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“We were going to get married. That was before I caught her cheating, so obviously we broke up,” he said with a tone that revealed the immense pain he must have experienced. “But we haven’t seen each other since then.”
“So why did she suddenly show up now?” I asked, knowing there had to be more to the story. My heart started pounding in my chest as I noticed his expression becoming increasingly guarded.
Ethan took in a deep breath and sat up straight. “She had my child.”
“What?” I stood up instinctively, my mind struggling to fully grasp his words. The ashen look on his face struck me; he was not handling this news well. The news was shocking and it was hard to control my reaction, but I needed to calm down and be here to support him. I cleared my throat. “She had your child?”
“He’s five, and his name is Parker and I know he needs his father . . .” He shook his head. “I don’t know what to do, Olivia. I just don’t know.”
Ethan’s confusion mirrored my own. I knew I had to be there for him as he navigated this unexpected situation. Even if it meant I might end up alone in the process.
“That is shocking news to get. I think you just need time to absorb this new information, think it through, and then decide what you want to do,” I said, trying to sound calm and reassuring, hoping it would help him relax.
“I know, Olivia,” he said, resting his hand under his chin. “So, would you mind if I canceled our dinner for tonight?”
“No.” I shook my head, even though truthfully it was difficult to pretend I wasn’t disturbed by this revelation. I took a deepbreath. “I understand. Take the time you need. I’ll leave you to your thoughts.”
Ethan stood and pulled me into a hug. I released a breath of relief. “Thank you, baby.”
“Of course.” I smiled, color rushing to my cheeks. I raised my head and kissed him. “Take care of yourself and call me.”
The moment I left his office, a wave of cold reality washed over me, bringing me back to the reality of the situation. My boyfriend had a son and I knew there was no way I’d let him abandon his child even if he wanted to. He needed to be a part of his son’s life. But where did that leave me if he also wanted to be involved with his baby Mama?
Shaking the unsettling thoughts out of my mind, I decided to call Naomi and let her know I’d be joining them for dinner. I didn’t want to go home and brood all night; there was no way I could avoid it, but I needed some time to process everything that had just unfolded.
14
Ethan
Olivia’s absence spread a sudden chill through my body, leaving me alone with my thoughts and unable to figure out what to do. Talking to Olivia always brought me a sense of ease; I couldn’t bear hiding anything from her. I cared about her too much to do that. Damn it, I loved her.
Yes, I loved Olivia. There was no denying or pushing it back any longer. I was madly in love with her. But now that Jessica was back and I have a son, could we really have a chance together? Co-parenting was an option as I had always felt a child needed both parents in their life. Growing up sheltered by my own parents, I understood the importance of that for a child. I had witnessed how children from broken homes suffered emotionally. I don’t want my child to go through that.
So should I do the right thing and try to work things out with Jessica? Or should I follow my heart’s desire and stay with Olivia, while also co-parenting? As nice as the latter option sounded, I knew it would be challenging for all of us.
Feeling stuck in my current dilemma and unable to come up with a solution, I decided to call the one person I knew would always be there to help me: my mom.
“Ethan?” Mom’s voice sounded slightly confused on the other end of the line.
“Yes, Mom, it’s Ethan,” I replied, exhaling deeply.
“A call from you at 5:36 pm on a Wednesday? Something must be wrong,” Mom said, her tone immediately filled with concern. “What’s the matter?”
“Are you home?” I asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“I’m coming over.”
“I’ll see you soon,” she said.
I stood up and walked out of my office, leaving everything behind except my phone. The drive to my parents didn’t take too long.
When I walked into the house, my mother was waiting for me in the living room, two cups of tea sitting on the table. She enveloped me in a hug, her hazel eyes shining with surprise.
“It’s good to have you home, son,” she smiled and reached up and placed a kiss on my forehead. “Now, tell me what’s going on?”
“Jessica,” I began
