You have to understand. I never wanted this…
All this time, I thought my mother was forced out of my life, but sitting here, at this table, hearing what my father has to say, I realize what a fool I’ve been.
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
“Because it’s not good for a child to feel…forgive me for saying this, but to feel rejected by a parent. Especially by their mother,” Father says.
My eyes dart between my father and Dorrine. “When did you get together?”
“About a year after you were born. It just happened. Your mother was still living with me, but she had little interest in raising you, so Dorrine would step in to make sure you were fedand bathed, so we were around each other a lot. There was no reason to hide our emotions, so we didn’t. Eventually, Dorrine moved in, and we thought everything was fine. Unknown to us, during that time, your mother was feeding you lies about Dorrine, saying she was driving a wedge between me and your mother.”
I feel dizzy. Like a damn fool. Everything I thought was true was a lie.
“Now that we got that out of the way, we can discuss the future.” Father looks around the room. “What do you think? The neighborhood is nice. There’s a park right down the street. A top-tier private school a short distance away.”
It suddenly occurs to me that he expects me to live here. That I’m no longer welcome in his home.
“I understand why you would kick me out, but I think I need a little time.”
“I’m not kicking you out, Sam, but you are starting a family, and I think it’s important that you have your own space, especially if you decide to have a relationship with the baby’s father.”
Dorrine slides a black portfolio across the table. “We’ve yet to close on it, but once we do, it will be yours, free and clear.”
Inside the portfolio are details regarding the house and the surrounding neighborhood. It’s gorgeous, yet modest, close enough to my father’s home to visit often, but far enough away to give me independence.
“Whose idea was this?”
“Dorrine’s,” Father says. “She said something about giving your wing of the house to your brother.”
I lift my gaze to his as my jaw drops.
Father smirks. “It was a joke.”
I laugh, and Dorrine joins in, which has never happened before. Our eyes meet, and I suddenly see her through a different lens.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her.
“It’s not your fault we let you believe the worst.”
“Yeah, but…” I look down at the table, wondering how to convey the sorrow I feel. “I’ve been ugly. Not just to you. To people who didn’t deserve it.”
“It’s a good thing you’re still young because there’s still time to make up for it,” Dorrine says.
“You don’t understand…I ruined my relationship with the only man I’ve ever cared about.”
“The baby’s father?” Dorrine asks.
I nod.
Her brow lifts. “Was he one of those Hunks you’ve been staying with?”
I chuckle. “Yeah, his name is Toxic.”
“Toxic?” Dad blurts. “Do you just chase red flags when you’re not working?”
“Real funny. He’s actually a good guy, but he found out how…toxic I am. Pun intended.”
“If he’s the father of your child, maybe it’s worth working things out,” Dorrine suggests.
