The Game Of Redemption (#2)

Chapter-5 It's Been Six Years...

Song: Arcade (Duncan Laurence, Fletcher)

"Hi, excuse me...I am looking for someone who works here," Damien said to one of the waitresses working at the restaurant Hazel worked, his words all mixing up together in anticipation and nervousness. "Her name is Hazel Connery. She has a little daughter, Summer?"  The girl appraised Damien from head to toe, definitely liking what she saw and the nodded. 

"She does works here but her shift is over so she left," She replied. "I can get her address if you like?" 

"Yes, thank you so much...that would be a great help. Actually, the little girl left her stuff in the park. I am trying to return them," Damien gave her one of his brightest smile and she almost cowered. Good looks can really get you anywhere after all and who better than Damien Hamilton to exploit that. 

"If you will wait here...two minutes," She said and he nodded his head, watching her disappear among the hoards of guests. 

He felt so jittery inside that it almost made him sick. To think he was just minutes away from seeing her. After six long years of waiting, he found her. And not just her but a part of both of them too. His daughter. To think that he, Damien Hamilton, the guy who used to go through women like he go through his shirts in his walk-in not just fell in love  but was now a father and that the thought instead of making him shrivel in disgust and fear was making it impossible to breathe with happiness, it baffled him exceedingly. 

"Here you go," She returned in two minutes as promised and handed him a piece of paper with Hazel's address presumably scrawled on it. 

"Thank you...thank you so much," He said, almost tempted to hug her. She smiled brightly, all flustered and Damien was glad to know he hasn't lost his charm yet. He will need it now even though he highly doubted he could charm Hazel anymore. He remembers the way she reacted to her father, so cold and distant. He needed more than just his charm here. He needed honesty and emotions that came from the bottom of his heart to melt her. And that wasn't difficult anymore because the way he loved her, he can't ever love anyone like that. She was the elixir of his life and that explained it all. 

Fifteen minutes later, Damien pulled in front of what was now Hazel's home. He was amused for some reason. The house was super cute, white fence around and a small white gate that leads inside through a gravel path with small patches of grass and small colorful flower pots on both the sides. It was very...picturesque. He stared at the name plate outside and felt a little jealous. 

Hazel And Summer Connery. 

She didn't even give her his surname. He could very well understand the intensity of her hatred towards him and was almost tempted to climb back and leave. He snorted at the idea. Like he could rest in peace if he does that. This was the day he has waited for so long. For so many years. She can kill him if she wants but he was still going inside. Damien opened the small gate and headed in. Four steps lead to the patio and he took a deep breathe as he raised his hand to ring the bell. It shook so wildly that he fist and release his fingers thrice before he was ready to ring the bell. 

Oh what the f**k! 

He pressed the bell quickly and moved back, his heart thudding so hard against his chest that he could feel the physical pain of it. Any moment now. What was he going to say to her? Hi? I am sorry? How could you not tell me? I came to see my daughter? 

I missed you? 

I love you? 

I need you back? 

"Summer, finish your peas or you ain't getting anything for tomorrow," He could hear her voice inside. The same admonishing tone, she used to use on him. He smiled and his fears melted a little. She was still her. Still the woman who held him in his arms when he needed the most. There was nothing to worry about. Yes, maybe this will a hundred times tougher than what he can fathom but now that he has found her, he was not giving up. Once, he let her go himself. But not this time. He was going to hold onto her no matter how hard she tries to push him away. 

"Yes?" She froze immediately as she stared at him and his heart stopped as he stared back at her. It was her. The same brown eyes, the same beautiful face with a sad lingering innocence to it. The same brunette hairs, those full lips, a smile on which made his darkness fade away. They both stared at each other and he felt tears trickling at the corner of his eyes. He wanted to close the distance between them and wrap his arms around her. But he knew he has lost that right and something in her eyes told him that it would be a very bad idea. 

