We Just Need Us (Second Generation Book 5)

Chapter 10

CLEMMY

Robbie and I stood in silence as he stared at the picture of Vivienne. I wasn’t too sure what to say at that moment. Sure, the answer to his question was a simple yes, but it was so much more complicated. I probably had this conversation in my head so many times, but I wasn’t prepared for him to be standing in my living room with our daughter in the next room.

“When did you find out?” Finally, he breaks the silence. “Did you know that last time that we talked?” He asks in an accusatory way.

“It was a few weeks after you broke off all the communication with me. I realized that I had missed my period. I was hoping it was just the stress of the summer and missing you, but not it at all.”

“And her name is Vivienne?” He double-checks the picture frame that has her name and birthdate on it.

I nod my head. “Vivienne Carter. She has a million variations of her name though. Viv, Vivi, V...you name it, we probably call her that.”

“It’s a beautiful name. God, she’s so beautiful.”

“She really is.”

“I’m so fucking confused. We only slept together once, Clementine and I wore a condom. I just….”

“I’m not sure what you’re insinuating right now, Robbie, but if you’re wondering if I was fucking around with guys days after you left, the answer is no.”

“Fuck, no I didn’t mean it to come out like that. I’m just….I’m bewildered and I have a million questions. Does everybody in the town know that she’s mine?”

“I would assume so. Nobody ever straight up asked me who the dad was. They all knew we were together and then you left. Then I started showing up around town sporting a baby bump and I guess they all just put two and two together I mean, some of the kids in school were dicks, but I don’t think they actually thought I didn’t know who the father was, I think they were just being assholes.”

Robbie puts the photo back up on the shelf and runs his hands through his hair. “I’m so sorry, Clemmy. Had I known...things would have been different, I swear.”

“See that’s what I’m having a hard time figuring out. The day I found out I was pregnant, I went straight to your parent’s place to ask them for your contact information. Do you know what they told me?”

“You talked to my parents?” He looks shocked.

“Yes. I went there because I needed to tell you. I needed you to know. Even if we weren’t going to be together or whatever, I knew that you deserved to know. But your parents told me that you were focusing on your career and you didn’t need to deal with anybody in this town anymore.”

“You told them you were pregnant?”

“Oh, I did, and trust me that your mom was less than thrilled about that. From your questions and the look on your face I’m assuming that you didn’t know that little tidbit, did you?”

“I didn’t, Clementine, I swear. You have to believe me, I would have been there for you. I know that I was busy with shit and it wasn’t like I could quit and come back here, but I would have helped with money and been supportive in whatever way I could have.”

“Unforuntetaly we’ll never know because the second you were done with me you pushed me to the side and ignored me. I guess I was never a thought in your mind again, was I?’

“That’s not true.”

“It isn’t? Because you’re clearly not deployed right now. Are you on leave or something? My number hasn’t changed in all these years, Robbie. If you still thought about me, if you still cared about me, you could have picked up the fucking phone.”