One That Came Back (10 page)

Amanda Dougherty's Secret

After she left Angela’s, Emily turned to the one person she could talk to. She sat in Mrs. Diggerty’s kitchen eating a chocolate chip cookie the woman had just made. Reger rubbed up against her legs now, enjoying privileges in both apartments. In the past three months he ran back and forth between them begging for food and getting fat while he did so. Once Emily and Mrs. Diggerty compared notes they agreed to each give Reger half a small can each day, Emily in the morning and Mrs. Diggerty at night.

Emily felt more confused than earlier. No matter how she turned the thoughts over in her head she couldn’t come up with an answer. She knew she had to tell her parents, but wanted to talk to someone about everything before she did. It was easy for her to talk to her landlady because the dear woman never judged her, unlike her parents.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said. “I don’t know if I can raise it alone.”

Mrs. Diggerty set a teacup for Emily, and herself. She sat down and poured the tea from a pot sitting on the table.

“Why couldn’t you adopt out your child?” Mrs. Diggerty said as she sat in the chair opposite Emily. “There are thousands of parents who desperately want a child.”

“I can’t bear the thought of giving up this child, but on the other hand, I don’t know.” She stared at the steam lifting off her tea. “It’s not that he or she wouldn’t have a good home. I just feel a connection to this baby. He’s…” Emily let the words trail as tears welled in her eyes.

“Because he’s part of someone you love,” said Mrs. Diggerty gently.

“Yes,” Emily whispered.

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through. But I think there is one thing for sure. You shouldn’t make a decision until you talk to the father.”

Emily looked up at the ceiling and sucked in a breath. “I already know what he’ll say. He made it clear he didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

“You know, sweetheart. I can’t believe that. I remember that day he sat on the porch waiting for you. I’d never seen a young man look so anxious.”

“You saw him?”

“When I came in from an errand, yes. I asked who he was, and he told me. He even asked if I thought you’d like the flowers he brought.”

“He did?” Emily fingered the necklace he gave her that day. She’d never taken it off.

“Yes. And I tell you, love was shining in his eyes when he spoke your name. You couldn’t miss it.”

“Well, he doesn’t love me now,” she said with bitterness in her voice. “Things change.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. But it’s his child too. He may want to help you for the baby’s sake. Hell, you can make him help you, if you take him to court.”

Emily’s head shot up at the sounds of her little old landlady swearing. If she wasn’t so stressed, she’d have laughed. “I could never make someone do something if they didn’t want to. Plus, I’ve had enough of courts.”

“That’s your pride talking,” Mrs. Diggerty said.

“Maybe it is,” admitted Emily. “But you don’t know what he was like the last time I saw him. He was so… cold.” She lowered her head as the shame she felt when he left her that day in the funeral home office washed over her again.

“I don’t pretend to understand men, Emily. But right is right. You have to give him a chance.”

“Well, I have other people I should tell first. I need time to think.”

“Take all the time you need.”

When Emily got her bail money back from the court she bought a car. She’d searched for a month on Internet ad sites and after looking at a few clunkers, she found the perfect one for her. It was a fifteen-year-old black Sebring, but the original owner had taken good care of it. The paint was flawless and the metal rims were as shiny as the day it rolled out of the factory. She could hardly believe her luck when her mechanic told her he’d never seen an older car in such good shape. She bought it immediately and considered herself lucky she didn’t have to make a car payment, especially since she didn’t have a job.

Her parents’ home was set on the corner of two streets. The driveway sat on the left-hand side of the house, with hedges lining either side of it. She entered through the side door of the house, to the kitchen. She heard voices and her stomach tightened again. It sounded like both her parents were home.

With a sigh she walked through the bright and perpetually clean kitchen into the dining room. She followed the voices to the living room and stopped short.

“What’re you doing here?” She thought she was going to faint.

Evan looked up at her, his expression all innocence. Why the hell would her parents let him in?

“I was just telling your mom here that I’d do the right thing.”

“What?” Emily yelled. She looked toward her mother, whose face was blanched white.

“You’re pregnant!” she said, her voice a hoarse whisper. “How could you? This is not how you were raised.”

“Evan has no business being here! Or telling you I’m pregnant!” This was not bloody happening. This had to be some kind of a nightmare.

“But Emily, if he’s the father—”

“He’s NOT the father!” Emily clenched her fists. “Get the hell out of here, Evan Waters!”

Evan stood, crossing his arms over his chest, a triumphant look on his face. “You can’t keep ignoring me, Emily. Especially now.”

“OUT!” Emily was so upset she was shaking. She pointed to the door with her finger.

“I’ll demand a paternity test.”

“Demand all you want. You’re delusional, especially if you think this child has anything to do with you!”

Evan sighed dramatically. He smiled kindly at her mom. “I’m sorry she’s so upset. It must be the hormones.” He moved to the front door. “I’ll talk to you soon, Mrs. D.”

“You WILL not!” yelled Emily.

“We’ll talk to you when you’re not so upset.” Evan walked quickly to the door and let himself out.

Emily was breathing hard, almost hyperventilating. “I can’t believe him! I can’t believe you! Why would you let him in?”

“Emily, are you going to tell me what is going on?”

She stomped over to her mother. “Evan got it half right, but only because he saw me buying a pregnancy test. Yeah, I’m pregnant. But hell no! Not by Evan Waters!” She couldn’t believe her mother had freakin’ let him into the house. How messed up was this family?

“Who then?” Her mother’s face was drawn tight. “Not that Wade boy.”

“Man, mother! Luke’s a man.” She’d never been this angry before. She couldn’t believe life could be this ridiculous. “And he’s the father.”

