before, but not often. He was nowhere near
rational when his temper ruled like it was right
now.
“Jeremy Shane Carpenter?” He finally
hissed. His chest was rising and falling rapidly.
He had a son. A son that Melissa didn’t bother
to give his name. “Don’t try to pretend he’s not
mine. So help me Melissa, I’ll force a paternity
test if necessary.”
“It’s not necessary.” She said softly. “He’s
ours.”
“Ours?” Shane bellowed. “That’s rich.
Ours suggests some kind of joint commitment.
In this case joint knowledge would have been
nice. How could you?”
If all Melissa had seen was anger, she
would have had a comeback, but she knew
Shane too well. And what she saw in his eyes
was pain. “Let’s go inside.”
“Does he even know? Does he know I’m
his father or did you lie to him, too?” Shane
asked, not moving.
“No Shane, he doesn’t know. I was hoping
I would have more time before you found out I
was here. Well, that’s not true. I knew the
instant I showed up for work the whole town
would know. I just never thought you’d come
over so soon. I planned to talk to him, and you,
in time.” Melissa stopped, sensing she was only
making things worse.
“Eight years wasn’t enough time for you?”
He said through gritted teeth.
“No, it wasn’t.”
Melissa shot back.
“Because during most of that time, Jeremy had
a father. A good man that loved him. A man
that Jer looked up to and thought was his dad.”
“You told my son that some other guy was
his father? You let my son grow up thinking
that some random guy was...” Shane stopped
himself, clenching his fists by his side. He knew
he was getting out of control. He couldn’t sit
down and talk rationally about this. He needed
time to think, time to cool off. He closed his
eyes and counted to ten. When he opened
them, Melissa was still standing there
motionless, not saying a word. “I can’t do this
right now. I’ll come back at nine. Go have
dinner with ‘our’ son. I assume he’ll be in bed
by then?”
“Yes.” Melissa confirmed.
“Then I’ll be back at nine. Don’t mess
with me, Melissa. You had better be here when
I get back.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Shane.” Melissa
said, turning to head back into the house.
“This is my home now. I’m staying in Hidden
Lakes for the foreseeable future.”
“Good, then I’ll see you at nine.” Shane
climbed in his truck and drove away.
Melissa sank to the ground and began to
cry.
Jeremy looked out the window, expecting
to see the cowboy talking to his mother but
instead he saw her crying. His face hardened
and he rushed to his mother side, angry at the
man for ruining things. They had been so
happy here until he came. “Mom?” Jeremy
said, putting a hand on her shoulder the way
his father used to do when he was upset.
Feeling his dad’s strength always made Jeremy
feel safe. Maybe he could do the same for his
mom.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
Melissa said
standing and taking her son’s hand. “Did you
set the table?” She needed to pull it together,
for Jeremy’s sake if not her own.
“Yes, but why are you crying?”
He
frowned down the road then looked back at his
mom. “Did that man hurt you? Because I sort
of liked him, but if he made you cry he’s not
nice like I thought.”
“No sweetie.” Melissa said. “Shane didn’t
make me cry. There’s just something very
hard that I have to do and it scares me. That’s
why I was crying.”
“Is Shane making you do it?” Jeremy
asked following his mother into the kitchen and
taking his seat at the table.
“No, not really. It’s something I should
have done a long time ago, but I was too
afraid.”
Melissa pulled dinner out of the oven and
dished up their plates.
“Can I help?” Jeremy finally said.
“Maybe if I help you, it won’t be so scary.”
Mel took Jeremy’s little hand and held it
tight. “No, it’s something I have to do on my
own. But don’t you worry. Everything is going
to be okay.”
Jeremy stood and moved to his mother. He
reached out and gave her a big hug. “Maybe
that will help. Hugs always make me feel
better.”
Melissa felt the tear slide down her face