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"Rebecca, is Vayda okay?"
"I've kept quiet about this until now, Levi, but I'm done. It's time someone talked some sense into your head. What the fuck? When Vayda told me about you and Oakley, I laughed it off saying it was just a midlife crisis, but now I hear she's moved in with you. Vayda tells me this is serious? The worst part is, Vayda just told me she's happy to see you happy! What the hell are you thinking? Are you going to do diaper duty in your forties?" Rebecca's voice screeches over the phone grating on my nerves.
"Rebecca, I honestly don't see how this is any of your fucking business. You left your daughter and me when you had your early life crisis. And believe me, this is no crisis. I love Oakley. She's more of a partner to me than you ever were. I can't wait to do diaper duty with a wife who doesn't constantly complain about it."
"You know I had a rough time after Vayda's birth. Besides Oakley probably adheres to every stupid demand you make. Such a stupid girl," Rebecca says, using the same old excuse.
“Oakley isn’t a fucking puppet. She’s the love of my life. And what about when Vayda was a toddler, or in grade school? You’re the last person to judge what we’re doing. Have you ever told Vayda why you divorced me? Have you told her about the countless affairs?” A deadly silence settled between us. “You know what. I’ve moved on. I stopped blaming you for your choices a long time ago, maybe it’s time you stopped interfering with mine.”
“I don’t want Vayda to spend time with you when she’s there.”
I couldn't restrain the caustic laugh. "You can't stop her, Rebecca. We love her, and she's starting to realize we're still the same people. She's old enough to make her own choices anyway."
"She'll come to hate you," Rebecca warns. I glance into the waiting room and hear the receptionist calling out for Oakley.
“She won’t,” I say finally, hoping it’s true and end the call.
Within seconds, I’m beside Oakley as we step into the doctor’s office. I square my shoulders ready to defend my position in her life when or if I’m mistaken for her father, but the doctor doesn’t infer anything. She talks to Oakley and gently explains what is about to happen to her body along with a few do’s and don’ts. We’re finally shown into a small room where they do an ultrasound of the baby.
As soon as the little heartbeat gallops through the room, I know I’ve lost my heart to another child. A smile spreads across my face as I watch Oakley’s eyes widen with wonder. “Is that the baby’s or mine?”
The technician smiles. “That’s your baby.” She moves the wand around some more, taking measurements and pictures. “I’d say you’re about ten weeks along, but I’ll get you an exact due date in just a moment. We should be able to tell the baby’s gender with your next one though.”
I can see Oakley is enamored by the little fuzzy body moving on the screen. A tear slips down her cheek, and her gaze meets mine. My heart swells with so much love. I never thought I'd feel this way again.
Maybe wisdom came with age, or perhaps I wasn't the same person I was twenty years ago, but there is no doubt in my mind about what I want to do.
On the way home I tell Oakley about Rebecca's call. I want to shield her from Rebecca's judgment, but we're in this together, no secrets.
“I’m sorry she’s making this so hard for you,” Oakley says when I’m finished. I glance toward her and notice her eyes are still moist.
"Baby, is something wrong?" I ask, taking her hand in mine. Oakley sniffs and shakes her head. "Come on, you don't need to worry yourself about Rebecca's opinions."
Oakley laughs and shakes her head. "Levi, Rebecca is the last person I'm worried about. I just can't help but wonder how many friends you're going to lose over us. How many people are we going to lose in our lives?"
I squeeze her hand and press a kiss to her knuckles. "This isn't really about Rebecca, is it? This is about your parents? You'd like to tell them about today, you want to share this with them, and you feel you're no longer welcome there because of our relationship."
Oakley looks at me with a frown before a lopsided smile spreads on her face. “You don’t always have to read my thoughts, you know?”
“No I don’t, but I love knowing that I can.” I give her a reassuring smile. “Have you thought of ideas for the nursery? I was thinking a galaxy theme if it’s a boy and a meadow theme if it’s a girl.” I smile to myself on changing the subject so smoothly.
"I love those ideas!" Oakley gushes, and the tears start to fall again. These days I expect them. She cries at the drop of a hat.
"Well, why don't you make yourself a cup of tea and relax when we get home? I quickly need to head over to a client, but I won't be long."
Oakley nods and wipes her face with the back of her hand. “Even though things are perfect right now, I’m so happy. Even Vayda is starting to see that we really love each other. I never could’ve imagined that seeing you in the shower would’ve led to this. I want you to know that I don’t regret any of it. I love you.”
“Please, baby. One of us in tears is enough, if you keep going like that, I’ll be tearing up as well.” I fake a sniff and grin at her.
“Maybe you could take my mind off everything tonight?” Oakley encourages with a sultry smile, trailing a finger up my thigh.
It's amazing to have her in my house and in my bed without having to sneak out or worry about getting caught. My world felt right for the first time in years, and as soon as I dropped Oakley off at the house, I was going to make sure hers started feeling better as well.
I drive around the block a few times before I pull up to her parent's house. I take a deep breath and head for the front door. I knock on the blue door I've hardly ever used in all the years we've been neighbors, and Sarah opens the door with a confused look. "Levi?"
“Sarah, I’m sorry to bother you like this. But it’s time we talked.” Sarah sighs and nods before she lets me into the house. I follow her to the kitchen where John is having coffee at the kitchen table.
“What the fuck do you want? Was taking my daughter not enough?” John snaps as he stands up, thunder flashing in his eyes.
