Page 71 of It Happened Back Then
“When we were eighteen, right after I left for college, Blossom had a miscarriage.”
“Oh!” Mom gasps and covers her mouth.
“I didn’t know until a week ago. She was afraid to tell me back then. She was afraid it would change things between us. Afraid she’d be a burden. It’s why she changed her mind about coming with me to Seattle but still pushed hard for me to go away. Just like you did, Dad.” I let out a humorless laugh. “But I guess it all makes sense now, after the conversation you two had.”
My mom steps back, taking her seat on the couch again. “Henry?”
He leans forward in his chair. “I thought I was saving him from getting stuck. You deserved to see what was outside of Bluemoon! I did what I thought was best, for both of you.”
“It was wrong.”
“I know,” he relents.
“What do you mean? What conversation?” my mom asks, clearly confused.
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter now. Blossom knows I would have done anything to be there if I had known.”
My mom urges me to sit with her on the couch. I do and she says, “Did something happen to cause…”
Her words drift and I shake my head. “I don’t know. We didn't go over details, but we’ll be sure to cover everything with the doctor.”
My dad clears his throat. “If I could take it back, son, I would. You know, kids don’t realize that their parents are growing up while they are too. It’s not an excuse, but you were so young. And so were we. I just…I didn’t know what to think. I reacted.” He swallows hard. “And I’m sorry.”
I fold my arms across my chest and don’t say a word. I can’t. My throat is closing, and when I see Mom brush tears away, it makes me ache that much more. “I need you to do the right thing now, Dad.”
He nods.
“I need you to welcome her in, like you did when her daddied. I need you to know she’s not going anywhere. No more comments about me and her. She’s been our family since we were kids, I don't know why that changed then, but it’s certainly not changing now.”
My mom takes my hand. “It doesn’t change, Bennett. I’ve always considered her like a daughter to me.”
“I know, Mom.”
Dad just nods again. He’s rigid in his seat. I’m sure he was not prepared for this. He has to see everything I do is with Blossom in mind first. “I’m going to be better. I'll do better this time around. I promise.”
“You need to tell her that. And then actually do it. She won’t ever be made to feel less than again.”
CHAPTER 37 - BENNETT
Bean Lake reflects the full moon, glowing under the sky like a nightlight. I park the truck and round the front, jogging to open her door before she can. She smiles as she takes my hand. “I’m able to open my own door, Bennett.”
“Not when I’m around.” She steps out and we join hands, walking to the water's edge. There are a few couples still here, but we find our own spot on the sand. It’s still warm from today’s sun, but the breeze blowing off the water is cool.
I brought her here because this is our spot. It’s always been our spot to come when we needed to talk, laugh, cry. It was our getaway from life. I take a deep breath, then another. Because this part? This is hard to say.
“I’m scared, Blossom.”
She turns to me immediately. “Of what?”
I keep my gaze on the lake and bury my hands in the sand. “Of being a dad. Of screwing it up. Of doing shit like my father did to us.”
She doesn’t rush in with comfort. She waits for me to talk it out.
“When I confronted him, he said he did it for my own good. He didn’t want me trapped here, in a life that I wasn’t ready for.” I look at her. “I get that we were young, but to interfere how he did?” I drop my head. “I just don’t ever want to do that to our child and have them feel about me the way I feel about him right now.”
She reaches over, slips her hand into mine. “You won’t. Because the fact that you’re worried about it? That’s proof you won’t be like him.” I let that sink in. I want to believe her and maybe I’m starting to. “But you can’t blame your dad for everything. I’m taking ownership as well. He may have said it to me, but I didn’t have to listen.”
“Blossom, no?—”
