28. Stan
Chapter twenty-eight
Stan
It’s only as I help Sam gather her clothes and get dressed that I realize the state my desk is in. All of my things are on the floor.
Wait, is that my laptop? It somehow also ended up on the floor. In fact, I don't even remember the laptop being on my desk when she cleared it to make room.
I ignore the laptop and focus on her. Grinning, I take my time helping her get dressed and earning a few breathy gasps and glares from her. She tries to toe her shoe back on, but I crouch and gently slap her foot away, sliding the soft leather over each foot myself. I run a hand up the back of her calf and press a kiss to her knee before looking back up at her.
“We didn't use condoms,” she states a little too late, blushing all the way to her ears. “But this is the first time I'm doing this… raw. So you'll be safe.”
“I'm not worried about not being safe as long as it's you, Samantha,” I say as I poke her tummy. A smile forms on my face as I think of a little sister or brother for Ruth.
“If that's what you're worried about, you should know that I'm on birth control,” she says softly. “Wouldn't want to drop another unexpected baby on your lap.”
My smile drops. “A baby with you wouldn't be unexpected or unwelcome. ”
“What's with the lack of enthusiasm? You wanted to put a baby in me?” She almost laughs.
“Yes.”
There's no need to lie. It’s something I have thought about. And seeing Sam with Ruth has shown me that she would make an excellent mother.
The laughter disappears from her face. “Oh.” She’s red as a tomato again.
“Whatever am I going to with you?” I sigh as I lean in to kiss her.
Our lips are about to touch when the sound of a car pulling into the driveway, followed by the closing of doors, interrupts us. My eyebrows shoot up. Who the fuck could this be? I’m almost tempted to give them a piece of my mind because of what they interrupted.
“Who the hell?” I grumble
“Maybe Louis told Lesley about getting fired and he’s coming back?” Sam speculates.
“Stan, you in there?” It’s my father.
“Your father's here?” Sam gets to her feet. “Shit, you're still naked!”
I forgot about that. I try to get my clothes as she makes her way to the door. She limps, and I can tell she's sore. I can't help grinning.
“Stan?”
This time, it’s my mom’s voice calling out to me. I pale, sharing a look with Samantha. My mom is here, too?
Shit. Shit. Shit!
I try to smooth out my hair, though I give up tucking my shirt back into my pants. Fuck, I hope no one notices.
"I’ll go talk to them,” Sam offers, straightening her hair one last time before darting out of the office. I hear her exchange warm greetings with my family.
“He really did himself good,” I hear my father say as the trio make their way back to the office. Despite myself, I grin to hear the rare praise from him.
“Is that paint I smell?” Mom asks as their footsteps get louder.
“Yes. We were repainting, but Stan fired the painter for some reason,” Sam explains .
I can’t help but wonder how she’s able to talk with her panties filled with cum.
“Sounds like my son, all right,” my father chuckles.
The four of them appear in the office, and it's too late for me to realize that I haven’t picked up my laptop or put on my shoes.
My dad looks like he always does—silver-haired and suave. His hair color and a few extra lines beside his eyes might be the only giveaway for his age. Otherwise, he’s still rolling around in jeans and a fitted t-shirt with a long chain necklace that matches my own.
My mom’s hair is still dark brown, just like my sister’s, though I suspect she gets a little help in that department these days. It’s chopped at her chin but styled a little wavy. And she is wearing an admittedly cool jean jacket.
“What the hell happened to you?” my dad asks, taking in my appearance and trying to suppress a laugh.
“Oh, I forgot to mention he got violent after firing the painter, screaming that he’d paint it himself. So here we are,” Sam says. “I tried to stop him. But you know how it is with him. He’s always been a little brat.”
I glare at her, thinking of ways to punish her for that wisecrack.
“You’ve not changed, have you, Samantha?” My father laughs and tussles my hair.
“Oh, she tried to stop him, all right,” my mother says slyly, gazing at me with a knowing smile.
Fuck.
My dad is still chuckling good-naturedly when he steps forward to wrap me in a hug. Just how awkward is this going to get? I knew I was going to have to see my parents one day soon, but I didn’t think it was going to be right after Sam and I had sex for the first time.
As my parents recount to me, they arrived in Rose Haven and headed straight to my place. They wanted to see Ruth .
I didn’t want to overwhelm my daughter, so I asked them to come back after school when she’s had some time to settle in.
At 3:30 p.m. sharp and not a minute later, my parents are at my door again, looking nervous yet excited.
“Do kids still like gifts?” my dad asks as he shows me a small gift bag.
Now I understand where I get my awkward approach to fatherhood.
“I don’t know,” I admit.
“Oh.” His shoulders drop.
“You two are pathetic,” my mother says, rolling her eyes. But I know she’s taking a jab at us to hide her own anxiousness.
I can’t blame them. I’m the first in our family to have a kid out of wedlock, and in a way that could quite possibly be seen as a scandal.
But I know they don’t see it that way. They're just nervous that they haven't met their grandchild yet. One who has existed for thirteen years without them knowing.
“Any tips? Heads-up?” my dad asks.
“Okay,” I say. “She has my sense of humor. But she’s calmer than all of us put together,” I explain. “She doesn’t call me dad. She already had a late father, with her mother. We aren’t a replacement, so if she calls you both by your first names, don’t be offended.”
“Understood,” my mom says.
“She loves movies, Dad. So that gives you something to talk about,” I continue, and the old man looks relieved. “Mom, please don’t let Dad talk too much. She also likes books, too, so… yeah.”
“Okay,” they say in unison, and I see their confidence return.
I step away from the door and finally let them in. Ruth is standing in the living room, wearing her best dress.
I told her she didn’t have to dress up, but it seems she has the same awkward desire to please as her father. Nonetheless, the sense of humor she inherited from me is also intact, because when she first sees her grandparents, she sighs and crosses her arms in disappointment .
“You two owe me thirteen years’ worth of Christmas gifts and birthday presents,” she grumbles.
My parents stand there, frozen in place. They exchange uncertain glances between Ruth and me.
“Holy shit. She’s his daughter, alright,” my father says before letting out a guffaw.
“I’m Ruth,” my daughter says with a smile. She even curtseys. “Pleased to meet you.”
“I’m Grace Senior, aka Gracie,” my mom says. “This is Benjamin, my husband.” Then she turns to my dad. “Go on,” she prompts.
“Oh, uh… right…” my father says nervously. He steps forward and hands Ruth a gift bag. “Stan says you like movies, and I don't know what kids like, and, um… here.”
She opens it, and it's a small digital camera. For once, she's at a loss for words.
“If you don’t like it, I can get another one,” my dad adds nervously. “Or if I can get you something else.”
“How about a car?” Ruth asks without skipping a beat.
“A car? Done.” My dad flips out his phone and starts dialing.
“I was joking!” Ruth bursts into laughter and gives me a knowing look. I can’t help but smile at the déjà vu situation.
“I love the camera, Benjamin,” Ruth says earnestly.
“Ben,” my dad says.
“Ben,” she says. “You both can call me Ruthie.”
“Then I’m Gracie,” my mom says softly.
“Pleasure to meet you, too, Gracie.” Ruth’s smile is warm enough to cancel out the air conditioner.
My parents clearly want to hug her but don't know how to proceed.
Ruth sighs indulgently. “You two are just like Stan.” She opens her arms. “If you want a hug, then just ask.”
My parents embrace her, and I want to melt at the sight.
I only wish Sam was here to see this.