“Oh no, you can speak now. I’m ready and listening to why you’re being rude and ruining a perfectly good meal and evening.”
My father’s eyes flick to Darby then Charles sleeping in his pram before they land on me. Barren puts his phone down and glances at me, knowing Dad’s about to speak his truth. My father doesn’t mince words.
“You’re with a man who was your boss.”
“Yes,” I answer.
Dad shakes his head. “You’re with a man who has a child. Do you not see this is a problem after what you’ve been through?”
Darby’s hand lands on my thigh, and he squeezes. I think he knew this was coming, but I didn’t. I don’t see Charles as an issue, and I don’t see how he could ever be. “How do you think you will deal with not just the baby, but being the mother as well? Parenting is not easy, Olympia.”
“I’m going to step in here,” Darby says in a clear voice.
We all look to him as he straightens his back, and I can see why he’s the boss right in that moment, it’s because he can easily rival my father.
“I would like to hear the answer from Olympia, if you don’t mind.”
I place my hand on Darby’s thigh. “No, Papa, this is Darby’s part, not mine.”
We all turn to Darby. “Your daughter won’t have to deal with Charles’s mother. And as for her parenting, she doesn’t need help. If you’ve seen her with Charles you’ll know she’s a natural.”
Before he can continue, my father steps in again. “That’s not true, now, is it? The other parent has rights, so she will have to deal with her.”
Darby’s hand leaves my thigh, and his elbows touch the table. “It is, the mother is dead.” He drops the words like a bombshell, and everyone stays quiet.
Darby picks up his fork and continues to eat as if he didn’t just say those words, and everyone is so very quiet. After a short time, Darby wipes his mouth with his napkin and looks back up to my brother and father. “And as for your daughter, she is remarkable. I’d be a fool to mess up what we have, and I plan to keep her in my life and my son’s life for a very long time.”
I swoon at his words, lean into him, and without a care in the world, I turn his face so I can kiss his lips. He kisses me back and the only reason we pull apart is because Charles wakes up, letting out a soft cry. Darby goes to reach for him, but I want my cuddles as I’m missing them. I pick him up easily, and his cries stop straight away as I sit back down with him on my lap. When I look back up, my father is watching me along with Barren. Darby’s used to me hogging all the time with Charles because every time I’m near Charles I want him.
“I may have been too harsh.” My father rubs his temples.
“You think?” I say stating the obvious while glancing down at Charles who’s all smiles now. My father faces Charles, and I hand him over. Father doesn’t hesitate to take him, cradles him straight in his arms and rocks him as if he’s holding a baby of his own. I look to Darby, hoping he isn’t mad that I’m overstepping my boundaries, but his face is blank as he watches.
My father glances up at him. “He’s beautiful, you did well.”
Darby nods, and his face relaxes.
“I’m sorry… to both of you. As you will soon discover, all you want is what’s best for your children.” My father gazes across to me. “And you are my baby, Olympia, no matter what, you will always be my baby.”
I reach out, covering his hand with mine. “Thanks, Papa.”
“So, you’re fine with this?” Barren asks our father as he looks between us all. “With her moving into a ready-made family.”
“Barren, control yourself.” Father shakes his head, picking up his drink.
“Don’t deflect your problems onto my situation, Barren. I gave you what you two wanted, I’m working for you now.”
Barren faces Darby. “I’m sure you’re a nice man, but you’ll never be good enough for her.” Barren looks back at me.
“Take that back, Barren.” He shakes his head. “I love him, Barren.” His mouth falls open, and Darby’s hand falls back to where it was, on my thigh. My father who’s holding Charles, who is playing with his face, looks up to me as well.
I reach out for Charles and start humming as I position him on my shoulder.
“You love him?” my father asks in a small voice.
I nod. “I do.”
“How can you love someone you barely know?” Barren asks.
“Oh, I know him. I especially know his moods.” I giggle. Darby squeezes my thigh. “People fall in love in an instant. But we weren’t an instant, it’s something that has built up over time. It was fast when it happened, but it was worth it.”