Cindy couldn’t help notice how her face changed when she smiled, took on a look similar to Mattheus, flashing with sudden charm. It cheered Mattheus greatly to see her smile, too. He flashed the same smile back at her, then.
Andrea looked so happy then, as if she’d won round one. “Get rid of Cindy and then call me,” she said, as she shook her red bracelets, ran her hand through her hair, turned and pranced out of the lobby, fast.
When she’d gone Cindy and Mattheus stared at each other.
“My God, my God,” said Mattheus, “she’s been raised in a home with guys who’ve beat her mother. Her new stepfather’s been in prison. This can’t be good.”
“No it can’t,” Cindy agreed.
“Thank God you forced me to find her,” said Mattheus. “She desperately needs a good, strong father, a fine role model.”
“Everyone needs that, Mattheus,” said Cindy.
“But Andrea knows nothing about me, I abandoned her,” Mattheus breathed, “she needs it especially.”
“But she doesn’t want me around,” said Cindy.
Mattheus paused and looked at Cindy strangely, taking it all in. “No, she doesn’t,” he echoed. “Not in the beginning, anyway.”
“So, where do we go from here?” asked Cindy, a long, slow chill running through her body.
“Well, for starters, I go down to Anguilla, where she lives with her mom” Mattheus replied promptly.
“You go alone? Without me?” asked Cindy.
“For a while,” said Mattheus. “I go alone to build a relationship and get things straight and settled. Then I’ll call for you later on.”
“And where do I go?” asked Cindy amazed.
“Why not go home for a little while and visit your sister?” said Mattheus. “She’ll be thrilled to see you. It’ll be a little vacation.”
“Mattheus, we’re on the verge of getting engaged,” Cindy was practically in tears.
“It was your idea for me to meet her,” Mattheus countered, “and you were right. You said we couldn’t go on until the past was cleared up. And I had no idea how important it was until I saw my daughter face to face.”
“I never said you should choose her over me or that we would separate,” Cindy replied.
“We’re not separating,” said Mattheus, “we’re just taking a little time apart. And it’s not a matter of choosing one over the other. She’s my flesh and blood, I could see it the minute she smiled. I can’t leave her in a situation like the one she’s in. I’m stepping in and making it right.”
Cindy stared at Mattheus as though he were a stranger. “What about our work? What about cases?” Cindy was stupefied.
“This is the case I’m on right now,” Mattheus replied. “An innocent young woman living with a mother who’s been beaten by guys in the past and who now has an ex con for a new husband.”
“You’re on this case? And what about me?” Cindy was appalled.
“I told you, take a little vacation. There’ll be plenty of other cases after this is finished. We’ll tackle them together like we always did.”
“You’re dreaming, Mattheus,” Cindy replied. “The shock of meeting your daughter has caused you to unravel.”
“Just the opposite,” said Mattheus. “I’m going back and making things right with her and nothing is changing my mind.”
“Fine, go do what you have to,” Cindy said. “And, we’ll see where I go next. That’s a decision I’ll make on my own, as well.”
“I get it,” said Mattheus. “I get it.”
“What do you get? You don’t get anything,” said Cindy.
“Sure I do,” said Mattheus. “I’m going to be the father I was meant to be and nothing’s gonna stop me now.”