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He walked across the lawn toward the helicopter, toward destiny, toward his children. The 200 guests watched in complete silence. Some of them looked shocked. Some looked uncomfortable. A few looked almost happy like they had been waiting years for someone to stand up to Elizabeth Richardson. Marcus reached the triplets. He knelt down in front of them.
“I missed 5 years of your lives,” he said. His voice cracked. “I will never forgive myself for that. But if you let me, I want to be your father now. I want to be in your lives. I want to know everything about you. Cameron looked at his brother and sister. Then he looked at Marcus. “Do you promise you will not leave again?” “I promise,” Marcus said.
“I will never leave you again.” “Okay,” Cameron said seriously. “You can be our daddy.” Caleb threw his arms around Marcus’s neck. Daddy, do you want to see my dinosaur collection? Marcus laughed through his tears. Yes, I want to see everything. Chloe kissed Marcus’s cheek. She whispered in his ear, “I knew you would come back.
I told Mama you would.” Behind them, Elizabeth screamed from the terrace, “Get off my property. All of you get those children off my property right now. The guests gasped. Some covered their mouths. Others took steps backward. Elizabeth’s scream had been loud and sharp. It cut through the afternoon air.
The triplets pressed closer to Marcus. Kloe grabbed his hand tight. Daddy, why is that lady yelling? Marcus stood up slowly. He kept holding Khloe’s hand. He looked at his mother standing on the terrace. Her face was red. Her hands shook. She looked angry and afraid at the same time. For 36 years, Marcus had been afraid of that face, afraid of disappointing her, afraid of making her angry, afraid of losing her approval. But not anymore.
These are your grandchildren, mother, Marcus said. His voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. And they are not going anywhere until I say so. Elizabeth walked down the terrace steps. Her cream colored gown dragged on the stone. She walked straight toward Marcus. The guests moved out of her way.
She stopped 3 ft from Marcus. Her blue eyes were ice cold. How dare you bring this shame to my home? I told you what would happen if you made the wrong choice. You were wrong, Marcus said. Something inside him had broken open. Not in a bad way, in a way that felt like freedom. You were wrong about everything. I was protecting you, Elizabeth hissed.
I was protecting this family’s reputation, our legacy. You were protecting your prejudice, Marcus said. You destroyed my chance at happiness because you could not accept that I loved a black woman. You made me abandon the person I loved. You turned me into a coward. Marcus, lower your voice. Everyone is listening. Good.
Let them listen. Let them all know the truth. You told me I had to choose between destiny and my comfortable life. I chose wrong. I chose the comfortable life. And I have been miserable every single day since. Elizabeth’s face went pale. You are being dramatic. You married Rebecca. You have a good life. Rebecca just left me.
Did you see that? She packed a suitcase and drove away. My marriage is over. And it is your fault. You arranged that marriage. You chose Rebecca for me. But I never loved her. I loved destiny. Caleb tugged on Marcus’s sleeve. Daddy, who is that lady? Marcus looked down at his son. That is your grandmother. She does not seem very nice, Cameron said quietly. Elizabeth heard this.
She looked at the three children for the first time, really seeing them. They had Marcus’s face, Marcus’s green eyes, but their skin was brown, their hair was curly and dark. These were her grandchildren, the only grandchildren she would ever have, and they were exactly what she had told Marcus he could never create.
“I did what any mother would do,” Elizabeth said. Her voice was quieter now, almost defensive. I protected my son from making a mistake. I was not a mistake, [music] a voice said. Everyone turned. Destiny had walked closer. She stood 10 ft from Elizabeth. The two women looked at each other.
My children are not mistakes, Destiny continued. They are the best thing that ever happened to me. And they could have been the best thing that ever happened to Marcus. But you took that away from him. You took it away from all of us. You do not belong here, Elizabeth said. You never did. You do not understand our world. Your world.
Destiny’s voice stayed calm. Your world is built on hate and fear. Your world is small and dying. My children will build something better, something kinder. Elizabeth had no response. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. You spent 6 years afraid of me, Destiny said. But I was never your enemy. You were your own worst enemy.
You destroyed your son’s happiness because of [music] hate. Now you have to live with the consequences. Destiny turned to Angela. Take the children to the helicopter. I will be there in a minute. Angela nodded. She took Cameron, Caleb, and Chloe by the hands. Come on, babies. Let’s go look at the helicopter up close.
But I want to stay with daddy, Chloe said. Your daddy will be right there. Angela promised. Come on. The triplets walked away with Angela. They kept looking back at Marcus. When they were far enough away, Destiny turned to the crowd of guests. 200 people stood frozen. They all held drinks. They all wore expensive clothes.
They all looked extremely uncomfortable. “I apologize for interrupting this party,” Destiny said, her voice carried across the lawn. “I know this is awkward, but my children deserve to meet their father, and Marcus deserved to know his children exist.” A woman in the crowd spoke up. It was Margaret, Elizabeth’s best friend.
“Did you know about these children, Elizabeth?” Elizabeth did not answer. Did you know your son had children? Margaret asked again. “No,” Elizabeth said quietly. “I did not know.” “But you knew about her,” Margaret said, pointing at Destiny. “You knew Marcus was dating her 6 years ago.” “Yes, and you made him end it.