Delilah

The man stands by the curb looking up at the small, one story house. It wasn’t anything extraordinary or flamboyant. The paint was beige and the front porch was white, and everything was chipping. One rickety wooden chair sat on the left side, in front of a window. He looks at the garage, and the house number. 397…that was the number. He swallows nervously and hops off the motorcycle, putting the kickstand down. He shoves the keys into his pocket. He hadn’t seen her in years. Would she recognize him? Would she want him? He unstraps the helmet and puts it down on the seat. He’s a rough man, not wealthy. His jeans are tattered and ripped, the bottoms caked with mud. His shirt is a faded red plaid, and he has his sleeves rolled up. He wears a grim expression on his face, the scar running down his right eye and ending just after his bottom lip being the highlight. His dirty blond hair is matted slightly from the helmet, but ran wild. His eyes are like deep pools of green, intelligent and angry. He walks slowly up to the front door and hesitates, before knocking three times on the door. He waits for a moment, hands shoved in his pockets. Then, a young woman opens the door.

“Hello?” She answers in a questioning tone. Her eyebrows furrow in confusion, then her dark brown eyes widen in recognition. “Levi!?” She gasps out. “What the hell are you doing here?” Her face turns fierce with anger. Levi looks down at the ground, shame filling his face. “Halle, I-“She cuts him off violently. “Save it! I don’t want to hear anything you have to say!” She hisses. From inside the house, a child’s voice calls “Mommy?” “Stay in the kitchen, baby, and finish your breakfast.” Halle’s tone is now sweet and kind. She steps out of the house and closes the door behind her. Levi stares at her, his face white. “What are you doing here?” Halle asks in a deadly low voice.
“Who…is that?” He jabs a finger at the door, hand shaking. “My daughter. Delilah.” She replies shortly and repeats her question. “Not just yours.” He says, shaking. “Mine too. My daughter too.” “How do you know she’s yours?” Halle was angry, her small hands balled up in fists. “I’ve taken care of her these past four years! Just me! Alone…Without help. You left me!” She breaks off, biting her lip. Tears well in her eyes. “Have you had any men since me?” He asks softly. She shakes her head, one tear spilling out. “Then she is my daughter. I came to see her.” He replies quietly. “You can’t.” She whispers, hastily wiping her eyes. “Levi, you abandoned me…3 months pregnant. You left college. You have been gone for 4 years. Do you know the struggles I’ve been through?” He looks down, kicking a stone off the porch, ashamed. “I know Halle. I’m so sorry. I was scared. I didn’t want to be a father. I wasn’t man enough to stay with you. And I’m sorry. But I want to see my daughter. I didn’t come here expecting you to forgive me. I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t ever forgive me. But please…Halle please. Let me be a part of her life.” He sinks to his knees and grabs her hands away from her face. Levi holds them tightly, trying to win her over. “I want to be there for her as she grows up.” Still upset, she yanks them away. “No, Levi. No. I can’t let you. You’ll leave her, like you left me. Go away!” Halle runs into the house and a moment later, Levi hears the door lock. Disappointed and heartbroken, he turns and goes back to the motorcycle, riding away.

Halle drops the key, tears flowing freely now. He brought back old memories, haunting memories of young love and misery and heartbreak. Days spent down by the lake on campus and kissing in the rain. The pregnancy test coming out positive. The last expression on his face of pure terror. Then he was gone. When her daughter was born, she had to drop out of college and get two jobs. Sometimes her cousin came and watched her when she was a baby. Now that Delilah was older, Halle had to leave her alone in the house. It was heartbreaking, not being able to care for her properly. Food and a roof over her head was the most important thing for her daughter right now. Halle sniffs and wipes her tears. She was trying to teach Delilah how to read and write. She left books for her to read when she was at work. It wasn’t the best arrangement, but she tried her best. Delilah was so good and sweet about it, trying to help Halle in any way possible. Usually she left out some dried snacks and fruit or vegetables for lunch, and would get home around 7’o clock. “Mommy?” Delilah’s angelic voice breaks into Halle’s memories. She raises her head and looks up at her daughter’s face, worried and scared. “Mommy, is everything ok?” “Everything…is…fine.” Halle hiccups in between each word. “Mommy…” Delilah whispers and wraps her little arms around her mother. Halle clutches her daughter close and bursts into tears again. Her daughter couldn’t know, could never know. She would never know her father. It was all too painful.

