Read Online The Anniversary Party by Sommer Marsden - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sommer Marsden
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you, Kylie.” Wade hung his head, trying to think of how to finish. “I couldn't confess to you. I felt like I would lose you one way or another, but I couldn't stand the thought of you knowing what I'd done. Hating me for it. Of course, you ended up hating me anyway.” Wade felt a heavy weight of panic settle in his chest when she didn't either confirm or deny his statement.
"And the baby?"
"Well, I decided to go off and join the Army. I don't know why. Maybe I thought they could whip my sorry ass into shape. Maybe it was penance for ruining our future. Right before I left town, I went to the hospital and gave a sample for a paternity test when the baby was born. I sent her money to help with medical expenses and all that, but I told Jolene that I wanted confirmation that the baby was mine when it came along."
"And?” Kylie choked out the words and brushed her hair back. The pain in her eyes sent a slow wave of nausea through him.
"Excuses after excuses. Nine months passed. Then a year. Then almost a year and a half. First it was the baby was born the tests were pending. Then it was the baby was sick and the test got screwed up. Inconclusive. She needed money for the baby, hadn't I gotten the pictures? We could retest when I came back to town. She knew I couldn't just come back at the drop of a hat. I was stationed in California. Finally, I got desperate. I sent her a letter threatening to get a lawyer and sue for custody if it was proven the baby was mine.” Wade let his head fall and rest against Kylie's lap. Presumptuous of him and it would have been perfectly understandable if she kicked him in the head. He didn't care. He craved the feel of her. Angry or not.
"And?” Kylie prompted. Her voice was equal parts anger and sadness.
"She called me one night, drunk, and ‘fessed up. There was no baby. She'd done the whole thing to try to win me back and then I'd up and left. Stepped up to the bat financially, but left town."
"She kept you going for the money."
Wade nodded slowly. His head pounded and felt stuffed full of cotton. “She said she had a drug problem. All the money I sent basically went up her nose or in her veins. To make the rest of the story short, I told her that the money train had ended. And then I hung up and tried to forget she had ever existed."
"And why didn't you ask your parents? Why not ask them? About the baby? They could have told you it was all a lie. It's a pretty small town, Wade.” Kylie looked as if she wanted to scream but it just wouldn't come.
"I didn't want my parents to know. It's part of why I left. They had such high hopes for us. That we would have what they have. What your folks have. So did I.” He raked his hands through his hair and winced. Kylie just watched him. “I figured if they didn't mention it, Jolene hadn't told them. I was grateful for that. Once I knew the truth, obviously, I wished like hell I had asked."
"So once you knew,” Kylie sighed, “why didn't you call? Tell me?"
Wade shut his eyes tightly and took another deep breath. It still felt like he was sucking oxygen through a swizzle stick. “Every time I talked to my mom, she'd tell me how wonderful you were doing. How you had bounced back. How successful you were ... and happy."
Kylie frowned, obviously recalling a much different scenario.
"She was so angry with me, Kylie. I wouldn't tell my parents what had happened. I had just up and run off on you. I especially couldn't tell her after I knew. Because then it was clear that my being a coward was based on a lie. A lie that cost me everything. I think my mother was just trying to protect you. Sadly enough,” he whispered, “from me. I made a decision not to tell you. Jolene had stolen nearly two years of my life. But I figured if you were okay without me, you deserved the life you were building. Not some man who would run off on you when things got sticky. I threw myself into my work, signed up to learn photography, started a life when my
"And the baby?"
"Well, I decided to go off and join the Army. I don't know why. Maybe I thought they could whip my sorry ass into shape. Maybe it was penance for ruining our future. Right before I left town, I went to the hospital and gave a sample for a paternity test when the baby was born. I sent her money to help with medical expenses and all that, but I told Jolene that I wanted confirmation that the baby was mine when it came along."
"And?” Kylie choked out the words and brushed her hair back. The pain in her eyes sent a slow wave of nausea through him.
"Excuses after excuses. Nine months passed. Then a year. Then almost a year and a half. First it was the baby was born the tests were pending. Then it was the baby was sick and the test got screwed up. Inconclusive. She needed money for the baby, hadn't I gotten the pictures? We could retest when I came back to town. She knew I couldn't just come back at the drop of a hat. I was stationed in California. Finally, I got desperate. I sent her a letter threatening to get a lawyer and sue for custody if it was proven the baby was mine.” Wade let his head fall and rest against Kylie's lap. Presumptuous of him and it would have been perfectly understandable if she kicked him in the head. He didn't care. He craved the feel of her. Angry or not.
"And?” Kylie prompted. Her voice was equal parts anger and sadness.
"She called me one night, drunk, and ‘fessed up. There was no baby. She'd done the whole thing to try to win me back and then I'd up and left. Stepped up to the bat financially, but left town."
"She kept you going for the money."
Wade nodded slowly. His head pounded and felt stuffed full of cotton. “She said she had a drug problem. All the money I sent basically went up her nose or in her veins. To make the rest of the story short, I told her that the money train had ended. And then I hung up and tried to forget she had ever existed."
"And why didn't you ask your parents? Why not ask them? About the baby? They could have told you it was all a lie. It's a pretty small town, Wade.” Kylie looked as if she wanted to scream but it just wouldn't come.
"I didn't want my parents to know. It's part of why I left. They had such high hopes for us. That we would have what they have. What your folks have. So did I.” He raked his hands through his hair and winced. Kylie just watched him. “I figured if they didn't mention it, Jolene hadn't told them. I was grateful for that. Once I knew the truth, obviously, I wished like hell I had asked."
"So once you knew,” Kylie sighed, “why didn't you call? Tell me?"
Wade shut his eyes tightly and took another deep breath. It still felt like he was sucking oxygen through a swizzle stick. “Every time I talked to my mom, she'd tell me how wonderful you were doing. How you had bounced back. How successful you were ... and happy."
Kylie frowned, obviously recalling a much different scenario.
"She was so angry with me, Kylie. I wouldn't tell my parents what had happened. I had just up and run off on you. I especially couldn't tell her after I knew. Because then it was clear that my being a coward was based on a lie. A lie that cost me everything. I think my mother was just trying to protect you. Sadly enough,” he whispered, “from me. I made a decision not to tell you. Jolene had stolen nearly two years of my life. But I figured if you were okay without me, you deserved the life you were building. Not some man who would run off on you when things got sticky. I threw myself into my work, signed up to learn photography, started a life when my
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