One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 36: Family Day

~~~Lately I see the clouds of sorrow in your eyes. Some deep sadness you can never quite disguise. Now I'm scared to ask what it's leading to, but I'm more afraid of not asking you. You've got secrets you've been keeping for too long and I'm going crazy acting like there's nothing wrong. Is there something that you want to tell me? Are we something that's still worth fighting for or should I simply let you go? -Christopher Cross-

SEVEN YEARS EARLIER...

"Mom, where is daddy? The program's gonna start, teacher Angie told me."

I bit my lip when I heard my daughter's question. I took a breath before lowering my height into her level. A mix of hope and sadness was evident in her innocent eyes. "Uhm, maybe daddy is already on his way, baby. Don't worry, I'm going to call him again, huh?"

Cali is three and a half years old, currently enrolled in preschool and today they have a school event... a family day. It's been a week since I informed Luke about this and he said yes, he agreed. He promised Cali he would come with her like he did the last time, but we've been waiting for him for almost half an hour, but so far I can't see any sign of him that he would attend.

This morning, he told me he has an important meeting by 8:00 o'clock and I let him attend it because he said it will only last 30 to 40 minutes and Cali's school event will begin at 10:15 am. I checked the time from my wristwatch and there are only 15 minutes left and the program will start, but until now he hasn't answered my calls yet.

"But that's also what you said earlier when I asked you." Her voice trembled so I had to hug her and tried to comfort her again.

"Don't worry, baby, mommy is here. Am I not enough? You know, I can also perform as your mom and dad at the same time."

She let go from my embrace at looked at me with the cutest pout in her lips.

"I know, mommy. You are my super mom and I know you can do that like most of the times or when daddy was busy with his work but..." She suddenly became hesitated to speak. "But?" I urged her to speak.

"But this is a family day and teacher Angie told me that a family day event requires all family members, so how can we call it a family day if dad isn't here?" "Ahm..."

She was right. What am I going to say?

"Can you please call him again, mommy?"

"O-Oh... yeah, I'll call your dad again. You can join your friends and play with them while I'm trying to call him, okay?"

the disappointment still written

towards her classmates who were playing and seemed so

Luke's number again, but my call just went immediately to his voicemail like what

Cali and breathed a sigh of

to call my father-in-law but he too was out of

children. Are you ready for our activities today? Who's family is excited to win our very exciting prizes?" And loud screams were heard in the air, but I felt my heart crash when Cali ran to me and hug

go home." She said with unshed

and you said I'm a super

knelt in front of her

don't know what's going on in his office. Maybe

his meeting mommy? Is it more important than

"Nothing is more important for your daddy apart from you, because you are his baby, you are his princess. Uhm... we will just talk to daddy when we go home and

tuck her loose strands

Let's participate in all the activities and whether we bring home the exciting prizes or

minutes before she nodded, but dismay wasn't yet living

we will eat in the

eyes suddenly lit

"Really, mommy?"

"Uhuh." I nodded, smiling.

"Yey! Let's go, mommy!"

about to pull

Where are you

"Auntie Jack!"

a

tell me you're going to join the event without me?"

throat when my daughter beat me as