Chapter 16
“Sky, I told you, now or never!” Tim
hissed.
“I know! But i can’t Tim, I’m
afraid...” I said, tears welled up in my eyes.
“God, damn...Look, he’s now packing
his stuff for the tour and you only have three more hours to explain
everything!”
“Why don’t we postpone it till after
he comes back?” i suggested.
“NO WAY SKY!!! You’re gonna do this,
whether you like it or not, i don’t care! You have no other chance than this.
Haven’t you realized that he’s the happiest man alive since he heard he’s gonna
be dad again?!”
“And grandad.” I added.
“My God! Tim i can’t do this-“
“BUT YOU HAVE TO!” he cried. He sighed
and slumped down on my bed right next to me and held my hand. “Look, i know
it’s not easy but we both know that you have to do this Skylar. Wouldn’t you
want him to see your navel when he comes back, would you?”
I just looked down, couldn’t have the
urge to speak.
“I don’t believe you.” He said
unbelivably when he understood my answer.
“I can’t do it Tim, i can’t! Why don’t
you at least once try to understand me?! I’m not that strong or brave to do
that. Besides, he’ll kill me!!” i yelled.
Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist and
dragged me outside my room and towards to my dad’s room. I tried so hard to
rescue my arm but he was five times stronger than me.
He knocked on his door, then poked his
head inside. Without releasing my wrist, he kept talking with my dad, asking
him if he had some free time to talk about an important situation. And as
expected, he did have. I groaned inwardly while Tim dragged me inside the room.
Vanessa was also there, helping my dad packing his stuff.
“What do you two wanna talk about? I
guess it’s something important.”
“Well, actually Uncle Nicky, Skylar
has something to tell, or call it confess...” Tim told, throwing the ball at
me.
“In fact dad, there’s some important
stuff Tim needs to explain to ya, y’know what i mean.” I continued throwing the
ball back at him, added with an evil look of mine.
“Alright, what do you BOTH wanna
explain to me?” my dad was getting impatient which also meaned getting angry.
“Hey Vanessa, let’s leave father and
daughter alone.” Tim said. “y’know private things.” He winked at me and with
Vanessa, he left us alone in the room.
I had lost. There we go.
My dad took my hand and ushered me
towards his bed, we sat down next to each other. He squeezed my hand between
his’ and spoke sweetly:
“What’s the real deal you want to
explain darlin’?” For the last time i looked deep into his baby blue eyes
because i was sure they’d turn into ice pieces after i opened my mouth.
“To be honest dad, I didn’t really
wanna explain it to ya but...but in one way or another, you’re gonna learn
this.” I sighed and looked at his face. He’d focused on my words, and he was
studying my face carefully. The expression on his face gave me the creeps.
“I want it to be short and quick.” I
continued. “Dad, i’m pregnant.”
After i unfolded my secret, i closed
my eyes waiting for his not-gonna-be-so-good respond.
“You’re looking a lot like your mother
day by day.” He said almost in a whisper.
Being astonished, i opened my eyes and
looked at him uncomprehendingly. Where were the yellings? Insulting words? What
about the furious looks? And...he was talking about my mother!
I didn’t say anything hoping he’d
continue.
“She was the most beautiful girl i’ve
ever seen in my life...she was everything i wished for; talented, beautiful,
clever, sweet, funny, romantic, everything...you have her face with every
detail...eyes, nose, mouth...” he was examining my face with his fingers. His
face had beamed with past happy memories.
“I’ve never wanted it to happen like
that....but did i have a chance? I was at first mad at her for leaving us like
this. It made me completely mad, i even wanted to get rid of you. But what i
did really want was to make her face this situation and whether she liked it or
not that you were her child also. I couldn’t believe she was the same woman i
once fell in love with. After all we’d been through together, she had the heart
to leave us all alone...” his hands collapsed on his laps and he took a deep
sigh. Tears had welled up in his eyes.
But...wasn’t my mother just a
one-night-stand? Then...was it all a lie? And what was the truth?
“Dad, please tell me the truth...” i
started numbly. “Who’s my mother and where’s she right now?”
Timidly, he looked at me, taking
another deep sigh.
“I guess it’s time for you to learn
who she is.” He stopped and held my hand as he never wanted to let me go. He
was pleading with his eyes.
“It’s so hard for me to unfold a
secret kept hidden for so long. What i learned is that you can’t keep something
hidden for a long time...” he took another deep breath. “Her name’s Elizabeth
Petterson, and..she must be 34 i guess...” his voice cracked.
“Have you ever seen her?” i asked and
he shook his head as a no.
“I haven’t seen her for 17 years. I’d
seen her once in the street, you were just one years old. When she realized who
i was, she quickly changed her way. I tried to follow her but i lost her. Since
then, i’ve been having a never-lasting wrath towards her. That’s why i’ve never
wanted you to know a person as heartless as her.” A cold thrill went down my
spine. He was mentioning his old love as heartless. Wasn’t it a drama?
“Uncle Brian had once told me that she
was just a one-night-stand....” i started.
“No, no she wasn’t. It was just a lie.
To keep you away from discovering her. We’d been together like...for 7 months
or something....” he told.
“How did you meet?” I asked getting
excited. I was pleased to learn more about my father’s youth, apart from what i
read in articles.
He let out a small laugh before
speaking.
“It was December 15th. I
was just 16 and Eliza was Brent’s girlfriend’s best friend. I’d just got back
from touring Europe and to be two couples, Brent’s girlfriend had invited her.
She was soo cute with her sparkling baby blue eyes and dark brown hair...we
also had got along really well. At the end of the night i asked her out and we
started dating. What i had first liked about her was that she’d not fainted or
screamed when she learned who i was. I was delighted, cuz those days we were
really popular in Europe and every girl i tried make a conversation with would
want to go out with me or sleep with me. They were looking for popularity with
me. But Elizabeth was very different than any other girl. But our love lasted
in 7 months. She got pregnant and left me...also you.” Tears had welled up in
his eyes again. I felt a sudden urge to solace him. I held his hand and sqeezed
it.
“I’m here for you dad. I’ll never
leave you alone.”
He looked at me with inquistive eyes.
I needed to add:
“Also, you’re not that old to be
alone, you have friends, Vanessa, me and you’re gonna have a child soon.”
“You too.” He said softly.
I looked down. What was i supposed to
say right now? Luckily he continued.
“You may probably be wondering why i
didn’t shout at you or ground you...How can i? Since this was something
happened to me also.” I just nodded.
“Now it’s my turn to ask questions.”
He said half smiling. “Does Chris know that you’re pregnant?”
“Yeah, in fact he had discovered it
first. I was always throwing up in the mornings and stuff...” i explained.
“And i didn’t realize it...What kind
of dad i am?” he asked himself. “I’m so sorry darlin’ for not taking enough
care of you. And now I won’t be able to help my daughter when she needs me the
most.” He told forlornly.
“Dad...this is your job, you have to
go and don’t worry, Chris can take care of me and also Vanessa.”
“That’s why this morning he mentioned
working...” my dad thought outloud.
“He doesn’t want you to think it’s all
his fault. He wants to show you that he truly loves me and will always be with
me no matter what.” I told proudly.
“Will you marry him?”
This question shocked me a bit. I’d
never really thought about marriage and still I was sure we were both too young
for it. Maybe after I finished college and started working...
When i explained these thoughts to
him, it didn’t take me long to notice the sparkles in his eyes.
***
