Reflections by Susan Griscom

Author:Susan Griscom [Griscom, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780615705972
Google: 2tnMMgEACAAJ
Publisher: Amber Glow Books
Published: 2012-10-15T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

A Compelling Revelation

Fog swept in from the ocean, and the room darkened as if some evil spirit loomed overhead, casting an eerie shadow where Gerry sat stupefied facing his father’s questioning stare. The gloomy weather had always suited him. Maybe that’s why he liked living along the Oregon coast.

Wife? Gerry opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it, not really knowing what to say. His pop wanted to know when his wife was due. Of course, he knew when the babies would come, but the word “wife” tied up his tongue like it was an old knotted shoelace. Would Maia want to be his wife? Would she even consider marrying him?

“Gerry? Are you okay? You seem a little pale. When’s the last time you ate?” Reaching across the sofa, his father flipped a switch on the wall. The lights below the fan in the middle of the ceiling brightened the room and he noticed the faint lines at the corners of his dad’s eyes as he handed Gerry the bowl of nuts. “Here, have some. You want a sandwich?”

“Nah, I’m fine. I uh … the babies are due August seventh, or there abouts.”

“And your wife, when did you get married and what’s her name?”

“Um … Pop?”

“Yeah? What’s wrong?”

“I’m not married … we’re not married, Maia and me. Her name is Maia.”

“Not married? I don’t understand. You get some poor girl that way and you don’t marry her? And she’s okay with that? I didn’t raise you not take responsibility for your actions.”

Gerry scratched his head. “No. No. It’s not like that.”

“Then tell me, what is it like?”

“I love her. She loves me. I am taking responsibility. I’m there supporting her every step of the way. I … we … never talked about marriage.” Why did he suddenly feel like a high school kid, confessing his promiscuous sins to his father after getting some girl pregnant? Maia and he were definitely not high school age and he’d never really thought marriage was necessary.

“I suggest you get to talking, boy. Before that baby is born.”

“Babies.”

“What?”

“Babies. They’re twins.”

“Twins, huh? Well, I’ll be a son of a bitch.” Gerry thought he detected a slight twitch in his dad’s lips before he swiped the smirk away with the back of his hand and said, “Christ, Gerry, what’s gotten into you? Bringing a baby or uh, babies into this world without being married … I guess I’m just old fashioned. Even though your ma and I split shortly after, you were legitimate at least.”

Gerry wasn’t sure how he felt now about the fact that his parents divorced shortly after he was born. He’d never known, and considering she’d left anyway, what did it matter? “Marriage just never came up.”

“What? Why not?”

“I never thought about it. I’m surprised you feel this way. You never had anything nice to say about my mother … she left and … fuck, I’m an idiot.”

“You said this woman, uh, Maia, is in love with you?”

“Sure … I … yes.

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