Daddy learns my secret.
1458 Words
I found myself wiping my eyes with my long sleeve and looking out the window.
David pulled over and handed me my food.
I heard them talking about their future. David and my sister, Brea were planning a trip to South America for a missionary trip.
David was part of an organization for doctors across boarders. Brea was a social worker by trade, she was a people person.
They were very good together. They married right after college, it was a big beautiful wedding.
I was Brea's maid of honor.
I ate my fries and stayed quiet. Charles tried to include me in their conversation, I was too caught up in my worries about my parents to be of any intelligent use.
He pulled my sweater.
" Hey, you ok?" He looked at me with concern.
" Nope. I'm just in my head right now. I'm OK." I smiled and went back into the car.
David pulled him aside.
" She gets this way around her folks, they hate eachother but pretend it's all normal and okay.
Brea used to tell me about the big fights her folks would have. I don't envy Jo going home, alone. Especially without her sister to shield her."
" Why doesn't she get her own Place?" Charles asked.
" Mmm...I think Jo's looking for a job to support herself. She doesn't like taking mommy's money. She hears her mother bitterly complain about hating moochers, mostly her father."
I slunk down in my seat and stayed quiet.
We dropped Charles off first. His folks came rushing out of the house, seeing him arrive. Even the damn housekeepers ran to him.
I felt jealous of their love for him, their golden boy.
I waved goodbye to him, with a fake smile on my face.
He turned and jogged up to my car window.
I rolled it down.
"Hey coffee next week?" He smiled as his mother called for him to come inside. It started to rain.
I nodded. "Ok, here's my number."
I took out my phone.
He added it to his contacts, and gave me his number...but he never called me.
_____________
The song changed it was a slow tempo, maybe a Mexican ballad. It was full of static bringing me back...
The tall man forced me to eat, it was salty and greasy. I swallowed and gagged, I grabbed his arm. "Water."
He smiled at me, "The Punta speaks now, yeah your thirsty aren't you Bonita? He placed a dirty glass to my lips, it was bitter like a strong alcohol. I choked as he forced my head up to drink it. I whimpered when his hand squeezed my hair. I passed out again...dreaming not wanting to be here. I wanted my old life back. My mind sends me back to where I want to be, my past...
______________
About 2 months after I graduated things changed.
I felt so sick. Especially in the morning. I was pretty sure I was pregnant.
I didn't tell a soul.
I drove to Walgreens and picked up a few pregnancy tests.
I was verified pregnant.
Holy s**t. My life was going to be over. My mom and dad would kill me.
In my mother's eyes, only sluts and idiots got pregnant out of wedlock.
I wasn't a slut, but I was an i***t.
I didn't even think to use a condom with Charles that night.
I knew it was his child, I was only with him.
I wiped my wet eyes and called him.
" Hey it's Charles, who's this?" He answered with his normal friendly voice.
" Oh, uh hi it's Josephine. Can we meet up for lunch today?"
" Sorry kid, I'm out of town. Dad surprised me with a trip to Aspen for the weekend. We are actually heading out to the slopes to ski right now. What's wrong?" He sounded rushed.
" Well the thing is...I'm pregnant." I just bit the bullet and told him straight up.
" Oh, that's cool. Jo, are your parents happy with this?" He said distractedly.
" Oh, I have only told you." I said trying not to bawl.
" Me? So, why are you telling me?" He asked.
I was shocked. He didn't remember us being together that magical night under the shooting star.
" Look, I hope it works out for you kid. I gotta run, dad's waiting. See yah later then?"
And with that, he hung up on me, me and his baby.
I threw all of the evidence of that test in the trash.
I made plans to get my own place. I had a job interview Monday. It would be up to me to figure all of this out on my own.
Mom was talking non stop to a psychic about her future, she was going to get her aura read tomorrow and asked me to tag along. I reluctantly agreed. Though I didn't put any stock in that sort of stuff.
I went to my room and packed my stuff. It wasn't much. I couldn't stay here another week.
Daddy found me the next day, throwing up in the bathroom. He knocked lightly.
" Come talk to me Jo." He said as he moved away from the bathroom door.
I rinsed my mouth and straightened my clothes.
He was in his study drinking his favorite, brandy.
" Yes daddy?" I said as I sat across from his leather chair.
My father was a very good looking man. He started to crack though. I could see his hair receding.
He had gained a pot belly under his golf sweaters. Not that he golfed any longer. He got his driver's license taken away, too many DUIs.
" I need to tell you something." He smiled taking a big sip.
" Don't be like me, don't drink, ever. I know you and the young crowd think it's cool to get drunk together.
I can see you have been looking a bit sickly, puking this morning. Tale tale signs of over drinking Jo. Please, don't do it."
I smiled and looked at my hands. "Daddy I'm not drinking, I'm pregnant."
I told him. He was the only one that knew my secret, other than Charles.
" Wow, I did not expect that from you of all people Jo." He sat forward, his voice thick with dissapointment.
" Who is the lucky guy?" He asked me with a bit of a slur.
I kept quiet.
Not sure if I should tell him. I mean if Charles didn't want anything to do with my baby, well I didn't need anyone to know he was the father.
I was practical that way, I guess a bit hurt to tell the truth, well a lot hurt. My eyes welled up, daddy wasn't looking at me anyway, his eyes down cast.
" Daddy, what does it matter. I'm raising the baby by myself. The father isn't involved. I will be a good mother, I think."
I heard him snoring. When I looked up he was sleeping. He was drunk already?
I stood up and turned away from him. I gasped as a cry bubbled up from my chest.
It was so terribly sad to see my father passed out drunk, day after day.
I went back to my room to finish packing.
Mother called me then.
"Ready to go?" She asked.
" Where are we going?" I forgot about the aura reading today.
" Josephine! We are seeing the psychic. Now let's go. Henry is out front in the car, waiting."
I pulled on a sweater and my jeans. I brushed out my hair and ran downstairs.
Henry, our driver, I respected. He was always kind to me, knowing all about our sick family issues.
I popped into the back seat with mother. "Sorry to keep you Henry." I offered.
" No problem squirt." He winked at me from the review mirror.
We drove to town.
__________
Mother went ahead of me. She sat down in a big purple chair next to a dim salt rock lamp.
I saw her fix her hair and get ready to be read.
A young man came out from a door in the back. He was tall, dark, and handsome, yes all three. But he was swarmy as hell. I did not like him, not one little bit.
He took my mother's hands and kissed them. "Mrs. Brennan how lovely to see you again."
I looked away, feeling my stomach lurch. Gross.
I was asked to leave them alone. My mother Claire was a very flirty woman. I could hear her giggling in the back room.
About an hour later they came out together. The man looked worn down by my mother's presence.
- Writer
