Honestly, I didn’t even know how to respond. My dad calling me out of the blue was weird to say the least, but Ella was right. I should at least give him a chance to tell me why he left. Tonight, Imight finally figure out why my dad abandoned me. “I’m not too sure. I’m nervous, but I shouldn’t be.”
“I’m sure it’s normal. You never saw the man.”
“I’m just doing this so I can get him out of my head.”
“Well, I hope it goes well, and you get some answers.”
I was hoping that I could get answers. Up until a little while ago, I never thought about him. I never wondered what he was doing. Now that he’d reached out to me, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Why did he have to do this to me? I was content with how my life was before he tried to come into the picture.
My workday was finally over, and I was ready to go home to Ella. Our relationship had flourished since she’d moved in. She decided to go ahead and take a job at ACE Publishing. She made sure that I had no say so on whether she was hired or not. Although, I knew she would get the job anyway due to all her previous office experience. She was the chief editor’s assistant.
“How was work?” I asked.
“Same stuff, different day.”
She seemed to be having a not-so-good day. I wondered what was going on. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll let you know if it becomes something bigger.”
“Okay, well, I wanted to let you know I’m meeting him tonight at eight p.m.”
She looked at me in shock. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.” I laughed.
She smiled and put her hand on my shoulder. “I just want the best for you. Just be careful. I love you.”
I went upstairs and changed into something casual. I wasn’t sure how tonight would go, but I wanted to make sure I was comfortable. I gave Ella a kiss and headed out the door. It was about an hour drive due to traffic. I pulled up to Cavella’s, and there were people everywhere. How was I supposed to know which one he was? I’d text him, but he probably wasn’t there yet.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Are you Alexander?”
“I am.”
“I’m Jack. Your father.” He smiled.
Wow, this man was much older. Easily in his early seventies. I was confused. My mom would only be in her mid-fifties. This man couldn’t be my father. He was too elderly. “You can’t be my father.”
“I can promise you that I am.”
“How old are you?” I asked.
“I am seventy-one.”
“But my mom would be fifty-eight,” I replied, very confused.
“It’s a long story; can we sit and talk about it?” he asked me.
“I guess. I need to know what’s going on.”
We grabbed a table, and I ordered myself a drink. I needed alcohol in my system to listen to this. He began by telling me the story of him and my mom. He met my mom as a college professor. He was her English Lit teacher. After she was done with his class, they decided to start seeing each other. They were together for almost a year, on and off, until my mother found out he was married. She was upset and told him never to contact her again. He hasn’t seen or heard from her since that day. He told me he received a letter about a month before my mom passed, letting him know about me. She gave him my name and a picture. He even brought the letter and picture with him. After already missing so much of my life, he felt he shouldn’t interfere with it.
I couldn’t believe it. He didn’t know I was even alive until right before my mom passed? Why didn’t he just come see me then? He could have taken me out of foster care. Although, if he would have, then I never would have had this life. The outcome of my life had been good.
I asked Jack if he had any more kids. He told me he had three boys and three girls with his wife. Wow, I have six step-siblings.I was overwhelmed to find that out. I wasn’t quite sure how to process it. My dad wasn’t a deadbeat. He just didn’t know. I wanted to forgive him instantly, but it just wasn’t that easy. He apologized for waiting this long. He just didn’t want me to think he just abandoned me.
“Does your wife know about me?”
“Of course. I told her only a couple months ago. I had finally decided it was time to tell her the truth about my son.”