No Time Left To Regret

Chapter 5

When we pulled up in front of Joe's parent's house, he looked at me and said, "I guess it's now or never."

I looked up at the house before turning back towards Joe. He put his hand within mine.

"So, what should I expect from your parents - yelling, screaming, what?" I asked, suddenly aware of the reality of the situation.

"I don't really know." Joe admitted. "But I wouldn't expect it to be a very happy moment."

Nervously, I twisted my fingers in Joe's hand. "Okay. What do you think they'll say?"

Joe sighed. "I know they're going to be disappointed at first, maybe angry. They're going to be upset, I have no doubt about that."

Joe's expression turned solemn as he processed the words, turning to look at his son, he wound up staring intently at Jonathan for a few minutes. I noticed the sadness, but also the pride. He cared for Jonathan, and I hoped that he'd stand up to his parents if it came to that.

"But." Joe continued, "Once they see that baby's face, there is no way they'll be able to resist, not wanting to get to know their grandson."

I smiled. "Of course they won't. It's not his fault he was born, we made the mistake - not him." I said quietly.

"I know." Joe affirmed, squeezing my hand.

I looked down at our hands as I brought up another problem. "What about me? They're going to blame me, aren't they? Before me, you probably never even thought about breaking your vow."

"That's not true. A young guy not thinking about sex - it's virtually impossible." Joe smirked, shrugging his shoulders. " But I can't promise they won't be upset. Crying, yelling, lecturing - all the serious possibilities."

I looked up at the house, fear now replacing concern.

"I think this would be easier if you told them by yourself first then came out and got us."

"No, I'm not leaving you again. It's the three of us from now on, doing everything as a family like it should be." Joe affirmed, squeezing my hand as a sign of support and his attempt at reassuring me that he wasn't going anywhere. I was still reluctant to believe that he wanted to do the right thing and be with Jonathan and I.

"Family, what a word to be coming out of your mouth about us." I retorted bitterly. Joe sighed.

"Can't you let this go? I said I was sorry and I am never leaving you or my son again, and I mean it!" Joe argued, his eyebrows furrowing in anger.

"Oh you mean it, like the time you told me you had no regrets and the time you said you loved and cared about me, who walks out on someone they supposedly care about?" I argued back. I was upset and wanted to pick a fight with Joe. I was still angry about everything - him leaving, then coming back and now this, both of us, having to tell his parents about their grandson. When Joe should have done this by himself months ago.

"I usually don't." Joe shrugged.

"But you did." I was still upset, bitterness evident in my voice.

"I know, how many more times to I have to tell you I'm sorry?" Joe frowned, our argument was now getting him upset.

"I don't think there's enough sorrys in this world for you." I spat, looking away out the window at his parents house again.

"So, you'll never forgive me? If that's the case I'll just take you home and I'll figure out a way to tell my parents, then bring Jonathan over to meet them some other time." I could hear the heaviness in Joe's voice as he spoke. He was now the one fighting back tears.

"Wow, your walking out on us again? What a surprise!" I retorted sarcastically.

"No, I'll never leave Jonathan but what's the use in trying to make a relationship work with someone who doesn't want it in the first place." Joe spoke lightly. I could tell by his tone that I was hurting him deeply, but I didn't care - he had hurt me enough to last a lifetime. And I wanted him to feel some of the pain I felt.

"I never said I didn't want to be with you. But it still hurts. I mean you just walked back into my life yesterday and here I am in a car with you and our son, about to tell your parents something that just may kill both of them, literally." I reasoned as I looked at Joe. He was pale as if someone had punched him in the stomach.

"I guess we'll never know unless we go in there and get this over with." He replied with another hand squeeze.

"This is great, both of your parents will probably hate me for this." I shook my head in disbelief, looking back up to the house.

"They don't really dislike anyone. Besides, I have it worse off than you, I'm the one who waited too long to tell them about this situation. I'll make a deal with you, you be my rock and I'll be yours. I'm never going anywhere again, no matter what happens." Joe kept squeezing my hand as he tried to make light of the situation.

"Ok, let's go before I regret this." I breathed as I reached for the door handle. But before I could get the door open, Joe reached over and pulled me into a hug.

"No regrets, remember that." He whispered in my ear.

I nodded as I opened the door and got out. Waiting for Joe as he got the baby seat out of the car and we walked up to the front door, both of us looked at each other, he interlaced his hand into mine, hesitating one last time, before facing the firing squad aka Joe's parents.

"If they keel over I'm blaming you!" I whispered as we walked into the house.

***Chapter End Notes*** - Enjoy and tell me what you thought. Thanks for reading!