All Of Me

13

13

(A/N the POV does switch up a few times in this chapter, just a warning)

Josh's POV-

I have to take Bobbi into school earlier today because I have a meeting with her first hour teacher, Ms. Snowden.

Bobbi came I to the dining room and sat down at the table with a bowl of cereal in front of her to eat for breakfast.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked her, sitting down across from her.
She shrugged, "decent, you?"
"Good."

Honestly, I didn't sleep all the well. I couldn't stop thinking about this meeting with her teacher. Ms. Snowden is Maya Snowden, also known as Claire's childhood best friend who really screwed her over when she left town.

Maya has to know who Bobbi is... that she is mine and Claire's daughter. I need to know what Maya is up to: she's always been manipulative and two-faced.

"Ready to go?" Bobbi placed her bowl in the sink and picked up her backpack.
"Yeah. Why are you having a meeting with Ms. Snowden?"
"I just need to talk to her is all." I decided that I don't really want Bobbi to know her teacher is from her parents childhood just yet.
Bobbi shrugged and we went out to the car.

It was only 6:00 in the morning - our meeting is at 6:10 and I have to be at work by 6:40.

We arrived at the school a few minutes later.

"Where are you going to go?" I asked Bobbi as she showed me to the way to her classroom.
"Luke came early today, so I'm going to meet him in the cafeteria."

I really like Luke; he's a really good guy to my daughter and that's what matters the most to me. He treats her right.

When we arrived at Maya's classroom door, Bobbi knocked on the door and a few seconds later Maya opened it.

Her eyes landed on Bobbi first and then on me, widening a bit.

"Good morning, Bobbi and you too, Mr. Marcus." Maya greeted formally.
"Good morning." Bobbi smiled. "Bye, Dad, I'll see you after school." Bobbi gave me a hug and a kiss and waved to Maya before leaving in the direction of the cafeteria.
"Please, come in, Josh." Maya murmured, closing the door behind me as I walked into her classroom. "How are you?" She asked, quietly.
"I'm doing good, what about you?"
"Me too." She answered. It was awkwardly silent for a few minutes before I broke the silence again.
"Did you know who she was? Bobbi?"
"Not until recently... She left her notebook in class and on the cover of the notebook was a picture of you, then I connected the dots."
"What are you doing here, Maya?" Every time Maya has come around in my life, and Claire's, she has done something destructive. I don't need that to be a part of Bobbi's life too.
"I wanted to start over, Josh. After Clarissa's memorial service, reality just hit me. I went back to college and got my degree in teaching. I didn't want to be a bitch anymore and I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you, and Jackson."

I have known Maya Snowden since I was about 6 years old and in all my years of knowing her, she's apologized for things more times than I can count. But this is the most sincere she has sounded since I've known her when it comes to apologizing.

"And I wish I could've said sorry to Clarissa, too. I definitely owed that to her, at the least." She added.
"I forgive you, Maya." I answered. "And I'm sure Claire would, too."

Clarissa was one of the best people I have ever known. She was very easy-going, trustworthy, and forgiving. If she were here, I know she would've forgiven Maya.

"That leaves us on good terms, then?"
"It does." I agreed.
"How is Jackson?"
"He's doing great. He's still with Jaycee and they have 3 kids together."
"Wow, that's awesome." She smiled, slightly. "I owe them an apology, too."
"Here's Jackson's phone number." I began writing down his number on a sticky note.
"Thank you, Josh, for being so forgiving. One more thing, I'm also sorry for how rude and inconsiderate I was when Claire died. I'm really not proud of who I was back then."
I nodded, recalling how horrible Maya was during Claire's service. "I'll talk to you later, Maya. I have to get to work."
"It was good seeing you. By the way, you've done an amazing job raising Bobbi; she's a wonderful girl."
"Thank you." I replied, sincerely.