Page 48 of The Biggest Secret
Mom is finishing up, and Adley and I are watching television. I hear some clanging in the kitchen. I see mom pacing back and forth, looking out the front window, then heading back to the kitchen again. I glance outside and realize it’s dark. Dad is usually home by now.
“Shouldn’t Dad have been here by now?” Adley asks when she notices mom’s nervous behavior.
I shrug but I know the answer. Yes, he should have been here at least one show ago. I can’t really tell time yet, but I know when one show ends, and another starts.
“Chelsea! Bring your sister in, let’s eat before it gets too cold.” Mom’s voice is shaky, and her face is pale. She’s upset, but she’s trying to hide it.
The three of us gather around the table, and mom fixes our plates. My sister dives in, but I take in mom’s demeanor. She continues to glance at the front door. When she notices me looking at her, she reaches out and squeezes my hand, “Eat, sweetie.” She picks up her fork, so I do as well.
Hours later, after Adley has fallen asleep, I lay awake waiting. I know what’s going to happen when he finally walks through the door.
A car door slamming makes me jump. I creep out of bed and peek out the window, seeing my dad stagger up the front walkway. He fumbles with his keys, but the door opens before he can get the lock turned. Mom must be waiting for him, so I go to my door and squint through the small crack.
“Go to bed, Molly.”
“Where have you been?” Mom cries. “You said you were coming home. I made your favorite.”
“I got busy.”
“Busy drinking?”
Dad turns to her, rage on his face. “It’s called working. You should try it sometime.”
“The girls were waiting for you.”
“They’ll get over it.”
He storms past mom and into the kitchen, grabbing the plate she made for him. Why did she still make him a plate when he never called to say he wasn’t coming home? He sits at the table and begins eating. Mom stands and watches him for a minute, then leaves the room, coming down the hall towards me. I quickly jump back in bed, silent tears leaking down my face.
He said we’d get over it. I don’t want to have to get over it. We don’t get much time with him to begin with, I just want dad to show up when he says he will.
Pushing that thought out of my head, I say a silent prayer that Adam remembers us today. Then I chastise myself and tell myself to remember I’m not there anymore. I’m not back in that house, a little girl with no say, whose only example of a man was one that never bothered to care.
Seeing Dom in his t-shirt has me choked up. The love this family has shown me in such a short time since I’ve been back is astounding. I’m beginning to allow myself to feel that I’m safe here again. That Adam and I could actually give this thing between us a go and do right by our son.
I’m feeling like myself again, but a better version. The old Chelsea would second guess every conversation, look, and touch that I did or didn’t get from Adam. New Chelsea is accepting that he has a job, an important one, and as the owner, his time is limited. It’s what he does with the free time that is making me feel good. Even when he was with his brothers the other night at Moose’s, he came over to see us before going home for the night.
Yes, he stood me up on what should have been our first date as parents, but when he showed up to the bar, apologized, and then worshiped me later that night? It was different. He was present. He was concerned and caring. And he was asking and making plans with Dominic.
And tonight is our first night out as a family of three. Of course, we’re with the rest of our family and friends too, but the idea that we aregoing to be seen together in front of the whole town, is causing my heart to race. I mean, what better way to come out than at the Championship game? I didn’t want to take away from the night, but Francesca assured me we would be a good luck charm for Jackson and the town.
“Gage and his shirts.” I’m pulled from my thoughts as I hear Adam enter through the back door and reads Dom’s shirt as he sits on the island so I can tie his shoes.
“Your sister was here a little while ago, dropped it off for him. I think it’s cute, everyone has one.” I twist around so Adam can see mine.
“Get the fuck outta here with that,” he snarls out.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“You won’t ever have another man’s name on your back.”
I hold his stare and raise a brow. “Shall I take it off?” I’m teasing him, testing him and I know it. I know he loves it, too.
He watches me intensely until Dom yells ‘football!’ His eyes leave mine and instantly soften while looking at our son.
“Chelsea, I think it’s time that we try to explain to him who I am.” He walks closer to the island and Dom scoots across the shiny marble right into Adam’s arms.
“Hey bud.” He gives him a quick kiss on the head, and they melt into each other.
