I was alone. I covered my eyes against the morning sun and looked around the room. Lisa wasn't up here. That was surprising. I sat up and looked at the clock. It was after ten. No wonder he wasn't up here. I'd slept the morning away. Today we would talk. He was going to let me in. Last night we'd had amazing sex. I needed words now.
I stood up and found my discarded shorts lying on the end of the bed. Lisa must have brought them upstairs because I remembered leaving them on the stairs last night. I slipped them on and then looked around for my shirt. One of Lisa's tee shirts was folded neatly beside my shorts so I slipped it on and headed downstairs. I was ready to see Lisa.
The doors on the family side of the hall were open. I froze. What did that mean? They were always closed. Then I heard voices. I walked toward the second flight of stairs and listened. My father's familiar voice carried up the stairs from the living room. He was home.
I took the first step and stopped. Could I face him? Would he ask me to leave? Would he know I'd slept with Lisa? Would Somi have her mother hate me too? I hadn't had time to work through all of this yet.
My father said my name and I knew I needed to go down there and face this. Whatever it might be. I forced myself down each step. I made it across the foyer and stopped once I could hear them clearly. I needed to know what I was walking into.
"I can't believe you, Lisa. What were you thinking? You know who she is? What she means to this family?" It was his mother talking. I'd never met her but I knew.
"You can't hold her responsible. She wasn't even born yet. You have no idea what all she's been through. What HE has put her through." Lisa was angry.
I started to walk to the door but paused. Wait. What I meant to this family? What was she talking about?
"Don't go getting all high and mighty. You were the one who went and found him for me. So whatever he put her through," she spat, "you started it all. Then you go and sleep with her? Really Lisa. My God what were you thinking? You're just like your father."
I reached out to grab the doorframe for support. I didn't know what was coming but my breathing was becoming shallow. I could feel panic rising in my chest.
"Remember who owns this house, mother," Lisa's warning was clear.
His mother let out a loud cackle. "Can you believe this? He is turning on me over a girl he just met. Jayson you have to do something."
There was silence. Then my father cleared his throat. "It's his house, Lucy. I can't force him to do anything. I should have expected this. She's so much like her mother."
"What is that supposed to mean?" the woman roared.
My father sighed, "We've been over this before. The reason I left you for her was because she had this draw to her. I couldn't seem to let her go - "
"I KNOW that. I don't want to hear it again. You wanted her so damn badly you left me pregnant with a bunch of wedding invitations to rescind."
"Sweetheart, calm down. I love you. I was just explaining that Jennie has her mother's charisma. It's impossible not to be drawn to her. And she's just as blind to it as her mother was. She can't help it."
"ARGH! Will that woman never leave me alone? Will she always ruin my life? She's gone for crying out loud. I have the man I love back and our daughter finally has her father and now this. You go and sleep with this, this girl!"
My body was numb. I couldn't move. I couldn't take deep breaths. I was still dreaming. That was it. I hadn't woken up yet. I closed my eyes tightly forcing myself to wake up from this sick and twisted dream.
