Chapter 25

JACK

Yesterday was a whirlwind. It was like a ~thunderstorm~. From the moment Anna stepped into my classroom, to the moment Bec stood up to her sister, it was a rollercoaster.

I can’t believe all of that happened in just one day. One crazy day.

As I run, I replay yesterday’s events. The whole truth explosion—the child, the grandchild, the cancer, the… everything. I can’t help but feel a mix of sadness, anger, and guilt.

Guilt for not being there, for not questioning Becca’s sudden disappearance back in high school.

I knew it was strange, but with the way we ended things, I thought she just moved away or something.

Now I know better. And I know I should’ve questioned how I could’ve been there for Becca—and for Anna.

Bec and I had a good talk after we left the hospital last night and I understand her reasons. She told me how she had never really thought about trying to win me back, she was just scared and alone.

She had no one, and her sister took her in. So she did what she thought was best, under a little bit of pressure, of course.

All things considered, I’m happy with where my life is right now.

I’m glad that Anna came to my classroom, and I’m glad I have the chance to be there for her now. God, if I see her “parents” again, I don’t know what I’ll do.

Just the thought of them makes my blood boil. I can’t believe what they put her through. Just thinking about it…damn it.

~Run faster, run off the anger. Anna needs you now more than ever.~

~

I didn’t get the feeling that they ever actually cared about her. And that breaks my heart.

That girl, my girl, deserved the world! But all she got was judgment and betrayal when she needed someone, and by someone, I mean her parents.

After talking with Anna, I understand that she had never planned on getting pregnant in high school. I mean, what high school student plans to get pregnant? None of them.

She didn’t sleep around. You could tell that the instant you looked at James and Anna. The love between them never faded. That’s only possible with a love that is strong—not when you sleep around.

~It was like they were looking for a way out~…

If they had just talked to her, her life could’ve been a whole lot different.

But she didn’t fit their image of the perfect Christian daughter, so they found a way out and jumped at the opportunity when it presented itself.

I hope she’ll never see them again. And if she does, I hope they aren’t there just to hurt her again. She’s going through enough already. She doesn’t need this.

And if they do hurt her again… They’ll have me to answer to.

I might have just found out about her, but no one will hurt my baby girl. Not on my watch. I’ll be there whenever I can for the rest of my life.

~Beep Beep~

~

My phone lets me know that I have a message. I check my smart watch and see that Bec has texted me.

Becca

I’m at the hospital. She looks good. She’s eating. By eating I mean diving into her food. It’s smeared all over her face.

~HAHA, that sounds right.~

~

Becca

There are some people here. Jim and Liz? I don’t know who they are, but Anna looks happy they’re here.

That puts a smile on my face and the picture of a food-covered Olivia in my head.

I make my way home. I run to clear my head, and now, my head is clear. The game plan is set in my head, and I’m ready to go.

I run up the driveway of my house. It’s a simple three-bedroom wooden house near the woods. I go in and make my way to the bathroom.

I sigh as the memories come rushing back.

I was married once. After a couple of years, she told me she didn’t want to have kids. She had lied to me about that originally—we had talked about it when we started dating.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have married her.

Kids were too important for me. She’s a pediatric doctor—oncology—so I might run into her soon. And we didn’t exactly part on good terms.

~I’m not looking forward to that.~

~

Now I have a kid and a grandkid. I might want more kids, but right now I have to be there for Anna. And if my ex-wife Jasmine can help her, then so be it.

I’ll put my feelings aside, even if I have to face them both in the same room.

Oliver and Jasmine had an affair—they don’t know that I know, and I never said anything about it. I didn’t care anymore at that point. I was not in the right state of mind at that point.

I was just trying to take in her lie about wanting children, and then there was that. I shut down when I try to solve my feelings and straighten out my head.

I smile as I remember James saying that Anna does the same thing.

I could actually have lived with the cheating, but the lying was something else. It’s weird, I know, but at that moment of my life, that’s how I felt.

The affair was something I had known about for quite a while, but I had never said anything about it. I hated her for cheating, but I hated her more for lying about the most important wish I have in life.

