Page 33 of Trash the Dress

Mom stays silent. My head feels like it’s spinning when I hear Zander speak. “We met about a week before the wreckage of her ruined wedding day,” he says.

Mom turns wide eyes on me. “You cheated on Eric like he cheated on you?” she asks in shock.

“No, Mom. I would never. You know me better than that,” I say a little hurt that she’d jump to such a conclusion.

She suddenly stands and leaves the room. Dad watches her go before focusing on us again. “So, if not before the shitshow of a failed wedding, then when?”

“Dad! Do you want all the details about the night we had sex?” I shout without realizing my words.

Zander stiffens beside me and Dad’s eyes widen. “No. That isn’t what I meant.”

I stand, suddenly feeling the urge to defend myself, my baby, and Zander.

“Zander was the wedding photographer,” I start. Dad’s gaze flickers with recognition. “He helped me that day. He took what could’ve been the worst day of my life and gave me something more,” I say.

Dad speaks, “So this was a one-night stand. You don’t know each other. You aren’t dating. But you’re having a baby,” he says in summary.

He pins his stare to Zander. “You took advantage of my broken-hearted daughter resulting in bringing a baby into this world, and you probably won’t hang around for it. Am I right?”

Dad’s words cut deep, not just into me, but I can see how deep they cut into Zander. I’ve never been ashamed of my parents, but I am right now. I knew they’d be shocked and upset about the circumstances, but I never dreamed they’d attack Zander’s character or refer to me as a silly vulnerable woman with no moral compass. I don’t care how you look at it, this baby,our babyis a blessing.

Zander blanches and I move to stand in front of him. “You don’t get to talk to him that way. You don’t know him.”

Dad pokes right back. “You don’t either.”

“I know enough,” I say, countering him.

My dad scoffs as Zander speaks up. “You can judge me all you want. I won’t pretend your lack of acceptance and harsh judgment don’t sting, because they do, but this baby, this child will know nothing but love and support from me.”

My dad stares right through him. I’ve never seen him this way, and Mom still hasn’t returned. “And what aboutmy baby?My little girl? Will you love and support her too? If the answer is no, do you know how hard her life will be going forward?”

Zander’s breaths become heavier, but he remains quiet. Dad puffs his chest out a bit as if reading the situation and assuming he’s won. But won what? A pissing contest?

“That’s what I thought. You can still move on if you choose to. Scarlett can’t. She’ll always be tied to this situation…to you whether you are present or not. You have no idea what you’re doing,” Dad says.

“And you do, Dad? Because you’ve been in his shoes before?” I ask, while shouting.

Dad’s face falls a bit, but he doesn’t relent. “I’m sorry, Scarlett, but you don’t know what’s in store for you. If you loved each other and planned to stay together, it still wouldn’t be a walk in the park, but now…” He trails off and shakes his head.

I move to stand in front of my dad. I stare into his eyes so he can see the unmistakable line I’m about to draw. “This is my life. It’s not up for debate, it’s not open to your judgments. I came to tell you that you and Mom will be grandparents. I get it’s not in the manner you expected, but it’s true, nonetheless. Life is full of trips and falls and right-hook punches. But the way you handle those things makes you who you are. Having a baby won’t ruin me, it’s what is saving me, Daddy. And if you don’t want to witness it, that’ll be a gut punch, but I’ll deal with it.”

I don’t take my eyes off Dad as his jaw tenses, and he swallows hard. “I think it’s time to leave,” I say aloud.

Dad flinches as I walk away from him, Zander trailing behind me.

When we reach my car, I get in the driver’s seat, but Zander rounds the car and opens my door. He holds his hand out and I glance up at him. “Let me drive. You’re too upset.”

A sob sputters from my lips as he pulls me from the car and gathers me into his arms. He holds me close and I can feel his breath near the shell of my ear as he dips his head closer. “We’ll find a little sunshine in this storm cloud too, Scarlett. You may not see it yet, but you will.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Zander

“Ididn’t expect warm and fuzzy, but I didn’t expect frostbite either,” she says once we’re back at my place. And after that visit, I can’t help but want to keep her here in Greendale Valley with me. My dad has been nothing but excited to be a grandpa. Mom is too. I didn’t tell her, but Dad keeps no secrets from her. His vault-like quality doesn’t include my mother. They say all is fair in love and marriage.

“It’s okay,” I say, trying to reassure her. What her dad said stung and hit some nerves because he’s not wrong. We aren’t in love and having a baby affects her more than it ever could affect me as a man. But I still refuse to let his idea of me be true.

I may not be able to love her the way she deserves, but I can certainly support her in every other way.Even when it comes to another man being in her life and around your child?My inner dialogue seems intent on messing with me.

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