  'Why did you do it?&quot; He asked gently
  &quot;I was young and foolish. I was only eighteen years old when I had you. 
  Michael nodded. Stopping himself from adding &quot;selfish&quot; to the list she just made of herself. And he knew more than being young and foolish, she had been selfish. 
  He looked at her. Head bowed down. In regret or shame. Perhaps both. He doesn t feel a thing towards her but amazingly he was no longer mad at her. She had said she was eighteen, a frightened scared girl, she must have been. But it s still no justification for having left. But he was going to understand from that perspective, that she was young, foolish, selfish, and scared. And let his bitterness and anger towards her go away.
  They remained in silence for a long while. Both lost in their thoughts. Michael continued to look at her with her head still bowed down, he was no longer sure why he

  &quot;I need to pick something from my car,&quot; he said and left.
  Rebecca stood up and headed towards Leah s room. She knocked but no response. She tried the handle to open it but it was locked from behind. She knocked again. 
  Still no response.
  &quot;Leah?&quot; She called. Tapping gently on the door
  &quot;What do you want?&quot; She asked
  &quot;To talk.&quot; 
  &quot;Don t you think it s too late for that?&quot;
  &quot;Maybe. But I won t leave until you open this door for me and let me explain.&quot; 
  The door opened. But she didn t wait for her to come inside before she walked back into the room, taking her seat on her bed. She had her back turned to her.
  &quot;I m sorry,&quot; she said, in a broken voice.
   It was then that Leah turned to face her.
  &quot;For which part?&quot; She asked in a steady voice reflecting, she was hurt. 
  &quot;Every part&quot; Her mo

  &quot;Please sit,&quot; She offered. And he took the nearest seat to him. She looks old and frail, but she still has traces of youthful beauty. Hard times must have taken their toll on her, but Michael kept quiet.
  &quot;Mama, are you okay?&quot; he heard Leah question her with concern in her voice for her.
  &quot;Her daughter,&quot; He thought. And his sister.
  &quot;I m fine.&quot; She replied, rubbing the back of the hand Leah placed on hers.
  &quot;Are you, my mother?&quot; He asked. Breaking their little display of affection.
  Rebecca tensed.
  &quot;What!&quot; Leah stood up. Surprised at the question and shocked. She wasn t expecting that. But she soon regained composure and sat back.
  &quot;She isn t your mother,&quot; She fired back at him with a glare
  &quot;Why don t you let her answer that, Lil girl?&quot; He said
  &quot;The name is Leah,&quot; She responded tartly 

'Why did you do it?&quot; He asked gently
  &quot;I was young and foolish. I was only eighteen years old when I had you. 
  Michael nodded. Stopping himself from adding &quot;selfish&quot; to the list she just made of herself. And he knew more than being young and foolish, she had been selfish. 
  He looked at her. Head bowed down. In regret or shame. Perhaps both. He doesn t feel a thing towards her but amazingly he was no longer mad at her. She had said she was eighteen, a frightened scared girl, she must have been. But it s still no justification for having left. But he was going to understand from that perspective, that she was young, foolish, selfish, and scared. And let his bitterness and anger towards her go away.
  They remained in silence for a long while. Both lost in their thoughts. Michael continued to look at her with her head still bowed down, he was no longer sure why he d even come. 
  To get answers. Now he had them. And then what.
  Forgive her. And take her bac

Chapter 71