Page 122 of Shameless

Tilly’s cake is delicious and I haven’t had a birthday party since my sixteenth birthday, so being surrounded by family and friends is pretty freaking awesome.

“Jules,” Lula is sitting on my lap on the couch, feeding me bites of birthday cake. “Are you ok? You look troubled.”

I lower my voice, because I don’t want to sound ungrateful to Mom and Tilly for all the work they put into this party. “Absolutely peachy. I just can’t help but feel a little melancholy though about the fact that Jenna isn’t here to celebrate with us.”

“I tried to get in touch with Jasmine to see if she would let her come at least for tonight, but all my calls have gone to voicemail and she never called me back. I’m sorry.”

I swipe a smudge of frosting from the corner of her lips. “Thank you for trying, sweet girl.”

About an hour later, most of the people have left and Mom proposes we all have a nightcap on the deck.

“Let me get the door and I’ll be right out.” I say. “I bet Paris forgot something. I swear that girl would leave her own head behind if she could.”

However when I open the door, I don’t find myself in front of Paris. “Gordon? What are you doing here? Is everything ok?” I ask my lawyer.

He has a strange look on his face. “Surprisingly, yes. It is. Or I think it might be, if I know you well enough.”

I don’t understand. “I’m a little too tired to solve a riddle right now. Do you care to explain?”

“I’ll do you one better,” he says, stepping aside.

“Daddy! Surprise! Happy birthday!” Jenna jumps into my arms and I don’t realize I’m crying until she collects my tears on her tiny finger and licks it. “Bitter. Why are you sad, Daddy?”

I don’t have to think about the answer. “Because I missed you, munchkin. How did you manage to convince Jasmine?” I ask my lawyer. “Please don’t tell me you kidnapped my daughter to bring her here for my birthday.”

Gordon doesn’t appreciate my humor. “Of course not. There’s actually been a very unexpected turn of events. I’ll explain if you let us in.”

I step aside with Jenna still in my arms. “Of course. I’m sorry, I’m just a little shocked.”

Gordon hands me an envelope, before turning to get something from the ground behind him.

“What—who’s that?” I ask, as he crosses the threshold with the detachable carrier of a baby stroller.

There’s a tiny baby girl asleep in it. Judging by her size, she can’t be more than a couple of weeks old.

“This is Juliette Cutler.” Gordon informs me. “But the letter I just gave you will explain much better than I could.”

“Jules? What’s up?” Lula comes into the living room and is immediately run over by an overexcited Jenna.

“Lula, Lula! Uncle G. says you have cake.”

I snort at my stiff, extremely formal lawyer being called Uncle G. “Sorry about that, Gordon.”

He offers me one of his rare smiles. “It was actually my idea. Gordon is a little too difficult for her. Go on, read that letter.”

I look at the thick envelope from Jasmine’s lawyer as if it could bite me, but there’s no point delaying finding out whatever it contains. Lula hovers by the door and I beckon her to come sit next to me to read it together.

The first sheet is covered in my ex-wife’s dainty, elegant cursive.

Dear Jules,

I know we both made mistakes during our marriage, but I also know that mine were a little bigger than yours.

First of all, happy birthday.

I would have come to tell you everything in person, but you know I’m not big on apologies or goodbyes.

In the envelope your lawyer just gave you, you’ll find Jenna’s birth certificate and social security card.

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