by Rye Hart
“Sebastian's ex-girlfriend, Jessica.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked. “She's crazy, you do know that, don't you, Mom? I mean, she's certifiable.”
“Of course I do,” she said with a nervous laugh. “Crazier than half the people in the loony bin, if you ask me. I never did like her, but Sebastian did and that was all that mattered at the time.”
I kept waiting. She'd talked to Jessica, so I knew there was more.
“ Jessica said she had something to show me, which I refused to look at because it's Jessica and I have no interest in her drama,” she said and a wave of relief flooded my body. “But since I wouldn't look at the attachments she'd sent along, she told me that they were proof you and Sebastian were having a thing. Of course, I told her she was being completely ridiculous. ”
“So, you didn't believe her?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Of course not,” mom scoffed. “You and Sebastian? He's a good man, and wouldn't do something like that.”
I twirled a couple of strands of hair around my fingers. “What if I pursued him, mom?”
“He'd still say no,” she said, shaking her head. “He and your father were too close for him to be involved with you. You're like a daughter to him, Violet.”
For some reason, hearing my mom deny everything like she was doing made it all the worse. She was so sincere in her belief that we'd never get together and yet, I had to tell her. There was no way I could keep my relationship with Sebastian secret from her. Not for very long anyway. She'd eventually find out.
And besides, if it was true that Sebastian and I were in love, it was only a matter of time before we became official. I couldn't hide something like that from my mother.
“Mom, I have something to tell you,” I said quietly, staring down at my hands. “Jessica wasn't lying. Sebastian and I are actually together and we're in love.”
My mom was quiet for a moment, then she burst out laughing. When I didn't join her, she stopped and looked at me, an expression of something like panic upon her face.
“Wait. You're serious, Violet?”
I nodded, finally bringing myself to look her in the eyes. “I am,” I said. “I know it seems weird, with the age difference and all, but we fell in love, mom. And what we have between us is real, I know it is.”
My mother stood up, her knees shaking. “I - I have to get more wine,” she said, her voice cracking.
I knew she was crying and didn't want me to see, so she refused to look at me. I grabbed hold of her arm and stood beside her.
“Listen, mom. I'm a grown woman now,” I said. “And we are both consenting adults. I love him and he loves me, this isn't just some random fling. It's real, mom. It's really real.”
My mom pulled her arm away, but instead of going to the kitchen for more wine, she reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Sebastian,” she said. “We need to talk.”
“About?” I asked, narrowing my gaze on her.
“About the fact that he's sleeping with Charles' daughter, that's what.”
I reached for the phone, but she pulled away. She had dialed it and was waiting for him to answer.
“Mom, listen to me,” I said, trying to remain calm. “I'm an adult. I'm not a child, and whatever – ”
Sebastian picked up, and my mother immediately started screaming at him. She called him every name in the book as tears streamed down her face. It killed me to see my mom in such pain, but I knew that I needed to stay strong. This was my life to live, not hers. And I was going to grab hold of love and happiness where I found it, regardless of how uncomfortable it might make her.
I heard Sebastian say, “I'm right down the street. I'll be there in a minute.”
My heart pounded as I waited, and my mother continued to cry. She refused to look at me. Refused to talk to me. She just sat there sobbing.
“Why can't you just accept the fact that I'm happy?” I asked, my own tears streaming down my face now. “And that I'm involved with somebody you admit is a good man, one who treats me really well.”
That's when Sebastian knocked on the door, and we both ran for it at the same time. I reached it first, thanks to me being quicker, and my mom having consumed several glasses of wine. As I opened it up, just seeing his face caused a warm and fuzzy stirring throughout my entire body.
“What in the hell are you doing here?” my mom slurred.
“I stayed close by, just in case something like this happened and Violet needed me,” he said, keeping his cool. “Listen, Angela, I know it's hard to believe, but this isn't what you think it is.”
“It isn't? You're not just sleeping with my daughter because she's young and pretty? She's actually not just another conquest under your belt?”
“No, I promise you, it's different than that,” Sebastian said. “Violet is a brilliant young woman. She's wise beyond her years. Not many women her age have dealt with the loss of their parent, have managed to plan an entire funeral, kept her head above water, and taken care of their mother at the same time. You and Charles raised a strong, intelligent, confident, and beautiful woman. And I'm sorry, but I fell in love with her.”
My heart pounded harder in my chest as he spoke.
“And I hope I can prove to you that we're serious, that we're in this for the long haul,” he said. “This isn't just a fling, I can promise you that, and who knows? Maybe one day I'll marry her.”
He looked so sexy standing there, defending my honor. I almost couldn't breathe as I watched him. I wanted to go to him, to kiss him, to feel him hold me, but knew that I couldn't in front of my mother. Not yet. Right now, it would only make things worse.
“Get out,” my mom said. “Both of you.”
She threw her wine glass at the door, missing Sebastian, but just barely. It hit the wall and shattered into a million pieces that sprayed all over the foyer. I stared at him, and then back at my mom, completely dumbfounded.
“You don't mean this.”
