Was I that terrible?
“I’m married, Mike. You can’t just go around kissing married women,” she argued loudly.
I was confused.
What did she mean?
Niall would want a divorce as soon as he found out the baby was mine and not his.
“I don’t understand, Callie. The baby’s mine. Surely that means you’re leaving Niall?” I asked, looking directly at her.
Callie started to cry again, and I had a terrible sinking feeling in my gut I wasn’t going to like what she had to say next and that this was not going to be our happily ever after.
“Mike, think about it. Niall will never give me a divorce even if he does find out. He’s made that way. If he found out we were going to be together and be a happy family, he’d make sure I could never divorce him. He’s vindictive like that. And if I told him and then stayed with him, he’d make sure you never get to see our baby. It’s better if I stay with him and let him think the baby is his. Then, if you stay working as a chauffeur, you’ll be able to see our baby grow up and be there for it. Be the second father the baby will always have. We both know that Niall won’t be much of a father. So the baby will need you, Mike. It’s the only way,” she said, infuriating me.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Seriously? You expect me to let Niall think he’s the father of my child, and for me to watch as the baby grows up thinking that fucking Niall is my child’s father. I don’t think so, Callie. No! You tell him, or I will,” I said, and she shook her head.
“Mike, there’s no way we can be a happy family. The moment I said I do to Niall is the moment this mess began. I don’t regret making a child with you, Mike. What I regret is going through with the marriage to Niall. However, as much as I regret that decision, it doesn’t change the fact that I stick by my word. I said for better or worse, and it doesn’t get much worse than this. So, I have to stay with Niall. I do like him, Mike, even though he’s bossy and inconsiderate sometimes. I thought I loved him once, but I’ll never love him the way I love you. That being said, I can’t… no, I won’t break up my marriage, but I can’t have a baby to another man either. So, Niall has to think this baby is his. There’s no other way, Mike. Like I said, if he knew you were the father, he would stop you from seeing it, and I don’t want that. I need you to be in our baby’s life, Mike. This is the only way. Please? You have to understand,” she spoke as she walked over to me and took my hands in hers.
I knew what she was saying was making sense, but it didn’t mean I had to like it. “Callie, this is ridiculous. How am I supposed to possibly go on knowing that he is raising my child? How can I sit back and watch that happen? How would you like it if the roles were reversed, huh?”
Callie started crying again. “Mike, I know what I’m asking is beyond ridiculous and terrible. I know how badly I’ve hurt you, and I know how much this will continue to hurt you…” She pauses with a heavy sigh. “I’m a terrible person, Mike, and I hate myself for doing this to you.”
I felt awful, and I didn’t want her upset. I wrapped my arms around her body and held her tight while she cried onto my shoulder. I wanted to take her and run away, but Callie always had a sense of duty, and she always stuck to her word. I knew no matter what I said or how hard I tried to convince her to leave him, deep down I knew she wouldn’t. The only way I was going to be able to see my child was to be in its life as just another person. I would have to keep this secret for my entire life. I had no idea if I could even do that, but I needed to try. Otherwise, there was a possibility I may never see my child grow up.
That was absolutely not an option.
“You’re not a terrible person, Callie. You’re the least terrible person I know. I love you and our child, and if having to take a back seat means I can still be a part of both your lives, then I guess that’s what I have to do. But just so you know, if at any stage you want to leave Niall and run away with me, I’ll be ready in a heartbeat,” I said.
She laughed for a second and then looked up at me. “I’m… so sorry, Mike.”
“Me, too.”
I could tell by the look in her eyes she meant it, and I knew she was sorry it had to be this way. If I’d tried harder before the wedding to make her see that life with Niall was not the correct path, things would be different now. But I failed, so now this was the life I was forced to live.
We held each other for a while until I realized Niall would be waiting for her call. I pulled back and looked at her. She half-smiled and nodded, knowing our time together was up. On one hand, I was elated, I was going to be a father, then I’d remember how it had to be, and I’d be devastated all over again.
I walked her to the car, and we drove in silence back to the mansion.
Niall and Callie would be getting their own mansion soon, and I’d have to figure out a way to be around, so I could see my child growing up. We pulled into their home, and Niall and Patty were already at their workplaces. Once I dropped Callie off, I had to go to Patty and finish work for the day, but all I really wanted to do was spend it with Callie before the lie became a reality. I opened the car door and helped her out.
“It’ll be okay, Mike, you’ll see,” she whispered and kissed me on the cheek.
I wanted to burst into tears at that point. This whole thing was so fucked up. Callie walked into the mansion, and I got back into the car. I gripped on to the steering wheel tightly with white knuckles and shook it as I let out a loud scream, venting my frustration. I sat in the car for a while simply trying to lower my blood pressure. I couldn’t believe how my life had turned to shit, yet again. For a brief second, I thought I should’ve chosen Doug and the boys over Callie. I would’ve been better off. I immediately felt bad and removed that thought from my mind.
When I eventually arrived at work, Patty was on the phone.
“Yes, we’ll see you tomorrow, Jerry. Okay, yes,” he said.
I walked in and sat on the seat opposite his desk. “Good news, Mike, I found your replacement. Jerry starts tomorr
ow. So you can finish off today, and then you can leave like I promised,” he declared and went back to his work without a second glance.
My heart sank. I had just found out I’m going to be a father, and in the mess of today, I forgot I had resigned.
How the hell was I going to see my child now?
“Mr. O’Connell, sir… is there any chance I can keep my job? I’ve changed my mind, and I would like to stay on,” I explained, hopeful. The only trouble was I knew Patty, and once he made up his mind, he never changed it.