“This child is also mine, Erin. I am its father
and I intend to provide for him. And for you.”
~ ~ ~
I go back home on the bus. I should have called
Patrick to have him pick me up, as I said I would,
but I just need some time to sort out my thoughts.
Nate wants to take his responsibility, to think of
the child and of me. He says we can give it another
try, that he made a stupid mistake and he’s ready to
start over for everyone’s sake. In a certain sense,
he’s right. He is the baby’s father, not Patrick even
if I’ve been telling myself differently.
I get off the bus at the stop in front of the pub
and Patrick comes out right away to meet me.
“Hey, how come you didn’t call me? I would
have come and got you,” he says, kissing me on
the lips. “Are you well? Are you both well?” he
corrects himself, patting my tummy.
I nod and let him hug me.
“What’s wrong? I can see you’re not happy. Are
you too tired?”
I nod again, hiding in his arms, unable to look at
him or to tell him what’s just happened.
“Go on upstairs and lay down a while because
tonight I’m taking you somewhere special. I took
the night off.”
“Where?”
“Nah … it’s a surprise.”
“Okay,” I say against my will and give him a
kiss on the cheek before I head upstairs, where I