But Sebastian took my arm and led me away, pulling me out the door as I stared at the wreck of my mom.
“She doesn't mean this,” I argued with him.
“No, she doesn't,” he said. “But she needs time. And there's no reason you need to stay there and put up with her emotions and abuse. You're done coddling your mother, Violet. You've protected her for too long. Now it's my turn to protect you.”
As much as it hurt to leave that afternoon, I knew he was right. I knew my mother just needed some time.
It took some time, but my mother eventually took my calls. I was living with Sebastian, and honestly, things were going very well. I just wanted to patch things up with my mother. I was no longer working as Sebastian's assistant, since he felt that might be a conflict of interest. I was working for another company, a job Sebastian helped me land, and that was going extremely well also. I was able to work my way up faster than I thought possible, and I didn't have to worry about it being because I was sleeping with the boss.
I called my mom the day I got the news of my promotion, not expecting her to answer. But she did.
“Mom,” I said, my voice cracking. “I miss you.”
She was quiet for a few moments, but finally she answered me. “I miss you too, baby girl.”
The tears fell, from both of us, as we talked.
“I didn't mean for this to happen,” I said. “It just did. And I wouldn't take it back for the world, but I also don't want to lose you. You're the only family I have left.”
“Do you love him, Violet? Truly love him?”
“Yes,” I said, not even taking a moment to question that. “I do. With all of my heart. And he loves me, mom.”
She sighed. “He's right, you know.”
“About what?”
“I heard what he said to you as you were leaving. How you were done coddling me. He was right. All these months, you were the one taking care of me, when I should have been the one t
aking care of you.”
“I wanted to do that, mom,” I said.
“I know, honey, but you weren't supposed to. I'm the mother,” she said. “And when I kicked you out, it was all over my own feelings again. I was so caught up in how I was going to lose you, and I pushed you away.”
“I'm still here, mom,” I said. “I always will be.”
“And I'll always be there for you too,” she said. “And if it means I have to come to terms with accepting Sebastian, well, I guess I'm the one with some growing up to do. It's just hard to imagine my baby girl with someone old enough to be her father.”
“He makes me happy, mom,” I said. “And treats me very well.”
My mom was silent for a few minutes. “I don't doubt that, Violet. Sebastian is a good man, I have no doubt about that.”
Hearing her say that filled me with hope.
“Maybe you two should come over for dinner soon,” my mom said. “I'd really like to see you again, Violet.”
“I'd like that,” I said. “And I bet Sebastian would like that too, mom.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - VIOLET
As I stared down at the pink stripes, the answer was clear. This was the second test I'd taken that day and had gotten the same results. Sebastian sat beside me as I stared down at the test then back up at him.
“Positive. I'm guessing two false positives in a row isn't likely.”
I was shaking. Sebastian and I had never talked about having children together. After all, we were just getting started on living together. It became something of a necessity after my mom had kicked me out. A necessity that became a blessing in disguise.
Tears welled up in my eyes. Yes, I wanted kids, and the idea of having kids with Sebastian seemed nice, but things with us were still relatively new. And I had no idea how he felt about any of it.
“Shhh,” he said, pulling me into him, kissing my forehead. “It's going to be okay.”
“I need to talk to my mom,” I said.
For some reason, finding out something big like that – that I was pregnant – made me yearn for my mother even more. We had dinner scheduled later that evening, but I wasn't sure that would be the best time to make the announcement that she might be a grandma. She was just beginning to try and accept us as a couple, so there was that. That was a lot for her.
But as I stared up at Sebastian, I feared maybe he had other plans; plans that didn't include keeping the baby. I tried to get a feel for his thoughts, but without him saying much, it was more than a little difficult.
“Sebastian,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I don't know how you feel about being a father, and I understand if you don't want to be a dad. But whatever happens between you and me, I can't – ”
Before I could finish, I broke down in a fit sobs. The idea of aborting our child filled me with dread. It was weird ,before I even knew for sure I was pregnant, when it was just a matter of my period being late, I knew I wanted the child. Part of me was so happy to see the results, but of course, I was also fearful of what it might mean for my relationship with Sebastian.
I continued, “Whether you want to be in the child's life or not, I'm still going through with it.”
I was strong. I could do this. Even if it meant being alone, I could and would do it. Sebastian stared at me, a serious look on his face, but then he smiled at me. And in that smile, there was so much hope.
“I was hoping you'd say that,” he said. “I didn't want you to feel obligated though. You're so young and have so much life to live still. But I don't have as much time to be a dad. And well – ”
“So you're happy about this?” I asked, suddenly feeling my pulse racing and a sense of genuine joy spreading through my body.
“Yes, I am actually,” he said, appearing surprised at his own answer. “Very much so.”
“So this is it,” I said, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding. “We're going to have a baby.”
“We're going to have a baby,” he said, taking my hands in his.
***
“Wouldn't you like some wine, sweetie?” my mom asked, pouring a glass for herself and Sebastian. I looked over at Sebastian and he looked at me. I wasn't sure if we were going to tell her tonight or not, even though I was bursting at the seams to share the news. I was afraid she might not take it too well. Things were moving a little fast.
