AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I was fighting very hard to defend Claire. Heaven knew she was much more complicated than that. But she was the love of my life, so I had to defend her as much as possible so that my family didn't look at her wrongly.
"Alright, son. You know you're my favorite chap, and your Dad would like me to always look out for you, no matter how old you are."
I gave a slight smirk and played my turn. I had won the game, and Andy gave me a disappointed, disgruntled look. He laughed at me for winning and told me he would win the next game. I didn't mind. I was game, no matter what.
Later that day, I was at Claire's house when Will got back from school. He must have been happy to see that the family members were gone, but he didn't seem so impressed to see me at Claire's home. I had locked the front door, so he had come over to get the keys.
I noticed that Will started to grow a little bit distant from me. He avoided me a lot more and only came back home in the evening when he would place his headphones on his ears all day, listening to the latest music there was.
Initially, I thought it was a slight blip, but it got more obvious by the day. At a point, even Claire noticed that we were not as close as before again. Although I didn't know what caused it, I felt he was just getting a little more mature. I refused to think he was angry because of my relationship with Claire. I expected him to be able to deal with that, especially at his age.
"What's wrong between you and your son? It seems as if there is a little problem between you too."
"No, I think he is just a little busier and more mature. He is growing up to be a strong man, so I'm willing to wait till he is one. Maybe this is part of the process. I grew distant from my parents as I grew older too."
"Yes. But Jonah, this is different. This is about me too, I think."
I didn't like the sound of that. It was only bound to end in an argument.
"It's not only about you, babe. Will might just be going through things you don't know about. So don't conclude that fast. It may not even be about you at all."
"Okay, but I still feel you should sit him down and talk to him. If I'm going to be your wife, then we have to make him accept me as his mother. That's what I genuinely want."
She had a point, but she didn't seem to know that it was different. Will had to accept her himself. I could not coerce him to like her as much as I wanted. He was a human being with feelings of his own.
"What should we do then?" I asked.
"Can I talk to him? Would he grant me rapt attention and audience? He seems to hate me so much that he can't stand me! It's sad!"
"I don't think he feels that way, Claire. He's just a young chap who can't get to grips with the fact that his mother had left, and that his father is about to finally remarry. He may not like you yet, but he will grow to if you show him that you are a good person."
"So I can call him, then? Or we can just schedule a meet-up since we don't live far from each other?
"You know what? Claire, let's just chill a bit. I will talk to him and make him talk to you. Maybe then, you both can get to know each other better and finally like each other a bit."
"Okay, I'm cool with that!" She said. I laughed and kissed her again. She was such a beautiful treat and I could hardly resist her.
Later that day, I called Will and asked him why he had been behaving weirdly lately.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I thought you didn't have time for me, so I decided to give you enough space to be with her."
"Does it bother you that I spend time with her? You're my son, and you are the most important person to me. She is pregnant with my child. She needs a lot of attention at this time, especially from me."
"Okay, Dad. I understand you."
I said nothing and then he turned to go.
"When will you have time, son? Claire wants to speak to you. She feels there is a lot she has to tell you, and I think you should honor her."
"Dad. I don't want to talk to her. But you have asked, and now I can't refuse. I will talk to her soon, Dad."
"How about this evening?"
A little hesitation.
"Okay, Dad. No problem."
Claire was glad when I told her that Will was willing to see her. She met him that evening, and I stayed a little distance from them so I could give them privacy. But I watched them from afar, regardless.
