Until You Mean It

Chapter 17: Cheater

His smile faltered. "I live in California now," he mumbled.

I wasn't sure if I had heard right. If I did it would mean that my dad didn't reach out to me even when he moved to California. I asked again, clenching my fist, hoping to God I hadn't heard right.

He rubbed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his temple. "I've been living in California for two months now. I know I haven-

I stumbled a few feet back, gripping the table behind me for support. A waiter crashed to the floor along with the tray of champagne glasses he was carrying, bringing the whole place to silence.

Tears began to roll down my face. But as they came, I quickly wiped them away. There was no point trying to compose myself. Most persons were already looking on with confused but curious looks.

I ignored them and looked at him through my blurred vision. "Why didn't you tell me?" I croaked.

His face crumbled.

"I got mar-ried," he stuttered, stepping forward to hold me at the same time I stepped back.

"Don't touch me!" I screamed. He flinched at my rage. "You didn't think your own daughter would have liked to know you were getting married two months, TWO MONTHS after you divorced mom?"

"I'm so-"

"Honey you're causing a scene," a very much pregnant woman whispered, interrupting us.

My eyes narrowed in slits as I turned to the voice. Who does she think she is? But what I saw would definitely decrease my love for my father forever.

I gasped as I felt pain vibrating through my chest, dropping in the nearest chair. My hands shook as I pointed at the pregnant woman. "Is that your wife?"

Tears were running down his face. He was pleading with his eyes that I would forgive him one day. He held his head down.

"Yes."

I sobbed, unable to hold it back. "You were cheating on mom?" I whispered

The whole room gasped.

He suddenly looked alarmed. "What?! Of course not!"

I laughed with mock humor. "How dare you lie to my face!" I hit the table out of anger and he jumped. I looked at his wife with disdain."Unless she's an elephant she's damn ready to have your baby!"

His face flushed with anger. "Watch your language young lady! I am still your father," he roared.

I smiled mockingly. "You're not my father anymore."

He held his hands up.

"I can explain everything. Just give me a chance. We can go back to my place and-

"Ken," the woman whispered painfully. He instantly whipped his head around, without sparing me another glance. "I- think- my water just broke." She gasped in pain.

It was chaos after that. No one remembered the confrontation that was occurring only mere seconds ago. People were running around offering their assistance while some tried to call the ambulance.

I stood paralyzed as the crowd swallowed me up. My chest constricts. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move, I was stuck as the sea of my fears engulfed me. I collapsed as the light went out.

"Miss?" Someone was shaking me awake. I reluctantly opened my eyes to see a man looking at me with concern.

"What happened?" I sit up as he hand me a glass of water. I tentatively sipped the water as I waited for his response.