“No thank you,” I said, sipping my sparkling water. “I'm trying to drink more water.”
“Good girl,” she said, smiling at me. “You were always such a good influence on me.”
I tried to keep my mom eating healthy, even after what happened to dad. She sunk into a pit of despair and often turned to wine and chocolate to soothe her feelings, and I was there to convince her to replace her wine glass with bottled water, her chocolate with something that might better fill her stomach.
I looked down at my hands, not wanting to look at either her or Sebastian, afraid I might give something away by the guilt written on my face. I hated keeping anything from my mother, and this was something huge. Sebastian reached over and took my hand, squeezing it. As I looked up into his eyes, I couldn't help but smile.
We were having a baby.
Such joyous news, and I was dying to share it with my mother. More than anything.
“Go ahead, if you'd like,” he whispered to me.
“Now?” I mouthed.
“What are you two lovebirds whispering about?” my mom said, obviously trying to show she was okay with our new relationship, but it still came out awkward and stilted.
“Uhh well, Sebastian and I have some news to share,” I said. My hands were shaking, but Sebastian kept them still and calm in my lap by holding onto them for dear life. “I know it seems really sudden, but sometimes, things happen and well, we're having a baby, mom. You're going to be a grandma.”
My mother dropped the wine glass to the table with a loud clank and stared at me slack jawed. She looked between Sebastian and myself, and I feared the worst. She was going to flip out and kick us out again, I just knew it. I had to prepare for the worst, but this time, Sebastian was here for me. He would take care of me and we'd leave, if it came to that.
“You're pregnant? But-- How?” My mom cringed at her own question. “No, don't answer that. I really don't want to know. Are you sure?”
“Yes, mom. We're sure. It's unexpected, but were happy,” I said.
My mother looked at Sebastian, then back at me. I watched the wave of emotions cross her face, and I feared the worst. But she kept her cool, and I had to commend her for that. “Wow. So I'm going to be a grandma? Well, I didn't expect this, but congratulations, honey. That's great news.”
Sebastian cleared his throat, and both my mother and I turned to him.
“I just wanted to say,” he said, turning to me, “That while things have moved incredibly fast between your daughter and I, that I fully intend to keep my promise to you, Angela.”
“What promise?” I asked, turning to look at my mom. She looked as confused as I did.
Sebastian pushed the chair back from the table, and before I knew what was happening, he got down on one knee and pulled out a ring. My heart pounded in my chest as I started crying before he even said the words. “Oh God.”
“Violet, I intended to ask you anyway, but after what we found out today, I figured there was no time like now,” he said. “Will you marry me?”
I stared into his eyes, and it took me a moment to realize this was real. That he was really asking me to marry him, and I barely managed to mutter, “Yes,” before we embraced, kissing and nearly forgetting about my mom sitting across from us.
As soon as I remembered where we were, I looked over and she was also crying. For the first time in I don't know how long, she was crying happy tears.
“Thank you,” I whispered to my mother.
“I just want you to be happy, sweetheart. And obviously, he makes you very happy.”
And in that moment, I realized something ver
y important, something I never thought possible.
Yes, Violet. Dreams can come true.
The End
Rock Hard Lumberjack
A Lumberjack And A City Girl Romance
CHAPTER ONE: SAM WASHINGTON
OMG I HAVE THE BEST PRESENT FOR YOU!!!
As soon as I see the text message from Lacey I know that I’m in for an interesting afternoon. Not only does Lacey not traffic in subtlety, I’m not sure she’s ever considered the alternative.
Back in junior high, while I was a junior and Lacey a senior, she made an effort to cheer me up after my first hangover. Lacey covered the car of a boy who had jilted me in graffiti. She was on the verge of slashing his tires when the high school rent-a-cop startled her.
I, of course, didn’t know this until later. It did cheer me up. I’m not sure if that says more about Lacey or me. But we take our fun where we can get it.
Life is meant to be lived, right?
Or, in my case, I take whatever fun comes my way. This is one of my problems- I have always relied on other people to bring the excitement into my life. I’m not so good at drumming it up for myself. Good thing, most of the time, I have people like Lacey around to send cryptic texts that I know will have volcanic consequences.
But for now, you’re probably wondering what I needed to be cheered up about. Honestly, cheering up isn’t quite the word. Here’s the least you need to know for now: I had been dating a guy named Owen for a year. I knew him well before that, but we only dated for about a year. Owen was…jeez, I’m not sure how to put it - except to say that Owen was Owen. He was just…there. Kind of like how gravity is just there. You don’t really think about it, and since it never leaves, you forget what life is like without it.
Owen had a coin collection. Has. I’m sure he hasn’t gotten rid of it. I initially thought it was a cute hobby but it revealed itself as more of an obsession. He used the word “numismatics” constantly. That means coin collecting. Maybe you already knew that, but I didn’t. Over time I began to suspect that the only reason Owen started collecting coins was that he learned the word numismatics, couldn’t find a way to work it into a normal conversation, and could not therefore use this addition to his chick-slaying arsenal. Stupid Owen.
