CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5: Recognition & Shock

Johnson's eyes, wide with surprise, darted from my face to the small figure standing behind me. His brow furrowed, a flicker of recognition crossing his features, but it was fleeting, replaced by a look of confusion.

"Salome," he began, his voice hesitant, "who is this?"

Before I could answer, my daughter, Jenna, stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Johnson with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

"Mommy," she said, her voice small, "who is this man?"

I felt a surge of protectiveness, my hand instinctively reaching out to grasp hers. "Jenna, this is…" I faltered, the words catching in my throat. How could I introduce him? As the man who had abandoned us? As the stranger who had fathered her?

Johnson knelt down, his gaze level with hers. "Hello there," he said, a gentle smile touching his lips. "What's your name?"

"Jenna," she replied, her eyes still wary.

"Jenna," he repeated, the name rolling off his tongue with a familiarity that sent a chill down my spine. "That's a beautiful name."

He looked up at me, his eyes questioning. "She's your daughter?"

I nodded, unable to speak, my throat tight with emotion.

He looked back at Jenna, his gaze lingering on her face, as if searching for something. "She has your eyes," he murmured, a hint of wonder in his voice.

Jenna, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, tugged at my hand. "Mommy, can we go now? I'm tired."

I looked at Johnson, his expression a mixture of confusion and longing. I wanted to leave, to escape this awkward encounter, but something held me back. A desperate need for answers, perhaps. Or maybe it was the flicker of hope in his eyes, the unspoken plea for a chance to connect with the daughter he never knew he had.

"Jenna," I said, forcing a smile, "why don't you go back inside and find Aunt Sarah? I'll be there in a few minutes."

Jenna hesitated, her gaze darting between us. "But Mommy…"

"It's okay, sweetheart," I said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I just need to talk to this man for a little while."

She looked at Johnson, her eyes still filled with suspicion. "You won't leave again, will you, Mommy?"

My heart ached at her words. "No, sweetheart," I promised, my voice thick with emotion. "I won't leave."

She nodded, then turned and walked back inside, her small figure disappearing into the crowd.

I turned back to Johnson, my emotions a tangled mess. "You see what you did?" I accused, my voice trembling with anger. "You left, and now…"

"I know," he interrupted, his voice filled with remorse. "And I'm so sorry. But I never knew…"

He reached for me, his hand hovering just above my arm, then dropped it, as if afraid to touch me. "Salome, please. Let me explain."

I hesitated, torn between the urge to lash out and the desperate need to understand. "Five minutes," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Then I'm leaving."

He nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you."

He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on mine. "When I left that night, I had no idea you were pregnant. I swear."

"How could you?" I scoffed. "You didn't even know my name."

"I know," he said, his voice filled with self-loathing. "And I hate myself for it. But I had no choice. I was… I am… involved in something dangerous. I couldn't risk bringing you into it."

"Dangerous?" I repeated, my eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated, his gaze flickering away. "I can't tell you. Not yet. But please, believe me. I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to abandon you and… and our daughter."

The word hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions. Our daughter. The realization that he knew, that he acknowledged her existence, sent a shiver down my spine.

"Why now?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "Why after all this time?"

He looked at me, his eyes filled with a pain that mirrored my own. "Because I couldn't stay away any longer. I saw you across the room, and it was like… like being struck by lightning. I knew I had to see you again. I had to know if you were okay. I had to meet my daughter."

He reached for me again, this time his fingers brushing against my cheek. "Salome, please. Give me another chance. Let me be a father to Jenna. Let me be the man you deserve."

I closed my eyes, his touch sending a wave of warmth through me. The years of anger and resentment melted away, replaced by a flicker of hope, a longing for the connection we had shared that night, the connection that had been ripped away from us.

I opened my eyes, my gaze meeting his. "I don't know, Johnson," I said, my voice trembling. "It's not that easy."

He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs gently stroking my cheeks. "I know. But I'm willing to fight for you. For both of you."

He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine, a soft, tentative touch that sent a shiver down my spine. I closed my eyes, savoring the sensation, the warmth of his breath against my skin.

The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more demanding. His hands moved to my waist, pulling me closer, our bodies pressed together, the years of separation melting away. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, wanting to feel every inch of him against me.

"Salome," he groaned, his voice thick with desire.

"Johnson," I whispered, my lips moving against his.

Suddenly, a loud gasp broke the spell. We pulled apart, our eyes widening in surprise.

Standing in the doorway, her face pale, her eyes wide with shock, was Aunt Sarah.