The next morning, Levi got up from his place on the couch. He had crashed at his friends place, terrorized by dreams of a small child calling for her mother. He rubs his eyes and yawns, standing and stretching his tired and aching muscles. He quietly walks out, taking his helmet with him. It was a bright morning, but clouds in the distance threatened rain. Jericho, Vermont was a small town. It was quiet, unlike the big cities he had visited before, like Chicago and New York. Levi smiles slightly and gets on his motorcycle. He has a mission to complete. Find Halle and convince her to allow him to see her…Delilah.

Halle rushes around the house, tying her apron to her uniform. She had an early shift at the diner and was already running late. She checks over the food left for Delilah, and places a book on the couch. She hurries into the bedroom and kisses her daughter’s forehead. A small smile appears on the little girl’s face. Halle smiles as well, then reluctantly leaves, locking the door behind her.

She whirls around the restaurant, bringing people their food and smiling as the tips came. The door opens and a rush of warm air fills the restaurant. Halle looks up and the color drains from her face. Levi…What was he doing here!? She reluctantly approaches him, showing him to a small booth. “Welcome to Brett’s Diner! What can I get for you?” She fakes a sweet smile. “A cup of coffee, blueberry pancakes and 5 minutes of your time.” She writes down his order then mumbles, “You can’t buy my time. I don’t want to talk to you.” “Halle, please. I’m begging you.” She hurries away before tears come to her eyes again.

A few minutes later she brings the food to him. “Halle, I-“ “Fine.” She snaps and plunks down the plate on the table. She glares at him and sits down. Lucky for her, no one needed her right now. “Levi, I know you want to see her, but I cannot allow that. The hurt is still too much for me to handle. All the struggle I’ve been through…You know I’m stubborn.” A small smile plays on his lips. “I remember. When I left, I was just a young boy. I didn’t want to face reality. College was too much pressure, and I didn’t want to be a father, like I said. I loved you Halle, I really did. I want to be able to love Delilah too. Please, let me into her life. I know your own father was absent. Do you want that for your daughter? I’m here Halle. I don’t want to go anywhere.” He puts his hand on her shaking one. “I…I…” She stutters and stands up. “I’ll think about it. Have a good breakfast.” She rushes away to the back room. Levi sighs and begins to eat, praying for her cold heart to soften.

Halle comes back with the check and puts it on the table. “Your total is 10.87.” She murmurs, not looking at him. Levi pulls out his wallet and gives her 13 dollars. “Keep the change. Thank you for your time.” He stands up and turns away from her, beginning to walk out. “Wait!” She says, looking at him with a broken expression on her face. Halle remembered her own father walking out when she was small. She couldn’t do that to her precious angel. “Would you…like to come over for dinner tonight?” She asks hesitantly. He turns around, the beautiful smile lighting up his face. “Really!?” He exclaims happily. She nods slowly. “Yes…What time?” “7:30.” Halle smiles slightly, his smile was always contagious. “See you then.” He replies and kisses her cheek lightly. Levi flashes her one last smile, and then walks out. Halle watches him get on the motorcycle and leave the parking lot. She turns away and sighs, hoping she wouldn’t live to regret this.

At 7:00 P.M. Halle heads to her house, exhausted from a long day. She unlocks the front door and is greeted by Delilah running up to her and hugging her. She picks her up and kisses her cheek. “How was today, baby girl?” She asks quietly. “Good!” “Delilah, we’re having someone very important over for dinner…I need you to go to the bathroom and wash your hands and face, then pick out that nice shirt that you wear to church.” Delilah nods and after her mother puts her down, she toddles off to the bedroom. Halle sighs and runs to the tiny bathroom. She quickly showers, replacing her soiled uniform with a purple and white flowered skirt and a white blouse. She takes her uniform and Delilah’s dirty clothes for the week and tosses them in the washing bucket. Halle couldn’t afford a washing machine or a dryer so all the clothes were washed by hand. Delilah comes back, holding a blue shirt and little black pants. “Is this ok?” Halle nods, smiling tiredly. “Go get changed darling.” Her daughter walks back to the room and shuts the door. Halle hurries into the kitchen and pulls out some pork chops and potatoes, along with a can of green beans. All of the items were either on sale or cheap, because it was difficult to buy nice, expensive food.

