46. Delilah
Chapter forty-six
Delilah
“ I want to hear all about your trip! How was it? Did you guys have fun? Did you use protection? Nathan had the unfortunate task of telling me he walked in on you two getting a bit frisky, and I need to know if a pregnancy test needs to be in order,” my mom rambled as I walked into the living room, and my jaw dropped.
First of all, she has to be going insane, right? And secondly—
“Mom! What if Dad hears you!” I whisper-yelled, and she shook her head, nodding to the door.
“He’s not even home yet… I’d be surprised if he remembered he has a wife,” she said dramatically, and I smiled as a small pout formed on her lips.
As if on cue, my father opened the door and placed a kiss on my head, thankfully oblivious to the previous conversation.
“Welcome home, sweetheart,” he said and looked over to my mom, who was ignoring him as she fed Trinity.
He walked over to her, and she simply gazed over to him with an angry look in her eyes.
“Darling, what have I done now?” he asked, and she shrugged.
“I don’t know. You’re just not on my good side right now,” she said, and he chuckled as he placed a kiss on her lips.
“Is that so?” he asked, and she nodded.
Before they could do anything else, Ivory entered the room and squealed as she hugged me.
“How was your trip!! Was it fun? Why couldn’t I go, Dad?!” she said, switching moods suddenly, and I internally sighed.
Sure is good to be home.
I hugged her back and laughed. “I missed you too.”
Zachary entered the room soon after and narrowed his eyes at the scene. “You know, this whole favoritism thing is starting to get to me,” he muttered, and I gave him a sarcastic pout.
“Sorry. I can’t help being so lovable.”
He rolled his eyes at me, playfully, and my father sat beside my mother as he pulled her into his embrace.
“I’m hungry,” she snapped at him, and he sighed.
“What can I do to make you love me again, darling? You’ve been giving me the cold shoulder all day,” he said softly to her, and she sighed.
“If you really want me to feel better, I guess you can get me a bowl of Oreo ice cream ... and a spoon of banana peppers while you’re at it,” she said.
All five of us flinched as we heard something break in the kitchen. Before I could react, Benjamin, who had been coming into the room, dropped the towel he was holding as his face looked pale.
“What the hell is going on, Ben?” my father asked, standing abruptly.
Reginald, who had been in the kitchen, came out and walked towards the door with a pained expression.
“Good God, have mercy on us all...” Benjamin whispered, and once he heard the door open, he snapped around to Reginald. “Don’t you dare walk out that door, Reginald!” he barked.
Reginald sighed heavily. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to endure another one, Benjamin,” he said, shaking his head.
I crossed my arms. “What are you guys even talking about?!” I asked, panicking.
Benjamin sighed as he looked back over to us.
“Your mother is pregnant.”
He let it out in one breath, and we all gasped as we looked over to her. She had a blank expression on her face before she reluctantly rubbed her temples.
I scoffed as I looked at my father. “Dad, really! Again?” I asked, and he looked around the room in shock as everyone accused him with their eyes.
“Why does everyone blame me when this happens! Having a baby is a two-person job!” he said, trying to defend himself.
My siblings and I groaned as the image of that “two-person job” tried to surface.
“Okay, thank you, Father. That’s quite enough,” Ivory said, shaking her head.
My mother sighed as she looked over to Reginald. “Please don’t leave us, Regi… you’re like family a-and…” She sniffled softly as tears threatened to come to her eyes.
Reginald winced as he watched her become emotional, and my father glared as he brought her into his embrace.
“We’ll miss you, and I-I know they’re a lot… I know,” she said softly. Our faces contorted as she purposely ignored us.
Benjamin shook his head. “Reginald, my dear, was simply joking. He loves this family far too much to do such a thing. Isn’t that right, Reginald?” he said, glaring over his shoulder.
Reginald nodded as he walked over. “Of course. It was merely a small joke,” he assured.
As if she wasn’t on the verge of crying, my mother jumped up out of her seat and squealed happily. She rushed over to give both of them a hug. Once she finished, Reginald held out his hand and spoke.
“Now... How about those banana peppers and that Oreo ice cream?”
My mother nodded as she walked out of the living room with him.
“Dad, you have to stop!” Zachary whisper-yelled, and Benjamin nodded, agreeing. My father rolled his eyes as he held the twins in his arms as they crawled over. He kissed the top of Trinity’s head and smiled.
“You know… I love looking at you all. And when your mother is pregnant… the way I look at her changes every time. Each time with even more admiration and love. Although, I know I do have to stop soon. Six should definitely be enough,” he muttered.
I shook my head, laughing. “That’s exactly what he said after you, Ivory. Don’t believe him,” I said, and he glared at me playfully as the tension was soon let go.
He seemed as though he wanted to say something else, but my mother’s shouting made us freeze in our place.
“NO! GET THE HELL OFF OF MY PROPERTY!! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT, YOU SELF-CENTERED BASTARD!” she screamed, and we could faintly hear Reginald trying to calm her down.
My father stood quickly and handed me Tyler as Ivory took Trinity. He looked over to us and sent us a look that clearly said “don’t move.” He left the room with Benjamin, and my mother got even angrier.
“Love, what’s wrong—” my father started, but he went silent.
“You think you can just waltz into her life this late like I didn’t try reaching out to you so many years ago!?” she screamed, and I stood up slowly as I heard the mystery person speak.
“I have a right to see her no matter how long it’s been. If anything… we both know she’s more mine than she is yours.”
Looking over to my siblings, they shared a look of sympathy with me as their eyes pleaded for me to sit back down with them.
Handing Tyler to Zachary, I walked over to the foyer slowly as my mother slammed the door and walked away from it without saying another word.
She headed for my father’s embrace as her body was practically shivering in anger. She slowed her breaths before she began hyperventilating, and we locked eyes for what seemed like forever. My father looked over to me as well, and his eyes held the same look.
There was a knock at the door, and I looked over to it as the person spoke behind it.
“Brielle, don’t do this to me. I need to see her.”
Then, it was silent. I’m sure you could hear a pin drop.
Soon, my footsteps filled the silence, and my heart throbbed as I placed my hand on the doorknob. I twisted the knob and opened it to see a man. He looked angry, as if he wanted to continue arguing with my mother, but his face softened slightly once he saw me.
I kept my face stoic as I tried to hold up whatever walls I had, because I wasn’t sure they would stay up after seeing his face. It seemed like they were going to crumble, taking me with them and making me feel like a five-year-old little girl again.
“Can I help you with something?” I stated rather than asked, and he sighed as he looked into my eyes… the same as his.
“Delilah... hi,” he muttered.
“Hello. Can I help you with something?” I spoke again, and he sighed as he seemed to be nervous now. I knew exactly who he was, but a part of me needed to hear him say it.
“My name is Michael, and Delilah, I’m your father. ”