The forgotten Lynch

Baby

"Did you know that Travis is back?" I ask barging in Ryland's kitchen
"Rhonwen" Ryland starts to says with a guilty look
"You did" I scoff
"Yes but he wasn't supposed to come until next week. He showed up last night on my porch" Ryland says "How do you know he's back?"
"Because he came into Boulevard today. I had to serve him and his fiancé" I say
"So you met Jade too?" Ryland says
"Yeah I did!" I groan "She's getting engaged and she has no idea he has a daughter"
"Well on their defense neither does he" Ryland shrugs
"That doesn't help!" I say facep palming myself
"I'm sorry but you need to tell him. It's been seven years since you've got pregnant. And 6 and a half since you've had his daughter. He's missed so much of her life" Ryland says crossing his arms
"I know Ryland!" I yell "I just can't! He's happy, he has a fiancé for crying out loud"
"And maybe her wouldn't if he knew!" Ryland yells back
"I don't want him to be with me just because we have a child together. I will tell him, I'm just not ready to" I sigh
"Just promise me you'll tell him while he's here." Ryland sighs
"Just give me until the wedding. If I don't tell him by then and your off to your honeymoon you are more than welcomed to tell him yourself" I say "I need to go get Rosie from mom's house"
"Ok. Mary called earlier, she's having a barbecue tomorrow around two. She told me to tell you. She invited everyone" Ryland says
"Tomorrow at two. Ok" I smile before leaving
I get in my car and pull out of my parking spot. I drive about ten minutes to the band house. I park in the driveway and walk inside. I hear the TV playing so I go in the direction of the living room. When I walk in I see My brothers and Rosie asleep with a plate of cookies and milk in front of her.
I slowly and quietly back out and go upstairs to my mom's room.I walk down the hall and knock on my mom's door. I push it open and see her working at her desk.
"I thought I told you no cookies" I say with my arms crossed
"I'm sorry honey but she just gives me these adorable puppy eyes and I'm wrapped around her finger" She sighs
"Was she good?" I ask
"Honey, she's 6 and a half" She laughs "She has her good days and her bad days"
"I know that but this morning she was in a tantrum" I sigh
"She was fine" She smiles "Did Mary tell you about the barbecue?"
"Ryland told me" I say walking down stairs"Travis is back"
"He is?" She asks
"For the wedding. He brought his fiancé too" I sigh looking down "This is definitely not how I imagined seeing him again"
"I know" She says hugging me "Are you going to tell him about Rosie?"
"Do I have to?" I groan
"No" She says "But it's the right thing to do. And you know that"
"I do but I'm scared" I say "I've done so well with her so far and if and when I tell him part of me thinks that he sees that I was doing fine before he showed up and I'll do just fine without him"
"So you're afraid once he finds out about her, he won't want to be a father to her?"She asks
"Exactly. I know he's not that guy or at least wasn't seven years ago. So much can change in those years though. Just look at me, I've had a miscarriage and got knocked up again on accident a few months after that, and now I have a 6 year old daughter" I smile "Besides he's happy with Jade"
"Jade?" She asks
"His fiancé. They came in the diner today and I had to serve them" I laugh "She's actually really nice. It kind of makes it hard for me to hate her"
"You don't even know her" Mom says chuckling
"Exactly. I hate her because she's with him and I know I say I'm fine without him and I am but there's still that part of me that loves him and misses him" I say as a tear falls down
Mom wipes the tears away and hugs me closer to her. She lets me cry on her for as long as I need. Ever since I've had Rosie me and her have grown really close. I really appreciate moments like this. When no one else exists and it's just me, her, and our talks.
"Mommy?" I small voice asks
I sniff and turn around and smile at Rosie. Besides, even if Travis doesn't want to be a part of her life, how could I be mad at him when he gave me the best thing that's ever happened to me?
"Yes princess?"I smile
"Hi" She squeals and runs to me
I pick her up and she hugs me.
"I miss you" She says
I laugh and kiss her cheek and sit her on my lap. I love the way she says things. She can't talk a lot but she can still say small phrases. I comb my fingers through her hair to detangle the knots. I look at my phone and see it's almost 9 so I stand up while holding Rosie on my hip.
"It's getting late, we're going to home" I say to mom "I'll see you tomorrow"
I kiss her cheek and hug her before telling Rosie to give her a hug and tell her thank you The to go hug her sleeping uncles. I walk down the hall and down to the kitchen. I grab her bag and make sure everything is there before grabbing my purse and leaving the house. Again I buckle Rosie in her car seat and drive home. We stop in the lobby and check for any mail. Then we go up to the apartment. I give Rosie a bath and make her sit on the loo for five minutes and then put a fresh pamper on her. Since she didn't go pee or poop I just take her into her room and put some pjs on her.
"Want to sleep with mommy tonight?" I ask her
"Yes!" She squeals
I carry her in my room and get changed into a sports bra and some spandex shorts. I turn my TV on and put on paw patrol. I turn out the lights and lift Rosie up on my bed. I set up a barrier with pillows so she doesn't fall, then I get in bed next to her. I cover us both up, and I watch as she falls asleep. When I know for sure she's asleep I turn the TV off and I close my eyes holding my baby girl. My baby.