A Night We'll Never Remember

Chapter 21

I look at the clock on the nightstand and it's just after 3am. Regina is asleep next to me but I'm having trouble falling asleep so I decided to get up and go watch some tv downstairs. I get a bottle of water from the fridge and go into the living room. I sit down on the couch and start flipping through the channels. Infomercials are about the only thing on besides repeats of the news so I went over to Netflix and started watching a documentary about Henry VIII.  I can hear footsteps coming down the stairs. Regina must be up. She walks in and sits next to me. "You ok my love?"  "Yeah I'm ok. I just can't sleep. Are you ok?"  "Yes thank you. Are you worried about your parents?"   "Just my dad really. I didn't like the way he looked earlier. I hope that he will talk to me this morning".  "I'm sure he'll talk to you as soon as he's ready".  I just nod and look back at the tv. "Would you mind if I joined you?"   "No not all. If you don't want to watch this I can switch it to something else".  "No dear this is fine. I like documentaries".   She moved closer to me and put her arm through mine and we held hands. Then she put her head on my shoulder and it wasn't long before she fell back to sleep. I felt bad. She only got up to check on me. She should be laying in bed sleeping not sitting up with her head on my shoulder. I kiss her forehead and began to wake her. "Hey babe. Come on let's go back upstairs to bed".  "Is your show over?"   "No it's ok. I can watch it later. Come on".  We stand up and I shut the tv off. We hold hands as we walk up the stairs. We get in bed and she snuggled up to me.  I still wasn't able to sleep but at least I had Regina to hold on to. I think it kept me from over thinking about what's going on with my parents.  It was finally after 6 in the morning so I slowly get out of bed. I quietly grabbed some clothes and my boots and went into the guest bedroom to get dressed so I wouldn't wake Regina. I went downstairs and into the kitchen and I sent my dad a text asking if we could meet so we could talk. He didn't want to meet at his work or at Granny's so I suggested that he come over here because Regina was still sleeping. He agreed and I gave him the address and asked him to text when he got here. I didn't want the door bell waking Regina up. He said he was on his way so I started the coffee. A few minutes later I got the text that he was here. I went to open the door for him and he hugged me when he got to the door. He followed me into the kitchen and I poured us a cup of coffee and we sat down on the island stools. "So should we get right to it?"  "Might as well". He takes a sip of his coffee and begins to speak. "Well I guess what it boils down to is I was very unhappy with the way your mother talked to you and treated you. She had no right to say or do anything like that to you".  "Dad she was right though. I'm 22. I've got a kid on the way, no job and I dropped out of college".  "It's the way she did it Emma. Yelling at you and then only giving you 2 weeks. She could have talked to you in more of a motherly way. She should have given you some ideas on how to help you instead of just throwing you out on the street. I didn't know she was going to do that sweetie. I never would have let her do that or talk to you that way".  "I believe you dad. Thank you for telling me. So what happened to make you and mom take a break?"  "When I talked to her and asked her what she had said to you. She told me what she said and how she said it. I was extremely angry with her. If there is one thing I can teach you with as far a being a parent is to always be there for your children. Have their back and guide them every step of the way. Your mother didn't do that with you but I sure as hell will".  "Thank you dad. I love you". I give him a big hug and he holds me tight.   "Dad if I turn out to be even half the parent you are my kids are gonna lucky as hell".  "I know you'll be just fine Emma. So is there anything I can help you with".   "Actually dad I'm doing pretty good. Granny gave me a job waitressing and bookkeeping. Plus Regina has been helping me study every day and she's a great friggin cook".  "Well it sounds like you've got everything working out".   "Yeah so far so good".  Just then Regina comes walking into the kitchen. "Oh I'm sorry to interrupt. I didn't know you were here. Hello David".  "Hi Regina. Your not interrupting anything. I should get going".   "Dad wait. Please stay".  "Yes David stay. I can make breakfast for us all".   "No it's ok you don't need to go to any trouble for me".   "It's really no trouble at all. Please stay".  "Please Daddy?"   He laughs and says. "Ok thank you. Breakfast would be great".  "Excellent. Emma dear. Why don't you show your father around while I make our breakfast".  "Sure I can to that. Dad would you like a tour?"  "Ok. Thanks".   On the way out of the kitchen I kiss Regina and say thank you to her.  First I show my dad the living room and I took him out the side door in the corner of the living room. "This is the start of the wrap around deck that leads to the big backyard".  "What a great yard. Your kid is gonna love it here".   "What's not to love. This place is great. I really can't wait to get into that swimming pool".  I say with a laugh. "Wow and look at this bbq grill. It's huge. I wouldn't mind grilling stuff up on this thing".  "Well maybe you'll get to".  We smile at each other. We go back in and I show him the dinning room, where Regina's office and library is. "The upstairs is just bedrooms I can show you if you'd like".  "No that's ok. Bedrooms are bedrooms right?"   "Yes".  "Thanks for the tour sweetheart. Where is the bathroom?"  "It's right there dad". I point to a door. "I'll be back in the kitchen when your done".   "Ok thanks".  I go into the kitchen and Regina is cooking on the stove. "Need any help babe?"   "Can you get the silverware out please and could you pour me some orange juice?"  "You got it. Ice for the juice?"  "Yes please. I liked it like that yesterday. It kept it nice and cold".  "That's why I have it with ice".  I smile and get to work. My dad comes in and offers to help but everything is all set. I ask him if he wants orange juice, he nods so I pour him some. We all sit down at the kitchen table and we dig into our scrambled eggs, toast and bacon.  The conversation during breakfast was nice. It was talk about the town, how Regina was feeling and if I'm going to like working at Granny's again".  "Oh shit Granny's. I have to work this morning".  I get nervous cause I have no idea what time it is. I look at the clock and it's only 8:15. "You still have plenty of time dear. I had set the alarm for this morning just in case we over slept".  "Always thinking. Thank you".  She gives me a beautiful smile.  "You two are very cute together".  "Thank you David".   "No need to thank me. I need to thank you for this wonderful breakfast. It was delicious, and I hate to eat and leave but I'm already late for work so I have to. Thank you both very much. Regina you have a lovely home and you are by far the best cook I have ever met".  "Thank you David. We'll have to invite you over for dinner some night. My skills go way beyond eggs".  "I look forward to it then. Emma I'm glad we talked. I feel a lot better knowing that everything your mother said and did hasn't sent you down the wrong path. Regina is good for you and I'm very happy the two of you are making this work".  "Thanks dad".  "Yes thank you David".  We all stand and Regina and I walk my dad to the front door. We both hug him then he leaves. We wave as he starts to drive away. Then we go back into the kitchen and I help clean up. "Sweetheart you should leave soon it's almost 9".  "Yeah. I guess your right. I hope Granny doesn't want me there for very long. I'm so tired". She walks up to me and puts her arms around my neck and kisses me. "I'm sorry my love. Granny knows this is just a part time job right?"   "Yes. I told her that when she offered me the job".  "Then good. Hopefully you'll be home in time to take a nap before dinner".   "I hope so to babe. So is there anything I can help you with before I go to work?"  "I don't think so sweetheart. The kitchen is all cleaned up now and while your at work I have a few errands to run but other than that it should be a quiet day".   "Good. You need some rest after getting up to check on me last night".  "Yes but I still got more sleep than you. Did you sleep at all last night?"   "Not really but it was great holding you. I think you saved me from going crazy last night".   "Do you feel better after talking to your dad?"  "Yeah I do. He didn't like what my mom said and did to me. I hate that they separated because of me but I can't control what happens in their marriage".  "Sweetheart please don't over think about this. Your right this is about their marriage".   "Ok I guess I should get going. The sooner I leave the sooner I can get back home to you and this little one".  I put my hand on her belly and caress it.  She kisses me and I hold onto her. I love having her in my arms.  Being over tired is making me a little emotional and my eyes fill up. "Emma my love what's wrong?"   "Nothing babe. Absolutely nothing at all. Everything feels right. I love you so much. Your having our baby and you want me to be here with you to share this experience. I don't know how I can ever thank you for loving me enough and for letting me be here with you. I love you Regina. I really do so much".  She kisses me. "I love you so much as well Emma. Now are you ok to go to work today?  I could call Granny and tell her that you can't make it today?"   "No. It's ok. It's only a few hours. I'll be fine". I let out a big yawn as I finish the sentence.  "Ok my love. Will you let me drive you though. I'd really like to go in a get one of Granny's bear claws. This is definitely your baby".   She chuckled a bit and I said. "Babe I'm fine to drive".   "Emma please let me drive you. I'd feel so much better".  "Ok babe. If it makes you happy I'll let you drive me over to Granny's".  Thank you. Just give me a minute to get dressed ok?"   "Yup. I'll be right here waiting you". We kiss and she goes upstairs to get dressed.