Levi parks the motorcycle on the short, cracking driveway. He takes a deep breath and looks at his reflection. Nice, combed hair, with cleaner pants and shirt. In his hand he clutched two red roses, with the thorns cut off. One for Halle, and one for his daughter. He walks slowly up to the front door and knocks, before checking his watch. It read 7:35 P.M. A minute later, Halle opens the door, breathless and smiling. She is beautiful, stunning and she takes Levi’s breath away. Shyly, he holds out the roses. “One for each of you.” He mumbles. “Thank you. Come in.” She steps aside, a little stiffly and takes the roses. He walks in the tiny home, looking around at the clutter. Delilah comes into the room, emits a noise of surprise and hides behind her mother’s legs. “Delilah, this is Levi. He brought you a flower.” She smiles gently down at her daughter and picks her up. The little girl looks with wonderment at the man and then hides her face. He chuckles. “Please come to the kitchen. Dinner is almost ready.” Halle murmurs quietly and leads the way.

Levi sits down and smiles at Halle. She brings over the food and puts Delilah in the height chair. He sits there awkwardly as Halle and Delilah recite a prayer. He hadn’t heard religious words since college. She looks up and smiles at him before serving her daughter. He takes some food and compliments her. “This looks lovely, thank you.” She nods her head graciously, and then takes a pork chop and a medium serving of the sides. Delilah looks at the man with wide eyes, before taking a small bite of potatoes. He ducks his head and blushes when she stares. His daughter is so beautiful. She had the big brown eyes from her mother but the dusty blond hair from Levi. Her skin was lightly tanned, a combination of both of them. She had rosy cheeks and dimples. They eat in silence, the awkwardness in the air stifling. Halle finally breaks the silence. “How have you been?” “I’ve been good…Traveled a lot.” He smiles at them and takes another bite of the pork. “This is good.” “Thank you.” Delilah is silent throughout the whole meal, before begging to go and play. Halle picks her up and sets her on the ground, sighing and smiling. The little girl turns to Levi and wraps her small hand around his. “Come play with me!” She begs, smiling.

He couldn’t resist his beautiful daughter’s face. Slowly he got up, grinning widely. Halle stared in disbelief. She was astonished that she wanted to play with him. Of course her daughter didn’t know he was the enemy…maybe he wasn’t anymore, though. Levi left the room and sat down on the floor with her. Halle slowly washes and dries the dishes then goes out to join the pair. Her eyes widen when she looks at them. Levi has Delilah cuddled in his lap and he was reading to her in low, comforting voice. Her daughter has her thumb in her mouth and is watching his calloused finger move across the page. Halle drops down beside them and watches the pages flip slowly. It felt like a dream, seeing him there again. It was like the fantasies she had. Levi coming back and begging for her back. Halle falling in love with him again. A happy family…

Levi kisses Delilah’s forehead and tells her about his travels. She listens carefully, the book laid aside and forgotten. She is more precious than he could ever have imagined. His daughter is his life now. He looks over at Halle, who was smiling greatly. “Thank you.” She mouths. He smiles and hugs Delilah tightly to his chest. He sings to her softly, lulling her to sleep. Levi rocks her gently, singing in a gravelly voice. She curls up into a ball and continues to suck her thumb. Her breathing slows and becomes even. He kisses her forehead and brushes away her bangs. Triumphant and ecstatic, he looks over at Halle.

“Let me put her to bed.” She whispers, trembling slightly. Levi nods and hands the little girl over to her mother. She gets up and walks slowly to the bedroom. She tucks Delilah in the bed and closes the door quietly. When Halle comes back out, he is sitting on the couch, waiting for her patiently. “I have a nice bottle of wine. Do you want any?” He nods and watches as she goes into the kitchen. She takes out two small red wine glasses and a bottle of wine. Halle pours the tart liquid and brings it out to him. He takes it and thanks her. They look at each other before silently clinking their glasses. “To Delilah.”

An hour later, Levi stood on the doorstep, bidding her goodnight. “Thank you for a lovely evening.” He murmurs and kisses her cheek. “I…I want you…to come back. Please. Be a father for her…But we can’t tell her till she’s older.” His eyes light up. “Thank you Halle. You are the strongest woman I have ever met.” He holds out his hand for her to shake on the agreement. “Shaking hands? Seems a bit Boy Scout…” She mumbles teasingly. He rolls his eyes and grins. “What do you suggest then?” She smiles slightly. “I think you know.” He wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her against his chest. He hugs her close and kisses then top of her head. “Halle, you are special to me. And so is Delilah. I’ll take care of you, I promise.” She tilts her head up and meets his lips in a kiss. It was filled with promise, and hope. Promise of a family and hope for the future. It was filled with love too. Love for their daughter. Love for Delilah. Levi pulls away after a moment and looks at her. He smiles, and walks away to the parked motorcycle. Halle watches as he gets on it and drives away. “He’ll be back tomorrow. And he won’t ever leave again.” She smiles and walks into the house, shutting the door softly.
The End.