Don't Leave Us (Book Three in the Don't Leave Series) (Watty Awards 2014)

Chapter Two: It's Called Courage, After All

Chapter 2

It's been almost a month since Mat died. I've seen him around the house almost every Saturday, which I knew was his favorite day because all of his shows were on. He would casually sit on the couch, or look through the fridge, or tickle little Mathew. 

This has been harder on Reegan because she couldn't see her father like I did. Mitch has been coming over for the past week and a half, spending time with his son as much as possible. To be honest, Mathew loves his dad. 

I could tell Reegan was starting to fall for Mitch, and vis versa. Yet, Mitch was 27, turning 28 soon, and Reegan was 16. He was at the most 15 years older than her, and Reegan was still in school, going into her junior year this upcoming year. She dropped out because of the baby, yet I think she'll stay out of school for the rest of her high school career. 

I was looking through her yearbook from last year, and it said in the back "You'll probably be the first one to get preggers, Reegs. Just saying you slut." 

It was signed by her best friend at the time. Really hurt Reegan even though her best friend said it was a joke. I knew it wasn't because when I and Mat confronted her about it, she told us it was true that she meant everything she wrote. Currently, that girl is getting help because apparently she has a mental condition or something.

Although it became true, Reegan refuses to let anything get to her because one, her child is healthy, and two, the babies father is present and currently fighthing for custody as well. Mitch really loves his son, and I can tell that his son loves him back. 

Mathew looks just like his grandfather; beautiful brown eyes, and brown hair. He was probably the most gracious baby out there. He rarely cried, rarely made a fuss. He loved music, so we always had it on in the house. He was always very smiley, no matter where we went. Reegan really loves her son.

As we walk into the store, Mitch holding little Mathew in his arms as Reegan pushes the cart, the same girl that wrote the nasty things in her yearbook approaches us. She takes one look at the baby, then to Mitch, then to Reegan.

"See what I mean, Reegan?" she smiles, her dimples protruding out of her cheeks, "you really did get pregnant." I step in front of my daughter.

"Leave my kid alone," I snap. The girl starts laughing.

"Who are you? Her daddy?" she giggles evilly. I glare at her.

"Actually yes. And I am very proud of my daughter, because you know what? She is the strongest woman I know. That man holding her baby is the father and he is a very good one at that. So you have no right to critisize my family in any way. I am very proud of all of them," I say, raising my voice with every word. The girl's smile fades, replaced with a frown. Reegan takes Mathew and holds him in her arms. He starts wriggling around and giggling. 

"I suggest you leave before he gets even more mad, you bitch," Mitch says from behind me. The girl scoffs and rolls her eyes before walking away. I turn to Mitch, who was looking at Reegan with love in his eyes. Reegan looks up at him with the same expression. 

"Let's get groceries and get home before something else happens," I state. They both nod and Mitch takes Mathew from Reegan. 

********************

"Chris? Tyler?" Reegan yells through the house as we enter. Mitch puts Mathew in his little swing and starts rocking him to sleep. Reegan and I walk to the kitchen to put away the food. She starts putting away the bread as I put away the milk.

"Dad?" she asks, turning towards me. I look up at her.

"Yes, princess?" I reply, getting the carrots out and setting them on the cutting board before turning towards her. 

"I think I'm in love with Mitch," she whispers. My eyes widen.

"Sweetheart, are you sure?" I whisper back. She nods, getting the carrot peeler from one of the drawers.

"He treats Mathew so well. He's also the rightful father of him," she looks up, "I think I'd want to marry him one day." I slam my hand on the counter.

"You're about 11 or 13 years younger than he is. You're absurd!" I say to her in the quietest voice I could muster. She starts at me with the most hurt I have ever seen in someone's expression. She starts peeling carrots without another word towards me. I sigh before I exit the room and go into the living room to see Mitch asleep with baby Mathew lying on his chest. 

I decide to go upstairs to check if Tyler and Chris were home, walking over to their room and opening it quietly. 

"Tyler..." I hear a breathy moan come from the bed. I slightly peak in, seeing Chris and Tyler having sex. It was a sight I wish I could erase from my mind. I slap my hand over my mouth as I let out a muffled laugh. Tyler stops thrusting and Chris looks up at him with a worried expression.

"What's wrong?" she asks. Tyler turns his head slowly towards the door, and Chris peaks out from behind him. They both scream once they see me, and I scream back in surprise. Tyler quickly gets off of Chris as she pulls the duvet over herself. 

"JEROME!" Tyler yells, accidentally slipping into his Janet voice he used to do when we were younger. "What the fuck are you doing in here?" 

"I-I'm sorry!" I start to laugh. "I-I heard Chris from the hallway." I burst out laughing and fall over. Chris gives me a glare as Tyler stiffles a laugh. Chris glares at him as well, and Tyler stops laughing.

"Sorry," he whispers, coughing before throwing the duvet off and removing the....special friend. He slips on his clothes and joins me in a fit of laughter as we walk into the hallway. 

"Tyler?" Reegan calls from the bottom of the stairs. Tyler and I stop laughing as we quickly run down the stairs.

"Yeah?" Tyler responds to Reegan. Reegan motions from him to follow her into the kitchen and they start talking. I decide to sit next to Mitch, who was now half-awake and still snuggling with Mathew. 

"Hey," I mumble. He smiles at me.

"I never thought I'd become practically your son-in-law, Jerome," he says, squeezing his son tightly before Mathew yawns and snuggles deeper into Mitch's chest. I smile at him.

"I didn't either, let alone be married to Mat," I reply, reaching over and brushing Mathew's hair out of his face. He lets out a sigh and rubs his eye with one hand and flips his head so he was lying on the other side of his face. Mitch laughs softly.

"He'll do this when Reegan and him are over at my house. Reegan and I will be talking and then we hear him sigh and he'll do this," Mitch says, placing a kiss on the top of Mathew's head. I was about to say something before Tyler comes out of the kitchen.

"Guys, something's wrong with Reegan."