Read Online The Same Side (University Park #2) by CM Doporto - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: CM Doporto
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would be awesome.” Delaney moved closer, eager to see them. I did the same.
Trish thumbed through several pictures from one box and then laid them on the table. “Here are a few from when he was born.”
“Wow, you were a big baby.” Delaney picked up the picture and showed me.
“How much did you weigh?” I eased the photo from her hand.
Raven turned toward his mom. “Like ten pounds, right?”
She nodded. “He was nine pounds, seven ounces, and twenty-three inches long.” Her voice cracked and tears formed in her eyes. “Born at five fifty-five in the morning on September twenty-ninth.”
Before Raven picked us up, I asked him if he was okay with Delaney telling his life story. He reassured me he was and I suggested that we tell Delaney that he didn’t know who his father was. Then maybe he could let his mom know that he disclosed how he was conceived, just to make it easier on everyone. He agreed and said that he’d tell his mom. Before we left, I told Delaney that vital piece of information. It wasn’t easy repeating it and she felt horrible for him.
“Don’t cry, Mom. It’s okay.” Raven wrapped an arm around Trish. She cradled his face and kissed him on the cheek. Delaney snapped a pic. It was touching to see how close they were after everything they had endured over the years. No one should have to endure such pain and tragedy.
“Do you mind if I borrow this?” Delaney pointed to the picture in my hand.
“That’s fine.” Trish wiped her eyes and Raven released his arm from her. She continued searching through the boxes, pulling out several pictures in the process. She showed us several shots of Raven playing peewee and little league football, followed by middle school and then high school. She had so many photos of him winning district and state championships. It was obvious as to why he was a strong contender for a pro football contract.
Like a proud mom, she took us to the living room and showed us all the trophies he’d won over the years. Raven tried not to boast about his winnings, but eagerly told us about each of them. Happiness flickered within his eyes and it was obvious how much he enjoyed playing football. He had worked hard his entire life and I really hoped he landed with a good team. He truly deserved it.
“It hasn’t been easy. Raven’s had some tough times, but he’s pulled through every time.” Trish patted her son on the back while giving him a meek smile. “Isn’t that right?” I wasn’t expecting Raven’s mom to be supportive or loving toward him, but she showed just the opposite.
Raven shuffled his feet and crossed his arms. “Yeah.” He stared at the floor and for the first time, I saw the regret and condemnation etched deep in his face. Raven might have pulled through the tough times, but he hadn’t learned how to forgive himself.
Delaney took a couple of shots of the trophies before we returned to the kitchen.
“Who’s this with your boys?” Delaney pointed to a tall, dark man leaning against a car with the boys standing in front of him.
Trish took the picture from Delaney. “Oh, that’s Trey’s dad.” She shook her head and a twisted expression formed on her face. “You don’t want that picture. Believe me. He’s a no good, lazy, lying, cheating piece of shit.”
“Mom.” Raven motioned with his head toward the living room where Trey and Ashton were.
“What? Trey knows it. He can’t stand him either.” Trish didn’t hold back when revealing her family issues to us. “I’m sorry, girls. We’re not the Cleavers and I won’t pretend to be.”
“It’s okay. My family’s not perfect either. Even though they pretend to be.” I tried to ease the thick tension in the room.
“No family is perfect.” Delaney shuffled through a couple of photos scattered on the table and made a stack. “My parents were killed when I was little and I was put up for adoption. I didn’t have the best childhood, but I’m trying to make the most
Trish thumbed through several pictures from one box and then laid them on the table. “Here are a few from when he was born.”
“Wow, you were a big baby.” Delaney picked up the picture and showed me.
“How much did you weigh?” I eased the photo from her hand.
Raven turned toward his mom. “Like ten pounds, right?”
She nodded. “He was nine pounds, seven ounces, and twenty-three inches long.” Her voice cracked and tears formed in her eyes. “Born at five fifty-five in the morning on September twenty-ninth.”
Before Raven picked us up, I asked him if he was okay with Delaney telling his life story. He reassured me he was and I suggested that we tell Delaney that he didn’t know who his father was. Then maybe he could let his mom know that he disclosed how he was conceived, just to make it easier on everyone. He agreed and said that he’d tell his mom. Before we left, I told Delaney that vital piece of information. It wasn’t easy repeating it and she felt horrible for him.
“Don’t cry, Mom. It’s okay.” Raven wrapped an arm around Trish. She cradled his face and kissed him on the cheek. Delaney snapped a pic. It was touching to see how close they were after everything they had endured over the years. No one should have to endure such pain and tragedy.
“Do you mind if I borrow this?” Delaney pointed to the picture in my hand.
“That’s fine.” Trish wiped her eyes and Raven released his arm from her. She continued searching through the boxes, pulling out several pictures in the process. She showed us several shots of Raven playing peewee and little league football, followed by middle school and then high school. She had so many photos of him winning district and state championships. It was obvious as to why he was a strong contender for a pro football contract.
Like a proud mom, she took us to the living room and showed us all the trophies he’d won over the years. Raven tried not to boast about his winnings, but eagerly told us about each of them. Happiness flickered within his eyes and it was obvious how much he enjoyed playing football. He had worked hard his entire life and I really hoped he landed with a good team. He truly deserved it.
“It hasn’t been easy. Raven’s had some tough times, but he’s pulled through every time.” Trish patted her son on the back while giving him a meek smile. “Isn’t that right?” I wasn’t expecting Raven’s mom to be supportive or loving toward him, but she showed just the opposite.
Raven shuffled his feet and crossed his arms. “Yeah.” He stared at the floor and for the first time, I saw the regret and condemnation etched deep in his face. Raven might have pulled through the tough times, but he hadn’t learned how to forgive himself.
Delaney took a couple of shots of the trophies before we returned to the kitchen.
“Who’s this with your boys?” Delaney pointed to a tall, dark man leaning against a car with the boys standing in front of him.
Trish took the picture from Delaney. “Oh, that’s Trey’s dad.” She shook her head and a twisted expression formed on her face. “You don’t want that picture. Believe me. He’s a no good, lazy, lying, cheating piece of shit.”
“Mom.” Raven motioned with his head toward the living room where Trey and Ashton were.
“What? Trey knows it. He can’t stand him either.” Trish didn’t hold back when revealing her family issues to us. “I’m sorry, girls. We’re not the Cleavers and I won’t pretend to be.”
“It’s okay. My family’s not perfect either. Even though they pretend to be.” I tried to ease the thick tension in the room.
“No family is perfect.” Delaney shuffled through a couple of photos scattered on the table and made a stack. “My parents were killed when I was little and I was put up for adoption. I didn’t have the best childhood, but I’m trying to make the most
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