20. Theo #3
She giggles, and it makes me settle just a little bit more.
“Oh, stop it,” my mother says, holding the baby. “Come in, come in.”
I introduce Collins to my sisters and their husbands, and then look around. “Where is Carter?”
“They’re going to be late,” my father answers. “He just texted. I’m going to go and start the grill.”
I nod at him as he shares a smile with me, but it’s not his usual smile. This one seems forced. “I’m going to help my dad. Are you going to be okay?” Collins doesn’t have a chance to answer me since Lizzy cuts in.
“Of course she’s okay. We already like her more than you.”
“Great,” I deadpan and kiss Collins on the lips before following my father outside. He is sitting in the chair beside the grill, right in front of the fenced-in pool. The fairy lights hung around the fence give us a bit of light as the sun starts to set.
“What’s up?” I sit down and look over at him.
“Not much, what about you?” He puts his ankle on his knee as he watches me.
“I know you have something on your mind.” I put my elbows on my knees as I return eye contact. “So you might as well tell me.”
He leans back, placing his hand on his bent and folded knee, which is over the other knee. “Not really much to say.” I wait for him to continue. “You know I love you to the ends of the earth.” I don’t know why, but my body goes tight. “I will have your back, no matter what.”
“Yeah.” One word, and it’s the only word that comes out. “But?”
“How well do you know this woman?”
I sit up straight. “Her name is Collins.” My voice is tight. “Dad, I say this in the most respectful way I can, but watch what you say about her.”
He holds up his hands. “I’m not saying anything bad about her.
I’m sure she’s a great girl. I’m just saying, this is very fast. The last time we saw you, you didn’t bring her up once.
” I look at my feet. “You never even let on that you were dating someone, so I have to ask you, are you sure about this?”
“We’re taking things one day at a time. I like her, Dad.
I like her a lot. It’s not just that she’s gorgeous, it’s more than that.
She’s kind, so fucking kind.” I know he’s going to either kick my ass or kill me when I tell him the next part.
“I’m not proud of this fact. When I met her, we spent one night together and then I snuck out on her when she was sleeping. ”
If looks could kill, that look right there would bury me. His jaw clenches.
“I know it was a shitty thing to do, and for the rest of my life, I’m going to have to live with that.
But I saw her again a couple of weeks ago.
I had no idea she was pregnant. I asked her to have coffee with me, and she accepted with poise and grace.
She has not once been rude or nasty to me.
” Just saying it out loud, I have to count my fucking lucky stars that she’s the way she is.
“She showed up and told me she was pregnant but asked me for nothing. Not a fucking dime. Not a fucking thing. Said she was going to have the baby and would never repeat to another soul that I was the father.”
“Jesus.” He puts his hand on his head.
“Any other girl would have burned down my house, or at least shit-talked me to everyone I know. Fuck, if it was a girl like Lizzy or Daisy, I’d be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.
” I look down. “But not Collins. She’s the kindest, most trustworthy person I’ve ever met in my life.
I had to show up at her house for her to take help from me.
I know I want to protect her and our child.
I know, even if things don’t work out with us, I’m going to make sure I always look out for her. ”
“This is . . .” He shakes his head. “This is the most”—he tries to think of the words—“reckless thing you could have ever done.”
“Yeah,” I agree, “but it’s too late to change it, so we have to move forward. I’m moving forward and she’s coming with me. The question is, are you?”
“Why would you even ask that question? Of course I am.”
“This conversation doesn’t leave this backyard,” I warn him, “not even for Mom.”
He glares again. “I don’t keep things from your mother, and you know that.”
“Then you can tell her after she falls in love with Collins.”
“She’s already in love with her,” he replies, shocking me.
“All she’s talked about is her. She made sure to tell everyone that if your sisters didn’t behave, she would be seriously fucking pissed.
And she used the F-word, so no one is going to fuck with her.
” I laugh and get up. “Whatever you need, Theo . . .” He gets up and hugs me, his hand grabbing the back of my head.
“You’ll know how I feel when you have your child.
” He kisses the side of my head. “It’s a love that will seep so far into your muscles that you won’t know how you could survive without it. ”
He lets me go and puts his hand on my shoulder. The smile fills my face, and my heart feels full thinking about the baby. “I look forward to getting that feeling.”