That Summer | Aaron Carpenter

twenty seven

It was another month later; I was sitting out of the back patio. I let the warm, humid air blow against my face as I did my physics homework. My phone started ringing next to me. I picked it up, not looking at the caller ID.

"Hello?" I said into the phone.

"Hey Hallie." I heard my mom's voice.

"Mom." I said, sitting forward.

"Hey honey." She said and I could feel the smile.

"What's up?" I asked, totally confused.

"I just want to call and tell you that I had the baby." She said.

"Oh." I said. "Congratulations."

"I was really hoping you could come up for thanksgiving." She said. "We'd love to have you."

"Who's we?"

"Me, Hayden, Hadlee and Hazel."

"And who are they?"

"Hayden is my husband silly. I told you that."

"No you didn't."

"Don't be crazy."

"I'm not." I said. "You never call me."

"Well, anyway. Hadlee and Hazel are your sisters."

"You had twins?"

"No, Hadlee is thirteen." She said.

"You had two more daughters after you left dad?" I asked, this whole situation blowing my mind.

"Hallie, why are you acting like this? I have called to tell you all of this."

"No mom, you haven't."

"Hallie."

I looked over to the back door and saw Taylor.

"I've got to go." I said. "Congrats on the new baby or whatever."

I hung up and Taylor stepped outside.

"Who was that?"

"My mom."

"Oh."

"She's married; she had a daughter thirteen years ago." I said. "And she just had another one."

"What?" Taylor asked. "Thirteen years ago is when she left dad."

I looked over at Taylor, "Oh my god." We said at the same time.

"She cheated on dad." I said.

"What the hell." He said.

"Does dad even know?" I asked, standing up in frustration.

"I have no idea, he never told me about an affair."

"He doesn't know Taylor."

"We have to tell him, right?"

"We cannot do that." I said. "It'll crush him."

"I know that, but he should know."

"We're not telling him Taylor." I said as I heard the doorbell rang. "I got it."

I walked inside and straight to the front door. I pulled it open and saw Aaron.

"Aaron?" I asked.

"Surprise!" He said.

"What are you doing here?" I laughed as I hugged him.

"I want to come see you."