Braided Strings

by Kaprice Potter

  “I’m not going to walk away from my daughter, Cara, obligation or not. I may not know how I feel about you right now, but my parents didn’t raise me to turn my back on my responsibility. I’m not going to let her grow up without a father, and I’m NOT going to let some other man take my place. I know you said you’re not seeing anyone right now, but that could easily change, and I want to make it clear right now that I’m not going to step aside.”

  His last statement confirmed in her mind that what she had been telling him was true. He had gone from discussing a relationship with her to what role future men in her life would have with his daughter. She could only take that to mean his feelings had changed, and he wasn’t sure any longer that there was a future for the two of them, or that he even wanted to find out what they had between them.

  “What does that mean for us? I know you’re not happy that I kept this from you, but I don’t want her affected by any animosity.”

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen with us. But I guess you’re right. I need to take this in before I decide how I’m feeling about you. You were my best friend for so long, and I know how you think better than you do, so I know what was going through your mind. I don’t understand how you couldn’t have trusted me more than you did, but I get how your mind works. You were scared, stubborn, and untrusting. We’ll get past it, I’m sure. I’m pissed, Cara, don’t think I’m not. But I’m not going to lash out, and I’m not going to storm off and never speak to you again.”

  And there he was—her calm, level-headed Delaney. The temporary surge of anger she had seen when she announced that Sutton was his wouldn’t amount to anything. He took every situation in stride, and thought clearly and logically.

  “I’m sure we will. For Sutton, if nothing else. I won’t put anything before her, Delaney. I wasn’t ready either, but I wouldn’t change it.”

  Knowing there was nothing else she could say, she sat down in the chair across from him. She helped Sutton a bit with the food she was having trouble picking up, and relaxed when she saw Delaney pick up his fork.

  He spent most of the meal staring at the baby, and Cara thought about how normal it all could have been. Perhaps if she had told him sooner, this could be an average night for the three of them. She might have had everything she ever wanted. A family of her own, a man that she respected and admired as well as trusted. It was every girl’s dream. And she had let her more cynical nature stand in the way of her happily ever after.

  ***

  After their dinner, Delaney had said he would call the next day. They hadn’t discussed it much, but Cara knew he wanted to tell his parents about Sutton. She had no doubt that he would be setting up dinner with them, hoping to tell them in person. When the phone rang Saturday morning, she braced herself for another day of high anxiety levels.

  “Hi, Delaney.”

  “Hey. I talked to my mom, and we’re going to have dinner over there tonight. I’ll be over around 3:15 to pick you up.”

  Delaney didn’t ask if she had other plans, or ask her what time worked for her. He used his stern voice, and expected her not to argue. In the past, his tone alone would have incited an argument from her. This time she placidly agreed, attempting to make nice for the pain and anger she had caused him.

  “We’ll be ready.”

  A short, terse goodbye and Delaney hung up the phone.

  Chapter 7

  At three o’clock, Delaney walked through the front door of the house without knocking. He found Cara in her bedroom, changing Sutton’s outfit for the third time that day. He walked over and peeked at the little girl. Sutton smiled from ear to ear and again cried, “UP!”.

  “She’s not shy, is she?”

  “Not with people she recognizes. I started keeping pictures of you and a few others in the apartment after I saw how much it helped for my parents. She’s only seen them a handful of times, but she recognizes the faces every time. She may only be a little over a year, but she’s very observant.”

  Delaney didn’t say anything. He just picked Sutton up, and it struck him how normal it could be. This harmony was what he had been afraid to admit he wanted.

  “Did you tell your parents anything yet?” Cara asked him.

  “No, I didn’t say anything. To be honest, I’m looking forward to the expressions on their faces when we walk in with her.”

  “Well, that makes one of us.” Cara looked away again, and, Delaney could hear the threatening anxiety attack. He moved closer to her, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close to his chest.

  “Hey, you need to calm down. It’s going to be fine. You know my parents aren’t judgmental. I’m sure they’ll be ecstatic to have a granddaughter.” He rubbed circles over her lower back and she allowed herself to wrap her arms around his waist and bury her face in his chest. It was the same thing they’d done countless times before, but this time was different. He was pleasantly aware that he was holding her and their child in his arms. He couldn’t imagine the picture they made, but he knew that he needed to sort things out in his head and decide where they would go from here.

  “Thank you, Delaney. You had every right to storm out of here when I told you, but you didn’t. Once again your calm nature wins out. I guess I shouldn’t have expected any less.”

  “You know what they say about old dogs and new tricks. I don’t know any other way to be, and I care about you. I’m not going to change that now, especially since I’m stuck with you for the rest of our lives now.”

  ***

  He winked, and Cara realized that he was making a joke. He always knew how to lighten her mood, and usually shock her out of one of her attacks. She burst out giggling at the absurdity of everything. Her life was a prime-time drama, and he was still making jokes.

  “Well, I suppose that’s true. Are you ready to go? I just need to grab a sweater and we can leave.”

  “Yeah, where’s her car seat?”

