad and Alexa are playing some random games. Grandma’s carrying Cloey in her arms while staring at me intently.

“Why?” I asked, worried.

“I think Cloey have a fever or something. Look.”

I instantly touched her forehead and cheeks, making sure that she has the proper temperature. Grandma is absolutely right. Cloey is burning up.

“Call her father right now...” Dad suggested.

“Dad... We don’t need to call him. I’ll bring my daughter to the nearby clinic tomorrow. Maybe she’s just tired because of yesterday.”

“Fine. But don’t you think Darren deserves to know about this?”

“Dad...”

“Okay, okay.”

“I’ll just bring her to your room,” Grandma stated.

I nodded, before continuing my work. When grandma came down from our room, she helped me in doing the other household chores. Exactly three hours had passed, Alexa decided to take a nap for she was also tired because of our outing yesterday. She climbed up the stairs, towards the second floor.

“Claire, aren’t you planning to gave Cloey’s father another chance?” Dad suddenly asked, making me choke on my drink.

“Dad! That’s hilarious!”

“I’m serious, Claire. If he really didn’t care before... He wouldn’t be wasting his time here when he could be the greatest businessman in our country.”

That made me stopped and think for a moment. Dad surely have a point... But does he really care about me and my child? What if he’s just doing this to ease his guilt for all those years that he’s not there for Cloey?

“Everyone deserves a second chance. And I could see that Darren is doing his very best to gain not just your trust but our whole family as well...”

I was about to answer when I heard Alexa’s trembling voice. She was shouting nervously at the top of her lungs.

“Claire! Claire! I came to check Cloey in your room but she wasn’t breathing anymore!” she cried.

My eyes widen in disbelief at the sudden turn of events. I’m still shocked, but I managed to run upstairs to get her. I lift her up, and like what Alexa had stated before, she wasn’t breathing. But she still have a pulse.

“Dad! I’ll bring her to the hospital!” I shouted, grabbing my purse while still carrying my child.

Our house is in complete chaos. Grandma told me to go and she’ll follow as soon as she can right after she packed up some stuffs that we are going to need at the hospital. I just nodded before I quickly ran outside of our house to get a cab. I’m holding Cloey in my arms, her body covered in a thick blanket. Tears began to fall down from my eyes as soon as I went inside of the cab on our way to the hospital.

As soon as we arrived at our destination, the doctors grabbed my daughter from my hands and took her into the emergency room. I was left there alone, crying for I didn’t know what to do. This is the first time that something like this happened. And I’m scared to lost the most important person in my life right now.

I felt guilty, mentally blaming myself for this was all my fault. I should have listened to Dad and call Darren as soon as we found out that something is wrong with Cloey... I should have...

“Claire!” I looked up, my eyesight were still blurry because of tears. I wiped those tears away before even realizing that it was Darren who just arrived at this moment.

“D-Darren...” I unconsciously sob, even though I didn’t want to look vulnerable in front of him.

“What happened? Are you alright? Where’s Cloey?”

“I’m sorry... It’s all my fault...” I sob, before I felt him pulled my body closer to his.

For the first time since we saw each other again, I felt his warmth. After more than two years... It was still the same. I felt secured and safe in his arms.

“Shhh... Please don’t cry. Everything is going to be alright soon. Now tell me, where is our daughter?” he asked, still holding me.

“S-she’s i-inside...”

“I’m sure that the doctors in here are doing everything they can to save her...”

“It’s my fault, Darren... I should’ve call you as soon as I found out that something is wrong with her... I shouldn’t have let my ego win over my motherly instinct... Now Cloey is here because of me...”

I lightly pushed him away, ashamed of what I just did. I put our child’s safety aside just because of my pride. I expected him to shout and to be mad at me again just like before, but he didn’t. Instead, he embraced me from behind, before I felt that he planted a light kiss on my temple.

“It’s not your fault... It’s not anyone’s fault. Please stop blaming yourself...”

I turned around to face him, surprised at how close our faces to each other right now. He raised his hands, before wiping my tears away using his thumb.

“Please stop crying now...”

“Y-you’re... N-not mad at m-me?”

“Why would I?” he asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

“Cloey is here because of me, Darren...”

“Excuse me? Are you Ms. Braganza? Cloey Braganza’s mother?” the doctor interrupted our conversation, making us turn our gaze towards him.

“Y-yes. I’m Cloey’s Mom. How is she?” I tried to compose myself as soon as I can.

“She’s fine, Ma’am. It’s just a fever. Also, I suspected a cold that’s why she couldn’t breathe properly earlier. But we can work on that later using a nebulizer. Don’t worry... She’s fine now.”

I felt relieved, thinking that my daughter is now safe. I thought I lost her forever... But I didn’t. Maybe we just all panicked because of what happened.

“Thank you so much. Thank you!” I almost vowed as a sign of gratitude towards the doctor.

“You’re welcome. It’s our job, anyway. So, I’ll see you later after I make some rounds.”

I nodded, before smiling. Darren thanked him too, before he finally disappeared on our sight.

“See? I told you Cloey will be fine. She’s our child. She will never give up just like that.”

I looked down, still feeling guilty for what happened. I wanted to thank him for coming as soon as he can, but I didn’t know how to start.

“How did you find out about this, anyway?” I asked, trying to act normal now.

“Your Dad called and he told me what happened to Cloey... I went right away thinking that maybe, just maybe... You needed me. But I think I was wrong. You still the woman I’d met before... Still tough and strong...”

“Actually...” I trailed off. “I don’t know what to do if you didn’t come.” I looked down, feeling uneasy. “Thank you, Darren... And I’m sorry.”

“For what?” he lifted my chin so that I’m now looking at him.

“For everything... Thank you for staying here... And I’m sorry for how I treated you before... I’m very sorry...”

“You don’t have to be. This is my fault. I didn’t listen to you before...”

I bit my lower lip, trying to suppressed my tears. I couldn’t say anything, for I knew that both of us were flawed. We all did some unforgivable mistakes. Stupid mistakes that almost ruin our lives... But I think all of those hurtful events happened for us to be a better person. To seek for the best version of ourselves. Everything happens for a reason, and I think that everyone deserves a second chance just like what my Dad told me earlier.

“Hey, are you okay?” he finally asked, worried. I jut nodded, before smiling towards him thrifty.

“I’m sorry for leaving you, Darren. I’m sorry if I surrendered just like that... I should have listen to your Dad... He told me to stay but I didn’t... I’m very sorry.”

He looked stunned, before grabbing me again for a tight hug. I sob, afraid that he’s going to leave my side again.

“That’s it. Let’s stop apologizing to each other now... I-I... I love y-you, Claire. I haven’t told you that before you leave and I know that I’ll regret it again if I didn’t tell you that phrase right now. I love you, ever since I saw you standing in the pouring rain that night in front of the school. I’ve been loving you since that day and until now... Two years had passed but nothing changed. I’m still into you. I love you so much. Please, don’t leave me again, wife.”