Page 66 of Secret Baby for my Off-Limits Fiancé

“So, what does he think about Vincent? You have to be certain about these things, you know, have clarity at the beginning so that it doesn’t become a problem later.”

“Vincent is not aproblem, Mom,” My tone turns serious.

“I didn’t mean it like that. Of course, Vincent is the biggest blessing. I’m just trying to gauge how serious your relationship has gotten.”

My fingers trace little circles along the rim of my coffee cup, as anger starts to build inside me. “You know, I don’t doubt that your advice is coming from the right place but… you really can’t speak much on this topic. You never even told me who my dad is.”

My words come out more accusative than intended, and I feel immediate regret when I see the sadness on my mom’s face.

Talking about my father has always been a difficult thing for the both of us. Even now, the rejection of his abandonment stings, despite me never getting the chance to know him.

“You know that situation was out of my control.”

“Out of your control? Was it also out of your control to decide to have a child with someone who wanted nothing to do with it once she was born?”

“Layla…” My mom reaches out, but I pull my hand away. “How many times have we talked about this already? You know that I am doing this for your own good.”

“That used to work on me when I was a kid, Mom. Now? I just feel like the biggest idiot, someone who doesn’t even know who their dad is.”

My mother has a certain way of shutting down when the topic of who my father is comes up.

“Layla, please. This is not the time for it.” My mom presses her lips together in a tight line.

I know that, as usual, she is not going to tell me anything.

“It never is, is it?” I sigh, setting my coffee cup down on the table. “Sorry mom. I’d better get back to work.”

“Layla, come on now…”

I leave the money for the coffee on the table and get up without saying goodbye to my mom. I give a tired-looking Vincent a kiss and tell him that I’ll be home soon.

I need to be away from her for a moment, just alone with my thoughts.

But then, I imagine the same scenario, twenty years from now. Except the angry person walking out of the café will be Vincent.

Why didn’t you ever tell me who my dad was, mom?

It’s then that I realize that my reaction was not just because I was angry at being abandoned, or that my mom has kept my dad’s identity from me to this day. It was because I see myself in this story where my mom is now.

Every day, the urge to tell Valentino grows stronger and stronger. I’m falling in love with him. He’ll understand it, right?

Or is this going to be the thing that breaks us apart?

***

I decide to take an early day, and head back straight to home instead. Vincent is with his babysitter, and he smiles up at me as soon as I walk in.

“My baby,” I coo softly, holding him in my arms. “Did you miss Mommy?”

He nods. “Mama, I made this.”

He pulls out a paper from behind him. It’s a family, a mom, a dad, and a baby.

Tears prick in my eyes as I finally set him down, holding the drawing with shaking hands.

“You drew this?”

“Uh-huh. It’s our family.” He grins, happy to show his masterpiece to me. “You, me, and Valentino.”

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