Page 34 of A Night To Remember

To keep their child a secret was the lowest thing to do in his eyes. Jake ran through the events in his head wondering what he may have done to make her not want to tell him, and he couldn’t think of a thing.

When he composed himself enough to leave the building, Jake found himself driving. He drove for what seemed like hours in the rush hour traffic, eventually winding up in Baltimore. Then he turned back and drove to his parents’ house.

His mom answered the door with a look of delight on her face. “Jake! What a wonderful surprise. Helen is here, too. She’s a little miffed at you for missing the little league game you promised to attend.”

Jake wasn’t in the mood to deal with his sister’s histrionics. “Something more important came up. Where’s Dad?”

“He’s at a friend’s house. You know Monday is his poker night.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that.”

His mother frowned, concern in her hazel eyes. “Okay, spit it out, young man. Your eyes are bloodshot and you’re looking less than your immaculately dressed self. What’s the matter?” Moira asked, leading him to the kitchen table to sit down.

The minute Helen saw him, she started in on him. “Jake, I hope you know your nephew was really disappointed when you didn’t show up. You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“And how do you do, too, Helen?” Jake’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

Helen glared. “If you had to stay late at the office or whatever it was you had to do, you should have extended me the courtesy of a call.”

“Helen, for once can you keep quiet?”

His sister gasped and opened her mouth to speak when their mother raised her hand. “Enough. Helen, go make some tea. Can’t you see your brother is upset about something?”

Jake waited until his sister left the table, finding it hard to get the words out. He still couldn’t believe what had happened. He wished Helen wasn’t here looking on. She was such a busybody, but he figured that she’d find out eventually. “Mom, remember when I told you I had met someone special?” Jake began.

“Yes, I remember. What happened, sweetheart?” His mother asked with caution.

“You’re distraught over a woman?” Helen interjected with a laugh. “Jake, I have to say you had it coming. The way you go through women is a sin,” Helen finished, not bothering to hide the righteous indignation in her voice.

“This doesn’t concern you, Helen!” Jake yelled, feeling the need to do something juvenile, like throwing something at her.

“Hey, I’m only pointing out—”

“I came to talk to Mom, not you, so will you mind your own damn business for once in your life?” he roared.

“Kids, please!” Moira scolded. “You both need to calm down, and Helen, you keep your two cents to yourself or go home. I don’t need to agitate your brother. And Jake, I’d thank you not to speak to your sister that way,” she lectured to both of her children.

Jake and Helen glared at each other.

“I’m sorry, Hel, I just…it hasn’t been my day.”

“I’m sorry, too, Jake,” Helen apologized. “I know I can be a bit of a busy body and I don’t always know when to quit.”

“Please continue, Jake,” his mother prompted.

“She’s been working at MBF for some months now, but the company isn’t where I originally knew her from. We actually met over three years ago. I think I was infatuated with her from the very beginning, kind of like how Dad was with you. She’s a widow, and her husband died a year previous to the night we met.” He broke off, finding it difficult to continue. Different emotions warred through him and he wasn’t sure how to handle them all. Moira patted her son’s hand in reassurance.

“One thing led to another and…we made love.” Jake blushed. He may have been a grown man, but there were still things he felt uncomfortable talking about in front of his mother.

“After one night? Eww,” Helen interrupted again. Moira shot Helen an icy glare. “Sorry,” Helen muttered, having the good grace to blush as she rejoined them at the table. She pushed a cup of tea in Jake’s direction.

“Yes, it was after one night. I won’t pretend it was the first time I’ve slept with a woman of such a short acquaintance, but with her, it was special. The morning after she was gone. I felt so sure about our instant connection that I hired private investigators to find her, but they never did.”

“Three years ago?” His mother furrowed her brows. “I remember you went through a period when you didn’t want to be around the family during that time. Did this woman have anything to do with it?”

“You could say that. I tried to get on with my life, but imagine my surprise when she turned up at MBF. It was like I was getting a second chance with Charlie,” Jake said with conviction.

“Charlie?” his mother asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

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