  “Um, are you sure you want to do that?” Cara’s eyes widened, knowing that Delaney had never strapped a child into a car seat, and Sutton was particularly disagreeable when it came to being caged in.

  “Cara, knock it off now. I’m perfectly capable of figuring out how to handle a baby. You have to give me some credit. I’m not a complete ogre.”

  “Okay, whatever you want to do. I’ve got her in a stationary. It’s buckled in the back of my car.”

  Delaney walked from the room with his daughter in one arm and a diaper bag over the opposite shoulder. Cara changed her top and added a sweater, then followed them downstairs. By the time she got there, he had already left the house, and she could hear him start the car.

  That was quick, she thought. No way Sutton was that cooperative for him.

  And of course, she was right. Cara almost burst into uncontrollable laughter when she saw what was taking place outside her car. Delaney had started the car, but he must have set Sutton on the driver’s seat while he turned the key. Now Sutton was standing on the passenger seat, screaming at the top of her lungs. Cara realized that she had left her iPod connected, and it was playing Halestorm’s Mz. Hyde. Sutton went nuts for the song as usual, and Delaney had a comical look of horror on his face as he both tried to grab the child and turn down the stereo.

  Cara walked to the passenger door and opened it. “Come here, my little nightmare.” Sutton looked at her with a grin that resembled her father, and continued her head-banging action. Cara just sang along with the music and started to mimic Sutton’s dancing. The child immediately went to her mother, raised her arms and yelled “Dance!”

  Then they spun into the driveway, Delaney watching the two as they thrashed their matching red hair around, Cara jumping around, enjoying the game as much as Sutton. When the song ended, Cara went to the car and coaxed the child into her seat.

  “What have you taught her already?”

  “What? She likes music.”

  “You couldn’t teach her to like something a little calmer? Do you k
now the kind of tyrant you’re going to have on your hands when she gets older?”

  “My child will not be a tyrant. I’m only grooming her to be outspoken and fearless. Rock is in your face, and she won’t be afraid to be the same. Now, I assume you’re driving?”

  “Yeah, you assume right. I still don’t trust you behind the wheel.”

  Cara opened her mouth to speak, but decided against it. For a minute, they were having a normal conversation. She decided not to remind him it had been years since the last time he had been in a vehicle with her, and how much he had missed out on between then and now. She wondered how long she would feel like she needed to walk on eggshells with him as they pulled out of the driveway.

  Chapter 8

  They pulled up to the Blake house ten minutes later. She was twisting her fingers together in her lap when Delaney rested his hand over hers. He had such large hands it was almost impossible to see her two under his one, and she remembered how fascinated she had been by them in high school. It may have been strange, but it was because of his hands that she felt the safest and most comfortable around him. Now seeing them lay over hers, once again calming her jittery nerves, she thought about how much she had fantasized about them while she was pregnant. At the thought, her face flushed, and her breathing quickened.

  Delaney mistook the change for her increasing nerves. “Cara, how did you ever manage to get through a whole pregnancy? Your anxiety attacks don’t seem to be getting any better. Focus on your breathing before you pass out.”

  Cara was glad that he didn’t understand what she was really feeling at that moment. How could she honestly be thinking about sex when she was facing telling Dan and Cheryl they were grandparents? It was awful! So she focused on her breathing, slowly in and out, until she could feel the heat leave her cheeks and her body temperature return to normal. She looked over at Delaney, and gave him a hesitant smile.

  “Well, it looks like I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be. I guess it’s time to face the firing squad.”

  “You’re being too negative, Cricket. You know my parents love you, and I’ve heard no adult can resist a baby, especially their own grandchild.”

  Cara knew that it was no shock she was completely in love with this man. Even when he should hate her, he was sweet enough to calm her nerves.

  They climbed out of the car, and Cara let Delaney remove Sutton from the car while she carried the diaper bag. When they walked through the front door, Cheryl came around the corner from the kitchen, and paused in her tracks at the sight of her son holding a child.

  “You didn’t tell me you were bringing another guest. Whose baby is this?”

  “She’s mine.” Cara wasn’t sure how Delaney wanted to approach telling his parents, so she stuck to the bare minimum with her response. She figured even if Delaney didn’t come out with it, one look at Sutton and Cheryl would know who she belonged to. A mother couldn’t mistake those eyes.

  “Well, I can see that, honey! The resemblance is uncanny, but there’s something else. Something about her eyes,” Cheryl said, looking speculatively at her son.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Cara replied. She knew what Cheryl was asking, and she cursed herself for not being able to come up with something better than yes, ma’am.

  “Delaney Andrew, clearly you have something to tell me!”

  At the tone in her voice, Cara immediately rushed to Delaney’s defense.

  “Cheryl, it’s not Delaney’s fault! He only just found out about Sutton last night. Please don’t be upset with him.”

  “He only just found out last night? How could that be?”

  “Mom, Cara and I haven’t spoken in almost two years. I guess she felt she needed to tell me face to face about Sutton.”

  “Well, I suppose that’s considerate,” Cheryl said with a frown. “I think that we need to talk about this a little more, though. How old is my granddaughter?”

  “Fifteen months. I named her Sutton Rebekah.”

