Page 34 of The Jackpot Screwer
“He’s telling the truth, honey.” Mom gave my hand a squeeze. “They just talked, and Carter was all in one piece when he left here a half hour ago.”
“So, what did you talk about?” I asked.
Dad grinned. “What do you think? No need to worry though,” he said, holding up a hand. “It was all perfectly amicable. I got to say sweetheart, I do believe he loves you and is committed to you and the baby.”
“Dad’s right,” Mom added. “Maybe you should both talk.”
Inhaling deeply, I flopped back against the many throw cushions Mom insisted on having on the couch.
“What is it?” Dad asked, leaning forward in his chair. “What’s holding you back? Is it me and Mom?”
“Jim!”
“Darce no.” Dad held his hand up to stop her. “We have to accept that our problems are going to impact the kids. It’s bound to make them cautious.”
Mom turned to me. “Is that true?”
I nodded slowly. “I guess so. I mean if you and Dad can’t make it, what chance in hell do I have with Carter. The man’s an interminable teenager. How the hell is he going to bring a child up?”
“Well firstly,” Dad said, raising his brows. “Your Mom and me, well we’re fine.” He glanced at Mom, whose eyes were shining with love for him. “Well at least I think we will be. We just lost our way a little. But you know all the reasons why. We told all of you everything after our counselling sessions, so please don’t let our mistakes color your future, sweetheart. No one wants you to be with someone you don’t love, or want to be with, but I don’t think that’s the case with you and Carter. You should give it a go with him. And if it doesn’t work out, you and the baby will always have a home here, with me and your mom.”
I grinned and looked between my parents who were both smiling. “So, you’re coming back home?” I asked tentatively.
Mom inhaled sharply as Dad paused to look up at the ceiling. It felt like time stopped for the few seconds it took him to reply.
Finally, he said, “Yes, if your mom will have me, but maybe not for a few weeks.”
I looked over at Mom finding tears in her eyes. She’d missed him so much, but she knew him staying away for a little while was the best thing for them.
“Okay,” she said breezily and pushed up from the couch. “I’m going to get dinner started. Dad is staying.”
Dad cleared his throat and gave Mom a playful smile which made my heart skip a beat. They really were getting there and I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed to hear it. The happiness it brought was the best feeling. Maybe Dad was right, maybe I should give Carter a chance.
“Do I have time for a shower?” I asked Mom.
“Sure honey. Austen isn’t home from football practice yet anyway.”
As I got up from the couch, a car pulled up on to the driveway. “Who’s this?” I asked looking out the window.
“I don’t recognize the car,” Mom said, joining me at the window. “Do you, Jim?”
“Nope. Don’t know anyone with a red sedan.”
“Oh my God,” Mom cried, rushing from the room. “It’s Shaw.”
My brother Shaw was at Harvard and wasn’t due home for Spring Break for another week.
“What’s he doing here?” I turned to Dad and saw he looked worried.
“No idea, sweetheart. But I guess we’re about to find out.”
We heard Mom open the front door and then squeal with joy that her baby was home. Before we had time to join them, she was dragging him into the living room.
Shaw looked tired with dark circles around his eyes, his blond hair was a little longer than he usually wore it and he looked thinner. I looked over to Dad and knew he’d noticed to; his mouth thinning into a line and his eyes narrowed on my brother.
“Hey, son. What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Is something wrong?” Mom looked at Dad. She appeared to be clueless that Shaw looking a mess and being home a week early meant that of course there was something wrong.
