Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Scarlett
L ast night after our ice cream and hug, I went to bed alone. I’m not sure what he did once I closed my door, but it’s not my business.
Now, we stand side by side on my parents’ front doorstep. They know I’m coming today, but they don’t know why. It’s not unusual for me to come and hang out here on a Saturday. My heart feels like it’s running a marathon on steroids.
When I finally knock, Zander reaches for my hand and squeezes reassuringly. Dad opens the door with a smile on his face. It falters a bit as he takes in Zander’s six-foot frame to my right. Remembering undressing him with my eyes last night has heat rushing to my cheeks in my dad’s presence.
Dad’s gaze falls to our joined hands just as Zander lets go, then he focuses on me. “Scarlett, who’s your friend?” he asks.
“This is Zander Bailey. Zander, this is my dad, Shawn Shepard,” I say nervously.
Zander reaches out to shake his hand and Dad reciprocates. “Sally, Scarlett is here, and she brought a friend,” he calls into the house without taking his stare off Zander’s towering frame.
He steps aside to give us entry. When we cross the threshold, I know I’m about to word vomit. Maybe really vomit too. I leave them in the living room and rush to the bathroom. After I lose my breakfast, I splash water on my face and pinch the apples of my cheeks to bring back some color. My skin is pale, my eyes are full of worry.
A knock sounds, and it’s followed by Mom’s voice. Tears spring to my eyes as I think about how disappointed they’ll probably be. Granted, they won’t be disappointed about having a grandbaby to love and spoil. They’ve hinted to me plenty about wanting me to get settled and start a family. But they’ll be disappointed about how it has all come to be.
I swipe under my eyes and tell her I’ll be out in a minute.
When I re-enter the living room, Dad and Zander are watching a baseball game on TV. Neither are speaking. Mom sees me and smiles for a moment before realizing something is off. Her brows furrow as she watches me take a seat beside Zander.
“Are you okay?” he asks, not caring that my parents are watching and hearing the entire interaction.
Dad chimes in, “Why wouldn’t she be okay? What’s going on, Scarlett?” I can hear the tension in my dad’s voice.
I see the same worried look on both their faces as they wait for an answer. The hormones choose that moment to take over and the tears start to fall. My mom’s gaze stays on me while Dad’s gaze sharpens at Zander through narrowed eyes.
“I’m sorry. I’m a mess right now,” I say as I regain my composure.
My parents stand, waiting for me to elaborate further.
“You should sit,” I say as I get ready to spring the news.
They share a look but do as I say.
“Zander and I,” I start. “Me and Zander…” I trail off.
He reaches for my hand, and it steadies my racing heart. “We’re having a baby together,” I blurt out.
Dad’s brows shoot toward the ceiling and Mom remains still; lips parted slightly in shock. I feel Zander scoot closer, but I can’t turn in his direction right now. I’m too focused on reading my parents’ reactions.
“How?” My dad holds up a hand while shaking his head. “I know how. But this is so…sudden. How long have you known each other? Are you even dating?” Dad’s face starts to turn red as a vein in his neck stands out.
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 baby is 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 about my 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.”