Chapter 16 #2
Ah. Not a one-eighty, after all. “I, uh, appreciate the support,” his dad’s anyway, “but I’m going to see how this plays out. It’s early days. But I just thought you should know.”
If his parents had been believers he’d expect a “We’ll be praying for you, Son” type of comment. But as they weren’t, he shouldn’t have been disappointed when they didn’t offer that.
Still, it helped to know that at least someone else in the world now knew, someone who also had his back. He knew he’d need it going forward.
* * *
Rain splattered against the windows of the bus, like tears from heaven.
Which was fair. She bet God Himself was likely crying at the mess she’d made.
At the mess she was. She knew about tears.
It was quite possible she’d cried more in the past few weeks than she had in the past twenty years.
Gen had always prided herself on her resilience, on her emotional fortitude.
She’d learned through being bullied in her younger years not to let her emotions show, to practice calmness, to speak directly, firmly, but always in a measured way.
People calmed by being met with calmness.
Getting emotional only springboarded others into volatility.
But lately it felt like she was spinning out of control, that whatever stores of inner fortitude she possessed were stretching thinner by the day.
Somehow amid all of last night’s tears she’d caught a few hours’ sleep.
Somehow she’d made it to work without speaking to her mother this morning, although she had tiptoed into Bella’s room and reminded her to say nothing about Kyle’s visit yesterday. Heaven forbid Bella spill the beans.
Somehow she’d made it through work without any terribly trying traumas to deal with. Thank goodness for straightforward days.
But her fears escalated with every mile that took the bus closer to home.
Would Kyle be there again? Would he demand answers?
Would he insist on a DNA test? Not that he should need one, because honestly, looking at the two of them, it was obvious that Kyle and Bella were two peas in a pod.
But what would happen now? She knew she’d lost all chance at reconciliation with Kyle.
That part of her past—any hope of a future—might as well be dead and buried.
Would he insist on seeing Bella? Want to be part of her life?
Take her away from Gen? Oh, she couldn’t stand that thought.
But the thought that he might reject Bella hurt almost as much.
How could he deny the hope that had flared in Bella’s eyes?
How could he not see the amazingness that lived inside her daughter? Their daughter. She shivered.
What was best? What would happen? So many questions.
The bus stopped, and she took a minute to scan for Kyle’s car. Phew. Not there.
But their beat-up car was, which meant Mom was home. Darn. There was no escaping what would likely be a tough conversation.
She opened the door, and sure enough, as she entered, it was to find her mom seated in the chair opposite the door, her arms folded, her expression hard and cold.
“Sit, Genevieve.”
She placed her bag down and sat. “You know.” Her glance slid to Bella.
“Sorry,” Bella mouthed.
She should’ve expected this. Mom had a way of wheedling out the truth so that people didn’t even know they’d shared. It had been foolish to think Bella had a fighting chance at keeping mum.
Then the barrage began.
“I cannot believe you were so foolish as to let that man come here!” Mom screeched. “What did you think you were doing? No, don’t answer that. I know exactly what you thought you were doing. It’s exactly the same thing that got you into this mess in the first place.”
Gen’s cheeks heated. “Mom, no.”
“Marco told me about a strange man visiting, and your daughter at least had the good sense to tell me the truth. Why didn’t you? You didn’t think you could hide it from me, did you?”
“Mom, let me explain—”
“There is nothing to explain! You brought shame on our family ten years ago, and worked hard to overcome that, I know. But now I see you are simply repeating your mistakes. And you need to understand that there are far more consequences now than there were ten years ago.”
“I understand that, Mom. Please, listen to—”
“What do you want to say?”
“I thought he cared about me, okay? I thought we might have a second chance. But you’re probably right and I’m wrong and I’ve wrecked things again.
” She glanced at Bella, sitting wide-eyed.
“Honey, you need to know that none of this is your fault. But Mom.” Her attention veered back to her stone-faced mother.
“Do you mean to suggest that I’m never to have a relationship again? ”
“I’ve never said that. Just don’t have one with him. He’s the one who can take away everything we’ve worked so hard for, just like that.” She snapped her fingers.
Yes, he was. Although she’d sensed he wasn’t that kind of man.
Yes, he’d obviously been hurt by her deception, but she didn’t think him the vindictive sort.
She could be, so could her mother, and she suspected Kyle’s mom could be the same.
But Kyle? He had a softer, kinder side to him that made her think that he would look for a solution, rather than create a problem.
Then there was the fact he’d called himself a Christian.
That had to mean he’d be nicer than the ordinary person, right?
It had to count for something. Besides, Christians were supposed to forgive, weren’t they?
But whether he had it in him to forgive her colossal mistake she didn’t know.
She’d just have to hope to God that he wouldn’t take his pain out on Bella.
She could take it; her heart had been toughened by the years, and her mom’s might as well be leather.
But Bella?
A fierceness rose inside. She would die before she’d let that man hurt her daughter.
Even if her daughter was his daughter too.