Having kids.

After my shower, I drive to the hospital. When I arrive at the room, my girls are talking to a couple I don’t recognize.

“You’ll never have to see them, sweetie.” I hear Becca say in a sweet voice.

~That’s the Becca that I remember. Sweet, caring, loving, but a tad dramatic.~

~

I walk to the room. My girls are standing close to each other, and I can’t help but smile at the sight of it.

~They won’t hurt either of you again, not on my watch.~

~

“Better not, or I’ll lose my temper,” I say out loud at the same time as James, making my girls roll their eyes.

“Boys…”

“Hey there, Jack,” Anna greets me, and I can’t help but wonder if she’ll ever call me Dad. It’s the role I’ve stepped into, and I’m hopeful that one day I’ll earn that title. But I understand that I’m a new addition to her life.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I respond, earning an eye roll from her.

“I’m twenty-one,” she retorts, her tone stubborn.

“You’re still my sweetheart,” I assure her, grinning.

“So, you’re her biological father?” the man, Jim, inquires.

I nod in confirmation. “Yes, I’m Jack.”

“I’m Jim,” he introduces himself, shaking my hand with a grip that’s just a bit too firm.

~He’s sending a message.~

~

“Uncle…,” Anna warns, her tone cautionary.

~Uncle?

~

I meet his gaze, and the message is clear.

~“Don’t hurt her.”

~

I nod in understanding and mouth, “Never.”

His stern expression softens into a smile.

“Jim…,” the woman starts.

“It’s okay, I understand,” I assure them.

I move past Jim to greet my girls. I plant a kiss on Becca’s cheek and one on Anna’s forehead.

“Poppa,” I hear Olivia chirp, reaching her hands up towards me.

I point to myself in surprise. “Me?” I question.

“Yeah, sorry. Olivia’s given you a nickname,” James apologizes.

“Actually, I like it.” I don’t want to dwell on how I became ‘Poppa,’ but I know it’s a more contemporary term than grandpa. So, I’m content. I scoop her up into my arms.

“Hey there, little one.”

“Poppa,” she repeats, wrapping her arms around me.

~Now I’m intrigued.~

~

“Okay, now I need to know,” I announce, my gaze fixed on Anna.

“She’s clever,” Anna shrugs. I give her a look that says, “you’re not off the hook, missy.”

“We were watching TV, and she asked who you were. I told her the truth—that you’re my dad, just like James is hers. She asked, ‘Like grandpa?’ referring to James’s dad. And I said yes.

“She had her thinking face on, like this,” she demonstrates, placing her finger under her chin, furrowing her brow, and pouting her lips.

“And just then on the TV, a little girl called her grandfather ‘Poppa.’ So, yeah. Sorry.”

“I’m fine with it. I’m too young to be called grandpa,” I declare, grinning.

“What about Becca?” I ask Olivia, who is now sporting her thinking face. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Anna’s imitation doesn’t do it justice.

‘Mommy’s Mommy?’ she questions, and I nod in confirmation.

“Gigi!” she exclaims joyfully. Becca’s mouth drops open in surprise.

“Gigi?” we all echo.

“Why Gigi?” Anna asks.

“Because she’s funny, and she’s my grandma. So, Gigi. It’s fun.”

Becca walks over to me and takes Olivia from my arms. “Gigi it is, then. I kind of like it,” she admits, sticking out her tongue and making Olivia giggle.

“This is all so real,” Anna murmurs, her voice choked with emotion.

“Mommy, don’t cry,” Liv pleads, wriggling out of Becca’s embrace. She rushes over to her mom and wraps her arms around her legs.

Anna bends down to hug Liv.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Becca reassures her.

“I know that now,” Anna replies. She stands up with Olivia in her arms and walks over to us.

“Family hug!” Olivia shouts, making sure everyone is included in the group embrace.

We stand like that for a while, and when I hear someone enter, I choose to ignore it.

“Oooh,” a familiar voice coos. We break the hug and turn to see who’s arrived.

I look up and see Oliver, and trailing behind him, ~Jasmine.~