Love Changes Everything

Steven seemed stuck in his seat. He had sat there mulling over his thoughts and had not moved since breakfast. He had spent most of the night battling to find the words to explain the reason for the sudden, urgent meeting to his children. But deep inside he knew that finding that right words was not his biggest worry. He had broken their trust and he was most afraid of their reaction, and how his announcement was going to affect their lives as a family from this day on. He stood up as Carl walked through the door, his mother and sister in tow.

“Hello, Son. I am glad you are here.” He moved closer to Carl and gave his son a hug.

“Hi, Dad.” Carl replied as he returned the embrace. Casual conversation about nothing of importance followed as they all pulled up chairs and sat down in the warmth of the sun. Then there was that moment of awkward silence. April looked at her mother, who was looking down, pretending to be focused on what she was doing - pulling at a piece of string on the hem of her cardigan. “She is nervous. Probably even scared.” April concluded to herself. She turned her head slightly and discreetly looked at her father. He was staring at the ground, or at his house slippers, unsure of what to say next. Her heart picked up its pace. This was starting to scare her. Was one of them really on death’s list?

Finally, she looked at Carl. He had just noticed the sleeping baby, and was beginning to speak. “Is this one of your patients awaiting placement, mum?” He asked, trying to break the silence. Racquel stuttered. She suddenly seemed unable to speak; and tears began to fill her eyes. She could not hold it back any longer. Her façade was failing her now.

“Oh, my God!” April thought to herself. “What is the meaning of all this?”

Steven suddenly spoke up. “The baby is the reason why your mother and I urgently asked you to come home at such short notice.” He reached over to hold his wife’s hand, but she gently pulled it away. April noticed it, and immediately her instincts notified her that something was wrong. Very wrong.

“This is Maggie.” Her father spoke softly, signaling to the baby. His heart was breaking. “Maggie’s mother died whilst giving birth to her.” He paused. Carl was getting impatient. He didn’t like it when people beat about the bush. “So? Dad, why are you telling us all this? Since when do you get so involved and tender-hearted towards Mum’s patients?’ He had taken the words right out of April’s mouth. She was wondering exactly the same thing especially now that she was recalling his behavior towards the infant the previous night.

“Do you remember Nancy? She worked for your father for several years.” Their mother finally spoke up. Her voice was broken, although she tried hard to control it. The tears that had been welling up in her eyes now threatened to spill over. “Yes. She passed away just before Christmas, didn’t she?” April went over to her mother’s side and put an arm around her shoulder. Her mother’s tears had started to flow and this surprised her. She never thought her mother had been that fond of Nancy, but thought that death could sometimes change the way you think about people. “Yes, I remember that you told me about the funeral.” April relied softly.

“Yes Yes.” Her mother answered softly, recalling the conversation. Carl was confused.

“So?” He asked.

“Nancy was Maggie’s mother. She died whilst giving birth to her.” Racquel held a stoic face as she spoke.

Everybody was quiet. Nobody knew what to say. Finally, Carl, the brave one, decided to end the uncomfortable silence.

“Well, that is very sad. I can see how that has affected you, Mum, because you are so kind-hearted.” He looked at his mother as he spoke, then at his sister who was now sitting beside their mother, holding her hand. Racquel smiled briefly at her son, which gave him the confidence to continue:

“Did she not have any family around here? Why do you have to be stuck with her baby? Where is the baby’s father?”

“Good Question!” April thought to herself. “Yeah, where the heck is he? “She said out loud; her voice betraying her and revealing the anger that she was starting to feel towards the ‘baby’s father’. She stood up and began pacing up and down the length of the room. “No disrespect – but you guys are past the age of babysitting for some reckless and uncaring boyfriend; - even if you feel that you owe it to Nancy!” She stood up and faced both her parents, arms crossed. Her stance demanded an explanation.

Steven was hesitant. He wondered how he was ever going to be able to face his family again after this meeting, after he has said what he had to say. Regret and remorse tormented him. He knew this was going not only to shock them, but it was going to break their hearts as well. He looked at April, who was glaring back at him, her fiery eyes demanding and answer.

“That’s, that’s umm, that’s the reason we, er...” He sat up, holding on to the armrest of his chair for stability, as he cleared his throat and continued. “That’s the reason why your mother and I asked you both to come down this weekend.” He paused, and looked at his wife. He knew her heart was broken, and wished he could undo everything. “How could I have done this to her?” He asked himself for the millionth time. Finally, he took a deep breath and with his head hung low, he said slowly, “I am Maggie’s father.”