The Reason

Chapter 2

Kate was woken by something jumping on her bed. When she opened her eyes she saw her daughter jumping happily in front of her.

"Good morning sweetie, what are you doing here?" she sat up and pulled her down into her lap.

"You said we would go to the zoo today, Mommy. Did you forget again?" Phoebe's face suddenly turned sad.

"No, sweetie I didn't forget. How I could forget something that involves you?" Kate reassured her then kissed her daughter on the cheek.

"Yay, is Grammy coming too?" she asked as her Daughter looked at her hopefully.

"Maybe if you call her honey, I am sure she will say yes if you ask her." She smiled at the five year old girl and put her daughter on her hip while taking her into the kitchen.

She sat her down on one of the bar stools and went over to the other side of the counter.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Kate asked looking in the refrigerator.

"Pancakes!" her daughter sprung up almost down from her chair.

"Okay, pancakes for the young lady, it is." She went to get a pan and some ingredients. She placed a pan with a bit of oil on the burner then mixed up the batter and made pancakes.

Kate hummed as she continued looking at her Daughter. She gave her Daughter the mixing spoon.

"That was yummy Mommy." Phoebe said licking the spoon.

She reminded Kate of another time when someone else was licking the spoon. The similarities were striking. Kate retrieved the spoon from her Daughter then got out the ice cream scoop. Kate remembered who taught her this trick.

Phoebe watched every move her mother was doing. She loved it during these rare occasions when her Mom was home and she didn't have to stay with her Grandparents. Of course she enjoyed the time with her Grams and her Grandpa but she wanted her Mommy too.

When they finished breakfast little Phoebe called her Grandma.

"Hi Grammy...Are you able to come to the Zoo?" Phoebe asked.

The voice on the other line responded.

"Hey Kiddo, the Zoo I would be delighted." her Grammy responded.

"Yay!" Phoebe said then handed the phone to Kate.

Kate made arrangements to meet her at the Zoo then she hung up.

Johanna of course said yes. She loved spending time with her Granddaughter and Daughter Kate thought it was a forgone conclusion.

/

While Kate's Daughter was running from exhibit to exhibit full of joy Kate was walking next to her Mother.

"Katie, what's up? You've been so quiet all day." Johanna knew something was wrong with her Daughter. She was very observant of her Daughter and knew her too well to not notice it.

"It's nothing." Kate replied trying avoiding the questioning look.

"It's not nothing, Kate. I know something is wrong so why don't you just tell me?" Johanna stopped her daughter knowing exactly what she was doing.

"I met him." Kate said with downcast eyes.

"Who...?" Johanna asked with much anticipation.

"Rick." Kate said with a finality about the word.

"Rick as in your boyfriend at College? Rick as in Phoebes father?" Johanna stands there with her jaw almost touching the ground.

"Yes, Rick as in Phoebes father, who I left when I found out I was pregnant and doesn't know he has a Daughter." Kate answered.

"Uhmm...Ahh...okay...What did you say to him?" Johanna asked using her skills as a litigator.

"Not much Mother I wanted to get away from him as soon as possible. But he kept asking me for my number. He wanted to talk about everything. Why I left? Why I didn't call? I mean everything! I don't know why but at the end I gave him my number. Maybe I want to talk about it too? I mean he does deserve to know he has a Daughter right? Or maybe it's better if he didn't know? He probably won't even want to know about her or see her." Kate rambled.

She was so confused that she didn't know what she was actually saying.

"Kate, calm down you are rambling." Johanna said putting her hands on Kate's shoulders. "First of all I think it's good you gave Rick your number. You have much to discuss as normal adults. Yes, he deserves to know he has a Daughter. I don't know Rick as well as you do. I do know about him and what you've told me he would be very loving toward her. He would never refuse to see her or want to be a Father to her. Of course he will be angry at you for not telling him. This is a big omission on your part. Kate, you have to face him. You need to tell him that he is the Father of your Five years old Daughter. He would never place what he felt toward you on her. He would do everything for his Daughter." Johanna pointed out.

"But what do I say when he calls? How am I supposed to tell him? Straight flat out that he has a Daughter with no preparation? I don't know what I should do now." Kate said worriedly.

"I suggest you answer those questions when he calls you. You can say you want to meet with him then try to explain everything at that point. Okay? There is no use worrying until that call is made. Darling Daughter rest assured what you have told me he will call." Johanna spoke trying to calm her Daughter down.

"You think that is going to work?" she asked her Mother.

"I am sure you will figure out what to do once it happens." Johanna said.

With those words the conversation was over and they continued their happy excursion through the zoo. There was three generations all enjoy spending time together.