  Cheryl’s eyes filled when she looked at Cara. “Rebekah?”

  “Yes, I know how close you were with your mom, and I wanted her to have something from her daddy. I thought it went well with her first name.”

  Cheryl walked over to Cara and hugged her tightly. “Thank you so much. Now, give me that baby and come tell me why on earth you hid her from us for so long!”

  The three of them walked into the living room, and Cara sat on the couch while Cheryl cuddled her granddaughter, making cooing noises and repeating how adorably perfect she was. Delaney sat across from her and watched his mother with a hint of a smile on his face. While Cara explained the situation, Cheryl listened intently, and didn’t appear to be judging.

  “Well, sweetheart, I understand your feeling like you should tell him face to face. However, I think that when you realized that wasn’t going to be a possibility, you really should have given him the benefit of the doubt. I know for a fact that he would have wanted to be there for you no matter what you were going through, or what his part in it was.” Turning to Delaney, she pointed her finger and shook it at him. “And you, you tell me everything, but you didn’t tell me about sleeping with Cara? We’ll talk about that later, and how silly it was of you to let her believe you weren’t in love with her.”

  Cara was shocked at Cheryl’s words. His mother thought Delaney was in love with her? What did Cheryl see that she didn’t? Could he have really felt the same way as she did all along?

  Before Delaney could respond, his father walked in the door, and Cara felt a new surge of anxiety. They had made it through telling Cheryl, a lot better than she could have even hoped, but she thought Dan might be a different story. He was a highly laid back man, but if he got riled, there was hell to pay. His son was a lot like him in that sense, and it was no mystery to her why she had such a fondness for him. She only hoped that he would be as won over as Cheryl had been by the child.

  “Dan,” Cheryl called, “come in here and see this baby!”

  “Baby?” he said as he rounded the corner. “Is that anyway to talk about Cara? You can’t give her too much grief; she’ll stay away from us again.” Then he saw the bundle in Cheryl’s arms, and his brows rose in confusion. “Well, I guess you were actually talking about the child variety.”

  “Hey, Dad,” Delaney said. “We’d like you to meet our daughter, Sutton.” For the first time, he’d said her name with a sound of pride in his voice.

  “Our daughter?” Dan looked from Delaney to Cara, then to Sutton. Cara could see heat rise to his cheeks, and she braced for an explosion. “Son, I think you have some explaining to do.”

  Cara’s first instinct was to defend, and she sat straight as she began again. Delaney, who was sitting next to her, put his hand on her knee to calm her.

  “I’m not sure how much explaining there is. I slept with Cara, chickened out, and didn’t tell her how I felt. When I went to see her, we fought about timing, and I left. Then she chickened out as bad as I did and didn’t tell me about it.”

  The way Delaney explained it sounded almost insensitive to Cara, but for some reason it appeared to have calmed Dan.

  “You damn kids, I knew you’d make a bigger mess of things before you figured it out,” Dan said, shaking his head. “Hope you figure it out now.” Then he walked over to Cheryl and scooped up the toddler. “Hey, princess! Aren’t you pretty?”

  Sutton charmed him with her nearly toothless grin, and he laughed when she pulled on his mustache.

  Chapter 9

  After spending several more hours with Delaney’s parents, they finally packed up and travelled back to Cara’s parents’ home. Cara was lost in thought, going over Cheryl and Dan’s reactions in her mind. Cheryl believed Delaney was in love with her, and Dan had said they had something to figure out. She wasn’t sure that Delaney would ever forgive her, though she knew now that he would be as integral a part of his daughter’s life as if the two of them were together. That was all she could think about figuring out right now. She
had learned how to survive without him, but she did not want her daughter to do the same.

  While he was again driving her car, she turned to look at him. His features had haunted her dreams for the last two years. She took in the defined angle of his jaw, his deep-set eyes and, even without the light, the dark tone of his skin. She wouldn’t have always associated him with being the ultimate romantic figure, but she definitely viewed him as tall, dark, and handsome now. She assumed it was because she had gotten to know him, and knew that he was the type of guy that would do anything for the woman he loved, as he had once done for her. She used to tell him that she could never be in a relationship with him because he never argued with her.

  Of course, now she knew that was the high school drama queen talking. What she had mistaken for him “giving in” was only their commonalities at work. They enjoyed most of the same things, and just watching him during activities she wasn’t fond of was enough to make her go along with it. He was the type of man that was passionate about everything, and wasn’t afraid to be more than a little goofy.

  She thought about how many times she’d taken his laid back attitude about life for granted. She didn’t feel like she was old enough to have regrets, but if she could change the way she’d looked at him through high school, she probably would. But then, she believed that mistakes were adventures, and regrets were only learning experiences. That was probably a philosophy that she owed to Delaney, like so much else. She really wasn’t sure how she was ever going to get over him. While she was trying to come up with a plan to do just that, he broke into her silence.

  “Cricket, some things never change. I can almost hear the wheels turning. What are you so deep in thought about?”

  “How badly I screwed this up, Delaney. I know I sound like a broken record, but I really am sorry. I don’t know how I could have let it get this far.”