Page 51 of Bound By Consequences
Ensley:Not trying to, but it’s looking like it. I’m hoping it’s a phase.
Micah:As long as it’s just in your place. No one sees my little girl like that.
Taken abackby the power of what he said, I put the phone down in my lap and stared up at the ceiling. ‘His little girl.’ Wow. He probably had no idea how much those words hit me.
Remy had always been mine and only mine. Mine to take care of. Mine to cloth and bathe. Mine to comfort and soothe. Mine to love and cherish. Now, things were becoming different. This wouldn’t be like an Aunt Katie. This was a father connecting with his daughter. Coming to terms that she was someone else’s too felt different, but great at the same time.
Ensley:Just around the house. If she’d use the potty I wouldn’t mind. But cleaning up pee everywhere is not fun.
Micah:Yeah. I’m seriously laughing now. No that wouldn’t be good.
Ensley:Wait until it’s down your leg or you step in it. You won’t be laughing then.
Micah:Probably not.
Talking to him,even through texts was easy. And if I had to admit, I enjoyed it way too much. Even though we were typing there was a banter there I liked.
Ensley:Sorry to drop the bomb on you about Remy out of the blue. Know you deserve better, but I really had no idea what your last name was. And in all honesty I didn’t think you’d want anything to do with her.
I let out a heavy breath.That last statement was as real as it got. It took long moments before those little dots showed up that said he was typing. The anticipation made my stomach do cartwheels.
Micah:I’m glad that I know. I want to be her dad and I’ll help you in any way I can.
More truths…herewe go.
Ensley:My first thought was that you were going to try and take her from me…
There wasanother pause and I bit my damn nail trying to calm my nerves and didn’t pull it back. Since pacing was out of the question, I needed to do something through all this tension.
Micah:Never. Do I want to see her, get to know her and be her dad, yes. But take her from you, no way in hell. That’s not the man I am.
Relief washedover me like a lead weight lifted from my shoulders. All that fuss before and fear was undeserved. Could I make a bigger mess of this?
Ensley:I appreciate that more than I can say.
Micah:No one will ever take that little girl away from you or me. That I guarantee.
He guaranteed it?That was a very bold statement and deep inside I knew it was true. His entire demeanor today was right on target with this statement.
Ensley:Thank you. I’m heading to bed. See you on Friday.
Micah:Sweet Dreams and call or text me any time.
Ensley:Right. Night.
I heldthe phone in my hands for the longest time staring at the old faded ceiling. Maybe this would be a new chapter in Remy and my life. Or at least it would in Remy’s, that was for sure. Mine, I needed to keep an even keeled grasp on my reality. He was here for Remy. Not me. It was best never to forget it.
Maybe putting post it notes all over would help. Who was I kidding? Did you see the man?
19
Micah
“Hello.”I called into my childhood home as I entered it the next day. As much as I wanted to continue texting Ensley she wanted off so be it. There would be more times ahead of us where we could get to know one another. And doing it in person rather than text was my preferred way.
I’d spoken to my father earlier this morning about the news of me being a father.
“Son?”My father asked as he answered the call, but I could hear the smile in his tone. Yes, he knew.
