What Knot

16

   I get to the restaurant a little early, I'm sipping on my drink when the families start coming in. "Hello again mom and dad! How are you feeling dad?"

  "I'm great! Just ready to meet our grandson!"

  I felt my smile waver. Suck it up, Sierra! I tell myself. "I'm sorry, Sierra! I had forgotten that you wanted a baby." Ellen hugged me.

  "I'm ok. I'm coming to terms with it. I did talk to Jordan. He was wanting to come back. I stopped him. After I find out about dad's doctor visit, I'm flying to Colorado."

  "Going without me?" We heard Geoff say from behind Frank.

  "That's the best time to go!" I laughed.

  "Well I am thinking of going soon."

  "Jordan is saying that he wants to build us a house. I can't wait, actually."

  Carlie walks in with her parents, brother, and Braden. I hear Ellen and Frank gasp. "Hi! I was hoping that we  wouldn't be the first."

  "Not possible with these guys!" I smiled that fake smile as I shook her hand. "Let me introduce you to the Millers." I introduced them quickly. Then she introduced her mom and dad, Kevin and Robin, then Braden. Then her brother, Dakota. We all sat and they ordered drinks. Danny, Erica and Nick came at last.

  Braden wiggled out of his mom's arms and walked to Ellen. She talked to him for a moment then he wanted in her arms. He warmed up quickly with his new grandparents. When our food arrived, he wanted to stay with Ellen. So she fed him with tears in her eyes. "You are too precious, my little man! I'm extremely grateful to have you in our lives." She looked at Carlie and her family. "Thank you for allowing us to share him!"

  "That is all we have wanted." Kevin answered. Carlie was smiling hugely.

  "Carlie tells us that when she was dating Patrick, he was already married. She didn't know that though. Will you hold that against her or Braden?" Dakota asked suddenly.

  "Of course not! We all knew that he had many affairs, but not until after he died. Sierra loved Patrick and she was a great wife. She didn't deserve every thing that he did to her. Just as Carlie didn't deserve Patrick's treatment of her. We would never hold it against anyone, for something that another person did. That would be cruel." Frank answered him.

  Dakota nodded his head.

  "And in return. I will not stand by and allow anyone to hold it over the Miller family, for what Patrick did. If anyone should be holding that grudge, it should be me. He cheated on me with all my friends and a few others. He denied me a child. Dad and mom, Geoff, Danny, Erica and Nick, had no part in it. They are the most wonderful people that I know." I told them. Dakota nodded again. "With that being said. I think that we are all in agreement, that Braden is Patrick's son." I looked at mom, then dad, then Erica, Danny, and Geoff. They all nodded and said yes. "Since Patrick is dead, I don't feel like I should have to pay support. There is an easy alternative, though." I look at Carlie.

  "I don't need support. I've been doing it since I got pregnant. My parents and brother have helped."

  "Now you have more help. Braden is eligible for surviving dependent benefits from social security. I will sign any papers that I need to. That should suffice. If a DNA test is required, we will have to get a blood relative to do that." I told her.

  Carlie thought about it for a moment. She nodded her head. "I can accept that. I appreciate it. I will start the process. Thank you, Sierra. I know that this has to be hard on you."

  "I'll survive. Although I will probably be moving to Colorado soon. I will be coming back quite often. The Millers are my family. They are good people."