“Dad, stop fucking running your hand through your hair, relax, or mom will know something’s up.”

“So you’re speaking to me?”

“Yeah, I want some answers. How the fuck could you do this to her? Look at that beautiful woman in there. Tell me she’s deserving of this? I said look at her,” my voice now hardened like my heart. “I’m not going to freak out on you and yell like I did at the station, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still upset.”

“I understand, Cove. And believe me, I’m ashamed and have been full of anxiety since it happened.”

“You mean since I found out.”

“No, since it happened years ago.”

“Then why the fuck didn’t you do anything about it? You ignored both Kaitlyn and Ivy. Jesus, I couldn’t imagine leaving someone high and dry like that... walking away from a woman and a child.” I look back at Sophia then at my father. “I guess I’m still naive about shit like this, even after everything I’ve been through. I’ve done some hellish things in my life...”

“Yes, like hit your wife,” my father cuts in, attempting to defend himself in some odd way.

“What the hell are you talking about? I’d never hit Sophia.”

“Your mother told me you did when the two of you first met.”

“That’s bullshit. It was a mistake, and I caught myself mid-swing. And, it’s been one of the biggest regrets of my life, besides, this conversation isn’t about me, it’s about you.”

“I took you to the place where you were headed. Everyone regrets something, son. You can’t go through life without making mistakes.”

“Bullshit again. I see what you’re doing. I fucked up, and you fucked up, and so everything’s okay? Let me remind you that I grew up watching Paul Jameson beat the shit out of people, he was in my life more than you were. He wasn’t the best role model, Dad.”

“And that’s your excuse... so here’s mine.”

“No, fuck that. Don’t tell me you have an excuse for this and compare my actions to yours. This is different. Fuck!” I pace and mimic the hand through the hair reaction that we both do so well. “Why are you being a dick? I wanted to speak to you calmly about everything, and you’re making me furious. Just answer my questions.”

“I’m trying to prove a point and make amends, and the only way I can think to do so is to make you realize that no one’s perfect. I screwed up and I’m sorry. The mistakes you’ve made and how they eat away at you is exactly how I feel, and I need you to understand that.”

“Goddammit. You’re playing mind games and changing the subject, and I don’t like it. You’ve never treated me like this before.”

“Cove,” he pauses and grips my arm to halt my back and forth strut on the terrace.

“One last chance,” I whisper. “And then this conversation is over for today. I don’t want to be upset during our meal. Not in front of Sophia and Mom.”

“I’m going to try and fix it now. I’ll repair the past. It’s the only thing I can do. I set up a time to meet with Kaitlyn, and she’s going to bring Ivy along so we can talk.”

“Like one big happy fucking family, right?”

“That’s not fair.”

“No, this isn’t fair, is it?” I watch my mother as she finishes setting the table and Sophia waves us inside. My heart pounds from our conversation, but also because of the announcement Sophia and I are about to make. I need to chill out and remember what’s important. My emotions are erratic. Excited and joyful one minute, yet angry and unforgiving the next. And there it is, Haverty’s voice popping into my head once again. Grow some balls, shitbag.

I sigh and walk to the door, longing for an escape I know I’ll never find. I turn and stare into my father’s eyes, searching for something... any kind of emotion that will lead me to forgive him. I see nothing as he gazes past me with an eye on my mother. Pain and regret, maybe, but he’s been hard to read lately. His face is drawn and wrinkled. I can tell he hasn’t slept, and I swear he’s aged a good ten years overnight.

“I told your mother about everything last night,” he whispers. “She said she already knew.”

He walks inside and I stand with my back to them, my jaw on the ground, watching the city come alive as nightfall is upon us. How does she know?

“Hey,” Sophia’s voice startles me as she sets her fingers on my shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah. A little rattled, but fine.” I place my hand on hers and pull her before me. “You mean the world to me Soph. I’ll never hurt you again.”

“Don’t make promises you know you’ll never be able to keep,” she replies in a playful tone, and yet I know she’s being serious as well.

“I can keep this one. You know I’m still pained thinking back to when we first met, when I slapped you. It was one of the worst days of my life.”

“You’ve had a lot of bad days, Babe. And I forgave you for that a long time ago. If it happened again I wouldn’t be here right now, you know that. I would’ve left.”

“Yeah, I know. But I’m still angry with myself...”

“Listen, if I recall correctly, I hit you too. Right?” she says.

“That doesn’t count.”

“Why? Because I’m a woman? Anyway, I don’t think we should ever talk about this again. Leave it behind. We have much better, and bigger, things going on in our lives right now,” she winks.

I give her a hug and watch as my mother gives my father a kiss. How long has she known about this? How can she kiss him?

“Women are in such a higher class than men. More sophisticated and fucking finer in all ways.”

She laughs and pulls me inside with flushed cheeks and cheerful eyes. “Ha, don’t ever forget it!”

I think her nausea has calmed down and it’s so nice to see her bubbly and excited about something. Now I think I know why she’s been so nice to me over the past week. It’s all about the baby.

We join my parents at the dining room table and my father toasts to calmer and happier days ahead. My mother places a roasted chicken breast on each of our plates, and we take turns passing bread and vegetables around the table.

My heart races in anticipation and I’m a sweaty mess. I whisper my plan in Sophia’s ear and she nods.

“The two of you are glowing today.” My mother flashes a big smile as she studies our faces.

“Sundays are good for recuperating after four long days at the Scarlett,” I say.

“Three of which you missed,” my father reminds me.

“Yes, I know. Sophia was there every day and I had other... anyway, we had a pleasant afternoon in the pool and were able to relax for once.”

I excuse myself and walk to the kitchen, take an extra plate from the cabinet, and put it between Sophia and myself. My parents continue their conversation with her, commenting on the humid weather and heavy rains we’ve had. They fail to notice that I’ve fixed a fifth plate of food. I stand a second time, take one of the extra chairs set against the wall, and place it between us.

Sophia and I lean back with our fingers interlaced and wait. I can tell by my father’s face that he gets it right away, but my mother takes a second longer.

“Cove, honey,” she looks at the plate, then at the empty chair. “What are you... do you need...”

“Mother, someone has decided to join us this evening for dinner,” I say with a huge grin as Sophia laughs.

“Oh my God!”

I’ve never seen my mother move so fast in her life. She jumps up and races around the table to give Sophia a hug, then hugs me, then Sophia again. With tears of joy in her eyes, she runs out of the room on an obvious mission. I shrug and wait.

My father stands and gives us both a hug while my mother flies back into the room. She takes a seat across from us with shaky hands, and opens a sheet of paper.

“Okay, you two. Number one, Wendell. Wendell Everton.”

“Mother, please. We have our own names for the baby.”

“Wendell?” Sophia laughs. “I’m sorry, I’m not naming my child Wendell. And what if it’s a girl? Wendell’s not a very feminine name.”