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10
Mikal
I looked at Trisha who sounded happy, but her eyes said otherwise. Something was troubling her. Maybe this dinner with Carson and Dottie wasn’t a good idea after all. I leaned over and whispered, “Is everything okay?”
She nodded. “Yes. Just thinking about my son.”
“Did you need to go home? I’m sure they’ll understand,” I said.
Dottie chimed in. “What will we understand?”
I sighed. I should’ve known better than to even whisper around Dottie. It was like she had some sort of super hearing, or a sixth sense that could home in when someone was talking about her. I’d picked on her many times over it and she said it’s called a mother’s hearing. When things are quiet, that’s when you listen intensely. That’s great, but she shouldn’t use it when out on a double date, especially if we’re the other couple.
Even though Dottie was trying to act oh so innocently, I knew better. I was just going to be a gentleman, and not call her out on it. Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow. But I still wanted to get Trisha alone, because she wasn’t being herself right now.
Hoping Dottie would get the hint, I replied, “If we left the two of you to have dessert on your own.”
Trisha once again forced a smile at me, which was driving me nuts. Then she said, “I’m okay. We can stay for dessert.” Turning her attention to Dottie she added, “Mikal mentioned that I might have taught your children years ago.”
“Yes. My two boys, Robert and Richard. They are the oldest and we sent them to private school when we could still afford it,” Dottie stated.
That was a dig at me, I’m sure. But in the early years of my career, I wasn’t making a hell of a lot of money either. I paid Carson what I could afford. Hell, at one point I was even living out of my car and never told anyone about it. It didn’t matter. I was alone and focused on making a name for myself in the business. Which eventually panned out and by my mid-thirties this so-called hobby turned into a very lucrative career, and I compensated Carson what I considered, more than fairly.
I looked at Trisha and couldn’t help but think back to those early years and how horrible it would’ve been for her if she’d been with me. She’d have been stuck at home while I chased my dreams. Thankfully she had Ben back then and raised a family. During our drives back to her house, we spoke a lot about our lives. From what she told me it sounded like she had the life she had wanted, even though it got cut short. A life she never could’ve had with me. We weren’t meant to have met when we were younger. But the timing for us feels right. Or at least I thought so. I just need to figure out what is troubling her.
“Hopefully they weren’t as rambunctious in school as they were at home,” Carson said to Trisha “They made travelling all the time all the more enjoyable.”
Dottie gave him a slap on the arm. “Carson, that is a horrible thing to say about your own children. It’s true, but you shouldn’t say it.”
I chuckled. “It’s his fault. Your boys are just like him.”
Carson looked shocked, but Dottie nodded. Carson raised his hands in surrender, and Dottie gave her victory grin.
“You have a son too, don’t you Trisha?” Dottie asked.
“Yes, I do. His name is Kevin.”
“That’s right. I remember during one of the parent teachers’ meetings you had mentioned him. I think you were excited because he was potty trained. Oh, I remember those days. I couldn’t wait for no more diapers either.” Trisha nodded her agreement. “Kevin’s several years younger than our crew, so I don’t think they know each other,” she sighed. “How about grandchildren?” she asked.
Oh great. Here comes the inquisition.The problem with that was I couldn’t predict where her line of questions would go next.
Trisha replied, “I learned earlier today that I’m going to be a grandmother in December.”
I was happy for her, but still, I looked at her in surprise. Why didn’t she look happier about that? It was a question for later. At least I thought it would be. Dottie had picked up on it too and hopped all over it.
“Is everything okay with the baby? Because you don’t look excited,” she said.
She shrugged and replied, “I am. It’s just that Kevin is overseas at the moment and sometimes I feel so…disconnected from what’s happening. His wife traveled to be there with him about two years ago. I just wish I was closer so I could help them when the babies are born.”
“Babies?” Dottie asked.
Even I picked up on that word.
Trisha nodded. “Kevin told me they are having triplets. I can’t even imagine how they are going to do that without help. I mean, if they lived closer, I could go by each day and give Kimberly a break. That’s his wife.”
I could see the sadness in her and I wanted to take her in my arms and let her know that I was there for her. That she wasn’t alone. But it’s her family that she’s missing, yearning to be with, not me. And a family is something I never had, and never will.
At times like this I wasn’t sure if I regretted not having one, or grateful because not only can they bring you joy, but also heartache, like what I’m witnessing now.
