Free Dipping Into Sin 2: Digging Deeper Into Sin by DJ Parker

roses
represent a new beginning. This is a new beginning to put YOU first above all,
including my blood. I love you bella mia…now and forever.
                                                                                        A.
    “Okay Miss, these are the last of the
bouquets,” said the short, chubby man with the receding hairline. “Sign here,”
he said as his short stubby fingers pointed to a line at the bottom of the
page. Handing me my copy, he started to walk towards the front door.  
    “How many did you deliver in total?” Grandma
asked, causing the man to stop the moment his hand reached the screen door.
    “2,000 bouquets of long stemmed roses,” he
replied before pushing the screen door open. Turning around, I blinked away the
anger that permeated my eyes and the tightness that entrapped my chest.
Diverting my eyes to Grandma’s still form, I watched as she stared at my
daughters. Dragging my eyes to my giggling daughters, I absorbed their
happiness…their innocence. They’re my serenity, my happiness, my gift of life
from God…and for that, we need to run.
    Sighing, Grandma finally asked, “What does
the card say?” her eyes remained fixed on the girls, who were now playing in a
bed of white roses.
    Passing the letter to Grandma, my eyes grew
wider at my newfound plan. “Grandma, we need to get the girls out of here,” I
stated matter-of-factly.   
    “Where?” Grandma asked as her face scrunched
up in confusion.
    “Anywhere, but here. I have enough money
saved up for us to get by until I find work. We can leave as early as tonight,”
I replied anxiously, as I thought about my checking and savings accounts and
the stash of money that I have saved in my closet.   
    Standing up, Grandma grabbed an armful of
bouquets before hissing out, “Child please. No man is going to chase me and my
grandbabies out of our own home. Quit that foolish talk and help me move these
bouquets into the patio out back. Girls, help Nana move the flowers to the
backyard.”  
     
    ~****~
     
                After putting the bouquets in the patio out back,
I showered the girls and put them to bed. While lying in bed, I couldn’t help
the daunting thoughts of what would happen if Andriano found out about my
daughters. How would his wife receive them? Would his other children and family
accept them? Each of those questions provided only negative outcomes.
                Rising, I turned to my side and pulled out the
drawer on my nightstand. Pulling out the box and letter that Andriano had given
to me five years ago, I exhaled as my fingers hastened to unravel the box.
Startled, by the sound of the light knock at my door, the box slipped from my
fingers and landed on the floor.Jumping out of the bed, I quickly opened the door to find Acelia,
who hid half of her face behind her yellow blanket and brown teddy bear, staring
at me.
    Kneeling before her tiny body, I drew my
arms open before asking, “Are you okay CeCe?”
    “Mommy, can I sleep with you tonight?”
Acelia asked as she wrapped her short, fragile arms around my neck as I lifted
her off of the ground. Walking towards the bed, I laid her little body in the
middle of my mattress. Grabbing the box and letter, I quickly stored them away
in the nightstand. Lying beside her, I flicked the switch to turn off my
bedside lamp. Snuggling her body closer to me, I planted a kiss on Acelia’s
head before closing my eyes.
    “Mommy…”
    “Hmm?”
    “What’s a daddy?”
    Swallowing the knot in my throat, my eyes
flashed open wide at Acelia’s question. Stammering for an answer, I finally
settled on, “A daddy is just as special as a mommy. Some kids are lucky to have
both.”
    Immediately after answering her question,
tears welled up at the thought of my daughters not being one of the lucky kids.
    “Do I have both?” she asked softly. A tear
slid down my cheek