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To my relief, Ethan is discharged in the next hour and I’m glad to be strapping him into his car seat and driving home.
“You want me to grab us pancakes?” I ask, glancing into the rear-view mirror.
He’s awake and though he’s looking pale, the doctor assures me that he’s okay. He needs to take a regular pain reliever and lots of fluids. He hasn’t spoken a word since he cried last night, but I’m happy that he felt able to call for me when he needed me the most. I hold it close to my heart and see it as a sign that he’s recovering. Slow progress is still progress at the end of the day.
In the mirror, he nods his head. He’s cuddling his bear and manages to give me a little smile. He has a big sticker on his pajama top declaring him a brave boy for being so good at the hospital.
I grin and then turn left, heading towards the café where we’ve made our Saturday morning pancake spot. The smile is knocked off my face as I pull into the parking lot and I see Lily’s car. Shouldn’t she be at work right now? I spot her in the outside seating area, talking to a man I don’t recognize. My heart skips a beat and thoughts of insecurity and doubt surge through me. Who is that man? Why haven’t I seen him before? Is this why she hasn’t been answering the phone? As the thoughts whirl in my head, a nagging realization creeps in. Lily hasn’t been completely truthful with me.
The thought of her hiding something from me is hurtful and makes me angry and afraid. Trust is the foundation of a real relationship and right now I feel betrayed as if our relationship is not sincere. How could she have kept secrets from me? I have been living in a fantasy, oblivious to the truth. I’ve opened up to Lily about Sarah and shared my vulnerabilities. I let myself fall in love with her and it turns out our relationship was built on lies. Now it feels like a knife is twisting in my chest. How could she have deceived me?
My hands tighten on the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white with the intensity of my emotions. I feel a lump forming in my throat, making it difficult to find the right words. But I can’t let this fester within me; I need to go and talk to Lily. I need to find out what’s going on.
I pull into a space and then grab Ethan from the back, carrying him on my hip as I walk over to my girlfriend. I look down at her and then toward the man sitting opposite her.
“I’ve been calling you all morning,” I say, ignoring the guy completely. “I thought you were at work?”
My voice is strained, a mix of frustration and concern. I watch Lily’s eyes widen as she turns her attention to me, realizing the weight of my accusation. The man sitting across from her shifts uncomfortably, clearly unsure of how to react to the sudden tension.
Lily’s voice trembles slightly as she tries to find her words. “Blake, I…I didn’t expect to see you here. I…I can explain.”
Her response only fuels my frustration. I take a deep breath, attempting to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me.
“Explain? Then explain why you’re here with someone I’ve never seen before. Explain why you haven’t answered my calls.”
Lily’s gaze shifts between me and the man, her face a mixture of confusion and concern.
“Blake, this is Matthew. He’s…he’s Emma’s father.”
My heart sinks as her words register. Emma’s father. I hadn’t considered the possibility of him re-entering her life. The realization dawns on me, and I feel a sense of guilt wash over me for jumping to conclusions without knowing the full story. Still, I’ve been up all night and the exhaustion and all the emotions from the hospital weigh heavily on me, making it difficult to completely let go of my guarded stance.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were meeting?” I ask, my voice softer this time, laced with a touch of vulnerability. “Why keep it a secret?”
Lily’s eyes glisten with unshed tears and I can sense her worry and frustration.
“He only just called me last night. I thought I’d talk with him this morning and then we could talk together about it once I had a better idea of what he wanted.”
Emma’s father is looking confused watching us.
“Wait. Who is this guy?” he asks Lily. “Why are you being like that with her?” he demands looking at me aggressively.
“I’m her boyfriend,” I snap. I don’t have time for this guy. I’ve heard the horror stories and I have no patience for him.
“There’s no need to be rude, pal,” Matthew says, glaring at me.
“Forgive me if I’m not in the mood for pleasantries, but I suspect you’re the reason she’s been ignoring me.”
He’s taken aback by my response, his confusion morphing into a mix of surprise and realization. He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off, my frustration getting the better of me.
“I don’t have time for this,” I assert, my tone firm. I turn back to Lily. “I’ve spent the entire night at the hospital with Ethan. I’ve been trying to reach you to let you know what’s been happening.”
Lily’s ex-boyfriend’s expression shifts, his eyes widening at my confrontational tone. At the news, Lily looks horrified and stands, immediately reaching for Ethan. He holds his hands out and lets her take him instead. Matthew glances at Lily, his gaze filled with a mix of concern and realization as he watches her fuss over Ethan.
“I…” He looks between us. “I had no idea about the hospital. I just wanted to talk to Lily about Emma. That’s all. She told me she wasn’t seeing someone. It isn’t like that.”
My anger towards him starts to ease. I assumed, from what Lily has told me that he was a terrible person but my reaction to why he was there was based on limited information. I have a right to be worried but if he’s just trying to make plans to see Emma, then he has a right to do that. We’ve all been caught off guard by the events that have unfolded.
“Look, I’m happy you want to talk about Emma. But now isn’t a good time. We can discuss this later,” I say firmly, my focus on Lily and Ethan. “Right now, Ethan needs our attention.”
