Page 143 of Against All Odds

I exhale, my breath coming out heavy, causing a cloud to form from the heat and cold mixing. “I should get back to her so she doesn’t wake up alone. I’ll come again soon, Dad. I’ll bring Violet and the baby. Maybe someday Mom will want to come, too, but I hope you know that we love you and miss you.” I rise, resting my hand over his name.

“Thank you for everything.”

thirty-five

Violet

My phone buzzes, and I see it’s from Dylan.

I get up, moving quickly upstairs to find Everett. He was shoveling all morning as we got another dumping of snow—something I did not miss—and hopped in the shower right after.

“Ev?” I say, stepping into the bathroom.

“Are you coming to join me?” he asks from behind the curtain with a chuckle.

I wish that were the case. “Not this time. I got a text from Dylan.”

He pulls the curtain back. “What did he say?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t opened it.”

I’ve been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for him to make his statement. I don’t know what the hell the holdup is. Catherine and Ana suspect he’s making sure his story is bulletproof, or he’s just a chickenshit.

I’m going with option two.

“Open it. No matter what, you’re going to be fine.”

My stomach is tight, and it has nothing to do with the baby this time. Anytime Dylan’s name is anywhere near me, it’s never good.

Dylan

Vi, I’ll be releasing the statement tomorrow. Here is a copy of it. I was also informed the divorce will be finalized within the week. I hope you and the baby are well. ~D

“It’s the statement,” I tell Everett.

He shuts the water off and exits, wrapping the towel around his hips as the water runs in rivulets down his hard chest. Yeah, I really do wish I was joining him now.

We walk into the bedroom, and I sit on the bed, him beside me.

“Do you want to read it?”

“Not really,” I confess.

“You don’t have to.”

Yeah, that’s not going to work either. Whether I read it now or when it’s sent to me a hundred times, I’m going to end up seeing it and having to deal with whatever it says. My only hope is that it doesn’t cause more attention to fall on me and the baby.

I’ve had enough press bullshit to last me a lifetime.

Everett places his hand on my back, and I look up into his warm brown eyes filled with encouragement and unrelenting love. I can do this. I can read and know that no matter what it says, I have the love and support of a man who loves me.

“I don’t have to, but I’m going to because it changes nothing for us,” I tell him.

“Absolutely nothing.”

I nod and then read aloud.

After much thought and consideration, I have come to the difficult conclusion that it is within the best interest of my child and ex-wife to relinquish any paternal rights. I am not ready to be a father, and I fear my continual absence and inability to provide a stable environment will inflict more harm than my presence will help. Because of that, I have chosen to take some time to enter a therapeutic rehabilitation center to become a better man, as my recent actions have proven my selfishness and immaturity. My goal is to come out of this period of self-reflection changed for the better. I want to profoundly apologize to my ex-wife for the pain my actions have caused her, and I hope that by doing the right thing, she can find peace. I ask that she and I be given privacy during this time.

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