“Jennifer?” Arthur said turning towards Dwight with a dubious look in his eyes. “Really?”
Dwight and Jordan laughed before explaining that he’d just asked the same thing Tate had.
Chapter 14
“Mel-Mel,” Tate said softly as he sat down beside her. “Hey honey, ah hell Mel, come here,” he groaned as she started to cry. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “Shh, Mel, it’ll be okay.”
She shook her head knowing it wouldn’t. “How? She’s back for one thing and I hate it. I hate her and then the possibility…”
“I think it’d be cool if Dwight were your dad; he’s great Mel. We both like him already, so what’s wrong?”
“It’s not that I don’t want him to be because honestly I’d love it, but if he’s not and I let myself wish or hope that he is…I can’t do that Tate.”
“Mel, if he is, he is and if he isn’t, nothing will change. He’s still going to be the teacher who’s supported you in everything you’ve tried. If anything he’ll be there for you more now than before he knew just the pure b that your mother was. It’ll be okay honey, I promise.”
“How can it be if she’s here?”
“She’s not any longer. Don’t hurt him but Jordan paid her off. Honey, he’ll gladly pay her anything to keep you safe,” he added when she sighed heavily.
“I don’t know why.”
“Oh come on and don’t even try that Mel, the guy has been in love with you from the day he met you or at least since he married you. Look, at least come down from here so your husband knows you’re breathing and so my dad and the one who’s possibly yours sees it too. Who knows how safe this thing is anymore and we’re not exactly as light as we used to be.”
“Okay but as a structural engineer that’s a pretty lame excuse. This thing is solid, and you know it,” Mel said shooting him a knowing look, but her heart wanted to be with Jordan, always with him.
“I do,” he agreed, “but it got you off that fine ass of yours.”
“Stare at my ass and I’ll disown you as my friend.”
“You love me and you know it Mel,” he teased looping his arm around her shoulders leading her back towards the others.
“Mel, baby,” Jordan said as they neared. He pulled her into a hug and dropped a kiss on her lips. “Please don’t ever run out like that again.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered against his cheek holding him tightly. “I just didn’t expect that to happen.”
“It’s okay baby, she’s gone and I’ll make sure she stays far from you. Can we go home and deal with this now?”
“I think there’s one other thing we need to do first,” she said glancing towards Dwight.
“Now?” he asked stepping forward.
“I’d rather not sit around wondering. There’s too much going on to let it sit in my mind.”
“Then we’ll get the answer,” he told her. “I’ll see if the doctor can get us in.”
She couldn’t stop the nerves as she, Jordan and Dwight sat waiting. The doctor’s reassurance that they’d have the results as soon as possible did little to alleviate her worry.
Mel couldn’t concentrate on her classes during the next week, and that was bad with the end of the semester quickly approaching.
“Melinda, could I see you after class?” Dwight stated as they began to leave.
She saw the looks from her other classmates and knew they thought she was his favorite. In a way she was, but with everything they’d learned last week she’d been distant and she knew they’d noticed that too. After the room cleared, she looked up and saw Jordan coming into the space as well.
“Okay, what’s going on?” she asked looking between them.
“We had the results overnighted,” Jordan told her. “The lab called and said they were in yesterday; I got the delivery about fifteen minutes ago.”
“They’re here?” she said as her heart stopped.