"Leave," She said, her voice frigid and Damien cringed. Yes, this was his worst fear materializing into reality. She officially hated him. It was written all over her face. She was the same person but the warmth and love in her eyes for him...it was gone. 

"I didn't come here to leave, Hazel..." He said softly. She glared at him and was about to open her mouth to say something when Summer scampered into the room.

 Damien glanced at her and his heart swell with love. This was his daughter. No matter how many times he rants this in his head, he cannot get enough out of it. She stared at him, dark eyes, that now he realized she got from him, wide with surprise. To his amusement, she too was wearing a SpongeBob night set and it was every bit as ridiculous as her mother's. Her dark hairs were tied at the top of her head just like Hazel used to and there was food all across her mouth. Damien was pleased to see the doll he gave her tucked under her small armpits. 

"What are you doing here?" She asked enthusiastically and pleased even, scampering towards him. Hazel's eyes widened in surprise and she blinked at Summer. Okay, this was his cue. Damien walked inside and Hazel opened her mouth to protest but stopped because of Summer and just flatly glared at him. He ignored that. He needed to greet his daughter first. 

"You might have left a few things with me," He smiled, flopping down so that he could be face to face with her. She was still small and so adorable that he wanted to cuddle the crap out of her. He handed her bag to her and Summer blinked. And so did Hazel. She looked flabbergasted. 

"My bag," She said and Damien nodded. 

"Yes, I had to find you everywhere to give it back to you," He answered, stopping himself from caressing her cheeks. "And I am so glad I found you..." He glanced at Hazel, whose jaw was clenched, eyes wide as she stared at both of them. 

"Thank you," Summer answered before turning to Hazel. "Mommy...he gave me dolly that daddy gave him. Did you bring daddy too?" She asked him, eyes big and wide and Damien shook his head. 

"Not today. But I talked to him and he said he will come tomorrow for Summer's birthday," Damien answered with a smile. 

"Damien," Hazel warned and even though her tone was condescending and filled with hatred for him, he was overjoyed to hear his name from her mouth. 

"Daddy promised," Damien added. 

"Mommy! See? Daddy will come tomorrow!" Summer squealed, her eyes bright with excitement. "Daddy will come home mommy...you don't need to be sad anymore. You don't need to eat chocolates too," Hazel gave her a small smile, her face red and nodded slightly. Summer turned to him and reaching out gave him a hug, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck. He closed his eyes as he hugged her back, fighting the tears of joy. This was why he felt so close to her, so attached to her. Because she was his. His blood ran through her veins. 

"Summer, sweetie...why don't you go inside and clean your room before daddy comes tomorrow," Hazel said. "I am sure you want daddy to know that Summer is a good girl?" Summer pulled away and blinked at her mother. 

"Yes, mommy," She nodded vigorously and ran inside, excitement radiating from her small frame. Damien smiled after her before standing up and turning his eyes to her. They again just stared at each other. Damien had no idea how to begin. There was so much to say that words failed him. He took a step towards her and Hazel instantly moved back, her face hard and red, eyes brimming with hate and pain for him. 

"Don't come near me," Hazel hissed. Damien stared at her silently and then took another step towards her.

"Why? Afraid your heart will betray you?" He asked softly and she shot him a disgusted look in return.

"No, Damien," She answered, her voice void of any emotions. "I am afraid you will...again," He stopped and pain seared through him. He expected this but yet, it was harder than anything to accept. She was the same woman who was once desperate to push through his boundaries. 

"Why? Why does it have to be like this? Why can't we have have more. I want more, Damien...I want so much more...please," 

"I will always love you, Damien, in all your darkness and light,"

Damien was baffled at how the tables have turned and roles reversed. Six years ago, he was the one desperate to push her away. Six years later, it was her. He knew without her saying it out loud that she won't let him in. He could sense her boundaries. The cold radiating from her and he knew it was his turn to break through them now. 

Contd...