Fortitude

Chapter 10: Meet The Father

Song that inspired me to write this chapter:

Enough For Now - The Fray

Valerie's POV

The day has gone by quickly. It's almost time for dinner.

Tyler and I haven't spoken to each other since the fight this morning. I hated this, I hated fighting with him, but he wouldn't listen to me.

He was angry and disappointed, but he couldn't say no to Angie.

She wants to meet her real father, it's her right, and depriving her from that right would be unfair and simply cruel. 

I wouldn't lie, I was nervous.

All I can hope for was that the dinner goes smoothly, and that Angie likes Jakes.

Tyler hopes the dinner's over already, and of course he'd never admit it, but I know that he secretly hopes Angie doesn't like Jake.

And I can't really blame him, can I?

What he feels is normal, I just thought that with his parents dead after the tragic accident, he would understand the importance of Angie getting to know and liking Jake, even if he isn't  gonna be in her life all that much.

After all, he left me to deal with the pregnancy on my own, and he refused to take responsibility, which means he abandoned Angie. It was only fair he paid for what he did, that means he would get to know her, but we wouldn't let it go further than that.

At least that is something we both agree on, Tyler and I.

Maybe Tyler is right about Jake not deserving to meet Angela, or to even be forgiven for what he did.

But I believe he is truly sorry, and I believe   everyone deserves a second chance, and if I were him, I'd be heartbroken to know I could never meet my daughter.

And I would hate the people who kept me from seeing her.

Once everything's ready, the food nicely set on the table, I sit in the living room, as Tyler starts  pacing back and forth, running his hand through his hair.

He's been doing that a lot lately, it's a nervous habit of his.

Angela's still upstairs, playing with her dolls in her bedroom.

Ty and I have told her to stay up there until we call her to come down and meet Jake.

I start biting my nails, my leg bouncing up and down nervously.

The doorbell finally rings and Ty rushes to open the door before I can even stand up.

He doesn't say a word to Jake, he just stands  there, glaring at him.

Jake is holding a small box wrapped in a pink ribbon.

I rush to the door, stepping before Tyler, and smile at our guest.

"Hi, Valerie. Tyler," he says, nodding politely.

"Hello, come on in."

Once inside, he looks around curiously, probably looking for a sign of Angela.

I realize he's still holding the box awkwardly, so I take it from him, looking at it curiously.

"What is this?" I ask, shaking it.

"Oh, this is a little something for Angela. I haven't had the chance to tell you this yet, but I really love the name you've chosen for her." he smiles at me.