The Bitter and The Sweet by Anessa Sewell Kent

Author:Anessa Sewell Kent [Kent, Anessa Sewell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2023-05-03T23:00:00+00:00

Dealing with the News

Spit’s Creek

July 1960

It was nearly dawn when Slim realized what time it was. Had it not been for the looming summer thunderstorm approaching, he may have sat there even longer, deep in thought. Every human emotion struck Slim while sitting beside the creek bank, and he was relieved that the band of teenagers who frequented the swimming hole had not shown up last night. The only visitors were the lightning bugs, frogs, crickets and mosquitos, and for that, he was thankful.

Slim knew there was absolutely nothing he could do to turn back the hands of time; to tell Vernadine he loved her and wanted to marry her that sad afternoon, or to change the outcome. No, that opportunity was long gone. Now, he was left with the pure facts of a situation that, until hours ago, did not know existed. He had a daughter of fifteen years old who was a stranger to him. A beautiful piece of him that had been living in Mobile and he had absolutely no idea. He could not believe he missed the clues or prompts from Vernadine about the baby. Or were there any? He tried his best to replay every date, ball game, church service, or walk on the dirt roads of Buford County and the conversations and dreams they discussed; but no matter how hard he tried to remember, nothing would come to mind.

And then there was Marigold. What would he say to her and their children, his parents and friends? He knew he would lose the respect of the ones he holds dear. He was certain Marigold would not understand. On their wedding day, they pledged loyalty, honesty, purity and longevity to each other. No, he was not pure, and he had lied about it to Marigold. He knew telling her the news would devastate her. How would she be able to trust him again? He had been a faithful and loving husband all of their years of marriage and had never been tempted to stray; but telling her this news would give her reason to worry and wonder and doubt and question everything and anything he had said or done these last fourteen years. Hopefully she would believe that his not knowing about his daughter would excuse some of the pain. How could the not knowing about something qualify as a lie? He knew in his heart that Marigold would be completely crushed at the news, and he also knew that his heart was broken, too.

He stood up from the damp creek side, dusted off his pants, and walked to his truck. Before cranking the truck, he muttered a prayer from his broken and sad heart. “Lord, I don’t even know where to begin. I am devastated over the news of Sheridan. I am afraid that I am about to break Marigold’s heart and cause great pain for my family. Lord, please forgive me for my sin of being an absent father to my daughter, who is beautiful, by the way.

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