I walked over to her and smiled down at her. “If I didn’t love you so much…”
I began cleaning her up as I heard Jeff talking to his father in the living room.
He needs to leave—like right now!
“Jeff, I need your help in here… now, please,” I called out.
Jeff came walking into the kitchen, holding Luke in his arms, and he just looked at me. “What in the fuck?” he said.
I knew it wasn’t because Grace was covered in baby food.
“I know, but listen, your mom is going to be here any minute. You need to get him out of here, Jeff—like now!”
Then, the doorbell rang.
Jeff closed his eyes. “Fuck. Me.” He turned and walked out of the kitchen.
I moved with lightning speed to clean up Grace. I heard Jeff telling his dad that he shouldn’t have just shown up like this. Then, I heard Jeff opening the front door. I grabbed Grace and practically ran out into the hallway to the front door.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw Sharon, Ellie, and Alex. “Oh no,” I whispered. We’re about to have a little family reunion.
“Um…Mom, Ells…can I talk to you outside?” Jeff asked.
I glanced over to his father sitting on the sofa. I couldn’t help but notice how sad he was. Serves his ass right for what he did to all three of them.
“Why? What’s wrong?” Ellie asked.
Ellie could always tell when Jeff was upset or worried. Nothing got by her as far as he was concerned.
“Ells…let’s just…”
Sharon looked at him as she tilted her head. “Jeff, what’s going on? Your face is white as a ghost.” She peeked over Jeff’s shoulder and saw me standing there. She smiled when she saw Grace kicking and holding her arms out for her. She pushed Jeff out of the way and started to walk in.
“Mom…really, I think it’s best if we step outside for a minute.”
“Nonsense. I want to see my grandchildren and…” Her voice trailed off as she looked into the living room. “Brian? Is everything alright?” she asked in a whispered voice.
“Sharon, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you would be here,” Brian said as he slowly stood and started wringing his hands together.
Ellie came barreling in and stopped right behind Sharon. She stood there and just stared at her father. He smiled when he saw her, and when he looked down at Alex, he smiled bigger.
“Why are you here? How dare you come back into our lives! Haven’t you caused us all enough trouble? You need to go…right now!” Ellie shouted, scaring both Grace and Alex.
Sharon turned around and shook her head. She took a crying Alex out of Ellie’s arms. “Shh…baby girl, it’s okay. Ellie, please, honey, calm down.”
Jeff walked in and set Luke down.
He immediately ran up to Sharon. “Alwex! Alwex!”
Sharon put Alex down, and Alex and Luke both hugged each other. I quickly looked up at Brian, who seemed to have tears in his eyes. I glanced over to Jeff, and he looked more confused than angry.
“Luke, Alex…come on, y’all. Let’s go into Luke’s room and play!” I said, trying to be all cheery and shit.
Luke and Alex took off for the playroom, and I followed behind them. As I looked back, I saw Sharon turn toward Jeff and Ellie.
“Kids, your father and I need to tell you something.”
Holy shit. Sharon wasn’t at all surprised to see Jeff’s dad. Shit! Why can’t it be nap time?
I stood there and just stared at my mother. Why is she not surprised to see my father?
I glanced over at him, and he looked exactly like I remembered…but older…and sadder. His eyes were filled with sadness.
Good, I hope his life has been miserable—that bastard!
“Mom…why are you not surprised to see him?” Jeff asked.
My mother walked over and stood next to our father.
Oh god…she’s not leaving Philip for our father, is she?
“Ellie, sweetheart, calm the thoughts in your head. I see you thinking a mile a minute.”
I shook my head. “Mom…are you leaving Philip for…for him?” I pointed to the man standing in front of me.
I didn’t even want to call him my father. It was his fault that my mother had treated us so badly all those years. He had been the reason for her sadness and bitterness.
“What? No! My god, no, Ellie. Jeff…Ellie, baby…please sit down,” my mother said with a weak smile. She turned and looked at my father. “You couldn’t wait for a few days longer until I talked to them?” she asked in a soft…almost caring voice.
He shook his head as he sat down. My mother took a seat next to him.
“Okay…can I just say that this is fucking weird?” Jefferson said as we both sat down.
They both gave us a slight smile, and then I almost fell out of my chair when my mother reached for my father’s hand.
I stood up quickly. “What is going on?” I practically shouted.
Jefferson reached up and pulled me back down. “Calm down, Ells…let Mom talk.”
My head was spinning. This is not happening. Are they friends now? Did he get in touch with her? Or did she get in touch with him?
“About three months ago, your father contacted me. I agreed to meet him—with Philip.”
I felt sick to my stomach. I put my hand on my swollen stomach, and right at that moment, the baby moved. I’d felt her move this morning, and I thought Gunner would have come out of his skin because he’d wanted to feel it so bad.
“Mom, why would you open up that hurt again?” Jefferson asked.
I watched as my father looked down and then up at my mom. She looked at him and smiled.
“Jefferson, Ellie, I will always love your father. He was my first love. He was probably the love of my life.”
My father reached up and wiped a tear away from his cheek. My heart jumped a beat, and I grabbed Jefferson’s hand.
“But I am also deeply in love with Philip, and I plan on spending the rest of my life with him. He gives me unconditional love, and I can’t imagine my life without him.”
I was finally able to open my mouth and say something. “Are you still with Angie?”
My father snapped his eyes up at me, and the moment his blue eyes caught mine, I wanted to cry. I remembered those eyes looking into mine while he’d told me stories. I used to dream I would marry someone like him.
“No. We divorced a few years ago. She left me and said she couldn’t live in the shadow of another woman.”
I shook my head, the anger building. “What in the hell does that mean?”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Ellie…your mother was my first love. She’s probably the only woman I’ve ever truly loved in my life.”
I went to say something, but Jefferson squeezed my hand.
“I had all these plans for us…and when we went to college, I sort of freaked out. I was leaving town for games, and all I could do was think about her. What was she doing? Who was she with? Did she miss me? My mind was consumed with thoughts of your mother.”
I began shaking. “Why did you cheat on her then?” I spat out with as much hate as I could.
My mother looked down and away.
Oh god…hearing him say this must be tearing her apart inside!
“I wish I could answer that, but there really is no answer. I was scared…scared of the feelings I had for her. A part of me wanted to push her away, so I wouldn’t have to worry about anything. I just wanted to worry about football and taking over my father’s business. The other part of me wanted her so much that I could hardly stand it.”
He looked over at my mom, who just gave him a weak smile.
“One day, your mother saw me kissing Angie at a game. I ran after your mom, and I promised myself that I would never see that look in her eyes again. I would never hurt her again.”
“But you didn’t keep that promise,” I said, my voice cracking.
My mother gave me a weak smile.