“I don’t want you to come with me.”
I freeze in my doorway. My mum covers her mouth as her eyes go wide and fill with tears. My dad shakes his head. He turns and walks away. We both jump when the door slams shut. My mum rushes to me, drops to her knees and pulls me into her arms.
“Don’t listen to him, Jimmy. He’s been drinking and doesn’t know what he’s saying. He’ll always want you. You’re his son.”
Only he doesn’t want me.
“Why,” I ask, stepping closer. I feel the need to pin her against the car so she can’t escape. She can’t leave me. I know I’m a loser who doesn’t deserve her, but I need her. I want her in my life. I want to raise our baby together and be a family. I won’t let her get away. I refuse to just walk away from her like my dad walked away from my mum. He didn’t stay to fight, but I will. I am. She’s not leaving me because I’m a fucking idiot.
“Because you don’t want to be married, Jimmy. I don’t want you to stay out of obligation and I don’t…”
“Don’t what, Sweet Lips?” I move closer. I know I’m being devious and underhanded, but I need to feel her against me. I’m going to find every way to show her that I’m hers. I know there’s stuff I need to take care of and I will. I won’t let anything come between us.
She shakes her head, covering her face. I pull her hands away and put them around my waist. “I’m sorry, Jenna. I’m so fucking sorry. There was so much crap I had to take care of and I’m no good at this relationship thing but I’m going to work at it so that I am. I’m going work at it and make sure you can count on me and trust me. I promise you that I was faithful because I know that’s what you’re thinking. You’re my wife and I’m taking my vows very seriously.”
“I don’t know, Jimmy.” But she does know. Her hands are clutching the back of my shirt. Her nails are digging into my skin. She knows that she wants me just as much as I want her.
“I know, and I’ll fix it,” I say as my lips touch hers. She’s rigid, fighting me. “I’m not perfect, but I’m trying to be better for you,” I add, moving my lips against hers. “I want to be the best husband and father to our baby.” She finally opens up and accepts me, meeting me half way. I feel alive when her tongue touches mine. Her body doesn’t want a divorce, I’m sure about that. I’m going to have to step up my game and make sure she knows that she’s my one and only. I was stupid to stay in California for so long. I let myself get sucked into Chelsea’s drama and I need to learn to say no.
“What brings you by?”
Looking at my father makes me cringe, but I’m here, being the man my mum brought me up to be. Maybe what I saw was two people comforting each other because I was being an arsehole. Or maybe I saw exactly what I think I saw; which was my dad snogging the face off my ex-girlfriend who has just happened to tell me that she’s pregnant.
I walk in and sit down on his leather sofa only to stand up again. Images of him and Chelsea invade my subconscious and it’s not a pretty sight. I walk over to the window and look out over Los Angeles. My dad’s place is pretty much like Liam’s was – floor to ceiling windows – but no one can see in. It’s the best of both worlds in my opinion; at least it used to be. Now I see a two-storey house with a fenced-off garden in my future.
“I’m having a baby,” I blurt out.
“I heard. Congratulations.” He’s moving around behind me, no doubt pouring himself three fingers of Scotch.
“Who told you? I doubt my mum called you.”
“Chelsea told me. I see her every now again.” I nod and want to add, of course you do.
“I’m not talking about Chelsea. I’m with someone in Beaumont and we’re having a baby together.”
He pats me on the back causing me to jump. “That’s my boy, one here and one on the side. Nothing wrong with that at all, son.”
Except there’s everything wrong with it. Doesn’t he know that he’s wrong? Doesn’t he know that when y
ou find the one, everything in life falls into place? The morning after I woke up with Jenna in my arms, I smiled. And it wasn’t some stupid cheesy smile. It was a real, genuine one. She makes me smile.
“Dad, I don’t have anyone on the side. I’m married, off the market.”
“Now why would you go and do something stupid like that? Get an annulment. I have a good lawyer that can help you.”
“Because I want to be with her and I want to raise my child with her. I don’t want my kid going through the same crap I went through. My child will grow up knowing me.”
“And what about Chelsea, doesn’t she deserve the same from you?”
I shake my head. “Chelsea’s not having my baby. I went with her to the doctor’s, I saw the chart. I may be a bloke, but I can add numbers up. Chelsea was pregnant before her and I slept together.”
Jenna pulls away too soon for my liking. “I want you to change your number.”
“Okay, let’s go do it right now,” I say without hesitation. If changing my number will make her feel better, I’ll do it. At this point I’ll stand on top of a building and tell the world that I’m happily married and about to have a baby. I’ll do anything she asks except leave. I’ll never leave my child. She’s going to have to leave me if she wants out.
“Can I ask you something, wifey?”
She rolls her eyes playfully as she moves her hands so that they rest on my shoulders. “What?”