“It was a sight to behold,” Dad says. “I’d turn away for one second, and when I turned back, she’d have milkshake lining her lips and chip crumbs clinging to her milky mustache.” He shivers. “Never been more attractive.”
Mom playfully nudges him. “At least I had an excuse. I was pregnant. What’s your excuse for getting cheese stuck in your beard every time we have French onion soup?”
“Poor manners,” Dad says, causing Eli to laugh out loud. “Laugh now, son, just wait until you’re older and have lost all self-respect. There will be cheese in your beard as well.”
“Can’t wait.” Eli grins.
“Do you plan on settling down at some point?” Dad asks, and just like that, the tension in the room skyrockets.
“Dad,” I say, leaning forward. “I told you guys, we’re just friends.”
“I understand that, but a father needs to have his concerns, and isn’t that what tonight is about? Airing those?”
“It is,” Eli says with a nod.
“Then I’d like to know, seeing as though you have a reputation, is there any immediate thoughts on what your personal life will look like now that you’ll have a child?”
Eli pats his mouth with a napkin and then says, “I understand the concern. I’m not going to sit here and tell you what you hear is a lie because it’s not. I had a reputation, but that’s slowly dwindled since I’ve been with your daughter. Right now, my main focus is helping her and making sure the baby has a safe environment to grow up in. I had a bit of a mixed-up childhood. There were some great times and some really tough ones. I’m not sure Penny has mentioned this to you, but my dad wasn’t around, and my mom passed away when I was twelve. There were times in my life where I felt truly loved and times where I have never felt more alone.” The honesty in his voice, the shakiness as he tells the truth, I can’t help it. I reach out and take his hand, and to my shock, he squeezes hard on our connection and doesn’t let go. “I want to make sure this baby never feels that way. No matter what’s in store for us in the future, my top priority is to always make sure the baby feels safe and loved.”
Dad nods in approval. “Very admirable, son.”
Mom, of course, dabs at her eyes. “I had no idea, Eli. That must have been so hard, growing up without parents to lean on.”
“It taught me some valuable lessons, like hard work and goal-setting. I know I probably wouldn’t be here today unless I learned resilience at such a young age.”
“And your plans are to always support Penny, no matter where the future might take you?” Dad asks.
“Correct,” Eli answers. “I’ve actually spoken to my therapist about our situation, and I know in order to raise a child in a healthy environment, my relationship with Penny has to come first. It’s why I’m here now, to show her that she does matter to me, that I care about her well-being, and that no matter what, I’ll be here for her. I want there to be an unbreakable trust between us, a bond that we can carry on as we co-parent.”
Dad nods as Mom continues to look between us, her eyes bouncing back and forth between Eli and me and our connected hands resting on the table. I know what she’s thinking. I don’t have to be inside her head to understand because it’s written all over her face. She thinks there’s more between us.
Ha, if only that were the truth.
“I appreciate your honesty,” Dad says. “And since we’re being honest with each other, I’ll say, I was quite surprised to hear Penny was pregnant, for obvious reasons, but I was wary when I found out it was with you.”
“Dad,” I say out of embarrassment.
Eli squeezes my hand. “It’s okay. Your dad is just telling us how he feels. And given my reputation, I don’t blame him.”
“But I’m glad we had this dinner,” Dad continues, “because I can see that you really have made all the right choices, Eli, the kind of choices that puts a father’s mind at ease. Now, do I wish this was all coming about under different circumstances, just to ensure that Penny’s life will be easier? Of course, but I do believe you’re making the most of the situation, and I truly appreciate that.”
“Thank you,” Eli says. “And I promise you, Joseph, you have nothing to worry about. I’ll make sure Penny and the baby are the priority.”
Dad gives him a curt nod before he dips his spoon into his ice cream bowl.
“Well.” Mom claps her hands together. “Does this mean we’ll get to see you for the holidays? I sure hope so. We always say in the Lawes household, the more, the merrier.”
“If I’m welcome, I’ll be there.”
Mom smiles sincerely. “Eli, you are the father of our grandchild, our first grandchild. You will always be welcome.”
“That means a lot to me,” Eli says, and then he digs into his ice cream right before looking over at me and smiling. The boyish charm in his eyes, paired with the gratefulness in his grin, all hits me like a Mack truck to the chest, knocking away my breath.
I press my hand to my stomach and say, “I, uh, I think I’m pretty full. I’ll get started on the dishes.”
I stand from my chair, and so does Eli, still holding my hand. “You okay?” he asks.
“Mm-hmm,” I answer. “Good. Enjoy. Tell my dad about your fight with Gasper. I’m sure he’d enjoy that.”