“How can you be sure?” said her mother, biting her pinky.

“Because I’m not the fuck up you think I am,” she shouted. “I slept with Luke. Period. End of story.”

“But you aren’t seeing him anymore.”

“You’re just filled with stunning insights, aren’t you?”

“Emily! Don’t talk to me like that. And stop swearing.”

“Then don't talk to me like I’m an idiot, mother. I’m not. I may have made a mistake—”

“It’s a very big mistake.”

“Again, I’m not stupid. I realize the gravity of the situation. I would hope that my
mother
would, at least, be understanding. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

“But you’ve sinned, Emily. You broke one of the Ten Commandments.”

Really?
“Sins can be forgiven, mother. Insensitivity cannot.”

“Insensitive? You think I’m insensitive?” Her mother’s voice went up an octave.

“I’m pregnant! I’m terrified. And all you can think about is my sin?” Her mother’s mouth dropped open but Emily continued, “Why did you want to keep me away from Luke? Why were you so against him?”

“I was only trying to protect you! So you wouldn’t go through what I did.”

“What?” said Emily, walking toward her mother. “What did you go through?”

Her mother rose. “Like you. Pregnant. The boy didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

Emily stared at her mom, her brows pressed together. Her heart suddenly sped and the room spun. She rested a hand on the back of a chair. “Wait, are you telling me, Dad isn’t my dad?”

“Don’t you start that Emily Rose Dougherty! In all the ways that count, he’s your father. He’s loved you like his own from the day you were born.”

Could today get any more shocking? Except, in a weird way, it made sense. But still!!! “Who’s my father?” When her mother didn’t answer, Emily raised her voice. “Who’s my father?!”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s in prison. He won’t be out for a long time.”

“What? Prison?” Who’s the friggin’ sinner now? She wanted to snap at her mom, but bit her lip from saying it out loud when she noticed how her mother was suddenly acting.

Her mother seemed lost in her own thoughts as she began to pace. “No. I won’t tell you. I promised your father I wouldn’t tell you. You won’t get any more out of me!”

Emily shook her head, unsure of what to do as she watched her mother seemingly change into someone she didn’t know.

“Didn’t you ever wonder why you never saw my parents? Your grandparents?” She spun around and paced again, oblivious to the tears running down her face. She threw her hand toward the wall where framed photos hung. “Not even a picture!”

“You said they died before we were born.”

Amanda Dougherty shook her head and laughed. “They disowned me, Emily! Kicked me out of the house.” She snapped her fingers. “Just like that! You want to talk about insensitive?”

“Mom,” Emily said quietly. “I never knew. I’m sorry.”

Amanda snorted. “If it wasn’t for your father, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

“Oh, mom. That’s the saddest thing I ever heard.”

Her mother sniffed and wiped at her eyes. “I needed their help, and they turned their back on me.”

“I’m so sorry.” Emily’s own tears began blurring her mother’s face.

“It’s not your fault, Emily.” She stopped pacing and took a moment to gather herself. “It was mine. I think I took it out on you anyway, a little, by being so strict with you. I thought that if I made sure you were good, nothing would happen to you.”

“Mom, it doesn’t work like that.”

“I’m not so sure.” She looked ready to cry again. “We are all punished for our sins.”

“I’m not punishment.” Could her mother really believe that? She didn’t think so, but after today… she wasn’t sure. “I see this baby—my baby—as a blessing. The timing is just really off.”

“Maybe.” Her mother sighed but didn’t sound very convinced. She sat down and Emily came over and sat beside her. She gave Emily a strained smile. “Just so you know, Emily. I’ve always loved you and I won’t do to you what my parents did to me.”

Emily put her arms around her and gave her a hug. “I’m glad to hear that. I love you too.”

Her mother pulled back and straightened her skirt. Strain was clearly written across her face. “Now, I just have to figure out how to tell your father.”

“I’ll tell him.”

“No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I think I should.”

“Mom, I’m not sixteen years old anymore. I’m almost thirty.”

“You’re still our little girl.”

“
She what?”

Sam Dougherty exploded so loud Emily heard him shouting from the first floor to the second. She gulped. Even though her mother pleaded with her to wait in her old bedroom, Emily didn’t feel it was right to leave her mother to face her father alone. She crept down the stairs, the bearing wall that ran to the roof where the stairs climbed the only defense against her father’s wrath.

“Now, Sam. Calm down.”

“Calm down! How dare she? After all we’ve done for her.”

“I know you are upset—”

“Upset doesn’t begin to cover it! Where is she?”

“In her room, but Sam—”

“Don’t ‘but Sam’ me, Amanda.” He spun and shouted out, “Emily Rose Dougherty, get your butt down here!”

Emily rounded the wall to the living room. “You don’t have to yell, Dad.”

She’d never seen Sam Dougherty so angry. At that moment, all the connection she felt for him crumbled. He wasn’t her father. She didn’t share a bit of his DNA. For most of her life all she remembered was Sam Dougherty being upset, or disagreeable, or demanding. As a young girl he made her tremble. When she was older, all he did was make her angry. The thought scared her.

“What do you have to say for yourself?”

“Say? What would you have me say,
dear daddy?
”

Her mother winced at Emily’s tone.

“Explain yourself!”

“I think the words ‘I’m pregnant’ are pretty self-explanatory.”

“Don’t be sarcastic with me!”

Emily sighed. “I know you’re disappointed, but being angry won’t change it. Things are as they are. I wanted to tell you before anyone else did. Mom convinced me to let her tell you. That mistake is mine.” She grabbed her purse and walked toward the back door.