The Switch

chapter 23

Erin

The entire time at my father's, his new wife did most of the talking. I'm not really sure I like her. I learned that she was very religious, and she played a major role in my father "changing" his ways. I also learned that they had been married for basically as long as my parents had been divorced. She also kept sneezing the entire time, my father later told me she's allergic to dogs, and that weirdly made me feel good. She talked a lot about forgiveness and my father earning my trust again, and how the switch Happening was all a part of God's plan. However, I was smart enough not to mention how if the switch didn't happen, there would be one less dead child in the world. I didn't think that would go over well. She did make a really good pot roast though, and Papa Frank quite enjoyed it as well. I know I expsecially enjoyed the look of horror on her face when she saw me give him a piece of it. I could tell she wanted to say something, but my father put his hand over her's and gave her a look. I translated that to mean "just let it go for now."

As we were leaving I over heard her tell my father in the porch that when I start coming over more, they're gonna have to set some ground rules. Which struck me as odd, so I made sure to ask him as soon as we got about a block away. "so what did she mean by, when I start coming over more?"

He glance over at me, "you know ease dropping is wrong."

I roll my eyes, "so is abandoning your child," He gives me unamused look, but sighs anyway.

"Im planning to file for joint custody, it's what I've mainly been talking to your mother about." Why wouldn't he have told me this before?

"You can't, I'm not biologically yours and you gave up any right to me when you divorced mom and didn't attempt for custody at all." I don't understand, he can't just decide he wants me all of a sudden, right?

"My lawyer says with the switch we can use it to argue that I didn't have all the facts. I wasn't able to make a proper decision because I thought your mother had cheated on me, now that I know that wasn't the case, we might have a chance of reversing the custody agreement." I feel like he's paraphraseimg for my sake, but it still made no real sense.

"What If I don't want to see you again?" I ask, mad that he just decided to be a part of my life again, and my mother and I were just supposed to allow that? What did he think, we'd just forget he wasn't there all this time?

"I think that after we spend more time together, you might feel differently. Kids need fathers, and I know I messed up before but I want to be here now." He explains, and his words almost sound rehearsed. I imagine he went over it with his wife, and she coached him on what to say.

"Why is it, that what you want is more important than the rest of us?" When I ask this he seems to not have an answer, "yeah, that's what I thought," I say quietly, part of me wishing he would have an answer for me. The rest of the ride went by in silence.

When he pulled up into the drive way I had barely gotten out of the car when the porch door flies open. "Erin Melody Jones, inside now!"

I freeze, she looked mad, worst then The time I broke the window in the old shed because I thought it'd be fun. "She was having dinner with me, it was my fault don't blame her." My father steps in, as he comes around to help papa Frank out of the car.

My mother's eyes light with angry when she looks at him. "You're lucky I don't press charges for kidnapping," she then looks back at me as my father hands me the leash. "And I already told you to get in the house, don't make me say it again.