* Forgive, just as you've been forgiven. *
****
   “ Joseph. ” Beatrice sounded desperate, she didn't know what to expect. It's been ten minutes since he got back from the restroom and hasn't spoken a word. Though he was present, it was obvious that his mind was elsewhere. ‘ What is he thinking? ’ She wondered. 
   “ You hurt me, Mom. ” His words were slow and piercing, “ But I forgive you. ” Even after several minutes, Beatrice still didn't know how to react. Should she scream, cry or jump? Still, she started still waiting for him to continue, as she felt he still had a lot to say.  “ I forgive you, not because you didn't hurt me, but because I realized that God had a plan and knew all about it from the start. That's why he brought Nanny Ann into my life at a very crucial time. ”  Beatrice felt a tightening in her chest as his words descended.
“ I was raised in an amazing way and as a result, I met the love of my life, Miranda. I know I wouldn't have if you and Dad hadn't abandoned me. ” Though his words were like fiery knives, it was the truth and as they always say, the truth is always bitter. 
    Mira placed a reassuring hand on his and he smiled at her.  “ I forgive you, mom. For everything. ” Beatrice bursted into tears at his words.
She just could control herself, which was unlike her aristocratic self. 
  Mira gave Joseph a nudge to which he understood. Nevertheless, he hesitated not knowing how to react. But eventually he stood up and walked towards her, then crouching in front of her. “ Mom. ” Though the word tasted a bit bland in his mouth, he couldn't help it. Though he had only actually called Nanny Ann, mom once. She had always been his mom in his heart.
    “ Baby. ” Beatrice raised her tear stained face and embraced him tightly.  “ I'm sorry for everything, Joseph. ” She sobbed.
“ It's okay, Mom. It's all in the past. I forgive you. ”
“ Um… Thank you. ” Watching them, Mira began to recall memories of her mom. 
  “ Mom, what do you think I'll be like when I grow up? ” Her four year old self asked that night after dinner. 
“ A super pretty girl with chubby cheeks and a nice heart. ” 
“ Why do you think so, Mom? ” 
“ Because, you are my little Princess, one created and cherished by the only God of israel. ”
“ That's really nice, Mom. Do you think God loves me? ”
“ He loves you lotts, Baby. ” 
“ Really?  ” 
“ Yeah, he loves you and that's why you are alive and happy. ”
“ God is so good, isn't he mom? ”
“ Yes, he is the best of the best! ” 
“ Like Dad? ” 
“ More than Dad, Baby. More than Dad. ” Those words had rung in her mind that night as she went to bed. 
“ Mira? ” Joseph's worried voice brought her out of her reverie. “ Are you okay? ” He was now crouching in front of her, looking as worried as ever.   “ I'm okay, just recalling old memories. ” She forced a smile, wiping out her tears with her hands. “ Oh. ” He fished out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. 
   “ Thank you. ” She wiped out her tears slowly. 
“ Um… ” He stared at her with concern, still not convinced that she was completely fine.  “ Should we head home? ” A lyric of a song rang in Mira's mind as she heard his question. It says,  “ Home is where the heart is and my heart is right here. ” 
  “ My home is where you are, Jose. I'm fine. ” She gave him her best smile.  “ Okay. ” He stood up and sat back down beside them.
   Beatrice, who had been watching their interruption, wondered for the umpteenth time how stupid she was for thinking she could actually separate this duo. 
   How could she have forgotten one of the marriage vows which says,  “ What God had joined together, let no man put asunder? ” 
Isn't it funny how she had been playing God all this while?
“ Um… Mira. ” The latter was indeed super surprised to hear Beatrice call her name with so much love and devotion.  “ Yes, Mom? ” Though, she still wasn't comfortable with the idea of calling her mom, but what could she do when Joseph had forgiven her already? There was little to what she could do of course. 
Beatrice also wasn't expecting her mode of addressing her.  “ I've offended you greatly. I developed hatred for you, without even getting to know you properly and I'm sorry. Please forgive me, Miranda? ”
Joseph squeezed Mira's hand softly, reassuring her that it was okay for her not to say the word now, if she wasn't ready. 
But Mira had been ready all along. She had made a decision to love Beatrice even when the latter hated her and so it was easier not to stay mad at her. 
Besides, the hatred would have killed her more than it would have Beatrice, wouldn't it? So what's the point anyways? 
  “ I forgive you, Mom. ” Beatrice thought she saw a trace of heaven in her smile. 
“ Really? ” She just couldn't believe what she had just heard. 
“ Yeah. I do. ” 
“ Thank you. ” She smiled before saying,  “ Can I hug you? ” It took a lot for her to say those words as she had been afraid of being rejected.  
Miranda exchanged gazes with Joseph who gave her an urging smile. “ Yeah, but it would be a half hug since the baby bump is now bigger than ever. ” The duo laughed at her words. How cute, Beatrice thought.
“ That's okay too! ” Beatrice stood up and embraced Miranda. 
Surprisingly, it wasn't as hard as they both had thought, since they melted into one another. 
   Joseph stood on the sidelines with a blooming smile on his face, he never would have thought that a day like such would come. 
He found himself joining them and they embraced like one big family.
“ How far along are you, Miranda? ” Beatrice asked later, after they had ordered some celebratory drinks.
“ Six months. ” 
“ Oh wow. You aren't too big though. I could barely walk at six months. ” Beatrice chuckled at her words, reminiscing the past, when she finally got pregnant with Joseph.
“ We'll be having twins, Mom. ” Joseph added proudly, holding Mira by the waist.
“ Really? Wow! ” She didn't know how to react at first, as she kept looking from Mira to Joseph and back again. “ Have you found out their genders yet? ”
“ Not yet, we want it to be a surprise. ” Beatrice smiled. 
“ You are both lucky. ”
“ It's not luck, Mom. It's God's gift to us. ” 
“ Yeah, you are right. ” she paused. “ God is amazing and always so full of surprises, isn't he? ” 
“ He is, mom. He's an amazing father. ” Mira smiled, repeating her mother's exact words.
Speaking of mom, it's been a while since she has been to the house.
She exchanged a glance with Joseph and he understood.
 
****
A/N : What do you think, guys?