Collins p.o.v
“It’s mostly true. I was the one who put forth the idea of having sex with him. I didn’t know what sex was being that my parent’s never had the ‘birds and the bees’ conversation with me or any of my siblings. I wasn’t the first in the family to have children, in fact my dead brother has two children, both older than my own daughter.”
Mostly true? I told everything to the judge that he had asked me. I didn’t force her, I wasn’t demanding, I was loving, like I always am and there is no way that I was telling half truth.
“So what’s the untrue part, if Mr. James is stating incorrectly Ms. Reynolds?”
She looked at me tears welding in her eyes, and her face went white.“I’m not the first girl you’ve ever got pregnant.”
I was stunned, so stunned I could barely keep a straight face. I started sweating, my face felt like I went fully lobster red. How did she find out? I know I told her all of the things about me that she needed to know, but I figured this one didn’t need to be said; It’s not that big of a deal.
When she saw my face she rushed out of the chair, leaving the court room like it was nothing.
I looked at the judge and he nodded at me, allowing me to chase after her, I ran fast. I didn’t want to miss the chance of telling her what really happened.
When I finally reached outside, I saw Tessa puking behind the bush, I wanted to help her I really did, but it would just piss her off more.
When she saw my face she rolled her eyes, “Why didn’t you tell me Collin? You let me believe that I was the first woman you had a kid with, I was the first person you impregnated like it was some sort of fate thing!”
“I didn’t think it mattered Tessa. It was years ago.”
“YOU HAVE A FIVE YEAR OLD SOMEWHERE OUT IN THE WORLD AND YOU DIDN’T THINK THAT WAS IMPORTANT?! YOU’RE A DAD, YOU WERE A DAD BEFORE IRIS!”
“No I’m not, I wasn’t ever. Helen had gotten an abortion. She didn’t tell me she was pregnant thinking I was going to leave her if I found out. We had great s*x a lot, but I was careless when she had told me she was on birth control. I stopped wearing condoms and pulling out thinking that the pill was going to do wonders.”
“I didn’t need to know that, I just want to know why you didn’t tell me this when you were vowing all of your lies to me!”
“When she told me a few months later she was pregnant, I was pissed off but I didn’t show it, I was going to take the responsibility of raising the child with or without her, but she then told me that she had an abortion 4 months ago I was beyond pissed. She told me she got an abortion because she didn’t want to get pregnant, and I had enough, I broke up with her and left. I NEVER looked back.”
“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE TEXT! Why do you have her number in your phone and WHY just WHY does she remind you about a child who is dead?!”
“She’s crazy! The last time I heard about her she was in a psych ward! I haven’t changed my number since I’ve gotten it. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you, I’m just not proud of my past that’s all.” Tessa’s color came back slowly but she was still angry, I could tell by her breathing, and the way her eyes looked.
I continued wanting her to calm down, not be angry anymore. “When you told me you were pregnant, I was scared, I was happy you told me, but I was scared that you were going to end it, just like Helen did. Now look where we are Tessa, I haven’t walked away, , I haven’t left you and moved to New Zealand to avoid my responsibility of being a dad, I love you.” I said walking towards her; when I reached her she pushed me away.
“Don’t do that. Don’t think that you can turn this around by hugging me or kissing me, or making an excuse of not leaving or whatever Collin. You still lied. I want you to treat me like your girlfriend, not your best friend, you can’t keep things from me, and I can’t keep anything from you. I’m leaving after this, I’m gonna go home, pack my bags, grab Iris’s things, and leave. This Collin... This was stupid to keep from me.” she walked past me back into the building to continue our appointment, I was standing there dumbfounded, but I wasn’t going to let her walk away, the last time Tessa left I didn’t see her for a few days, but now that Tessa had Iris and is punishing me by taking her away, I’m not willing to let her leave.
This doesn’t even concern her, this happened before we were together, way before I even had interest in her, and now she’s mad.
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Back at the house
“Tessa you can’t just take her away! I’m her dad!”
“I can play the mother card too! You did this to yourself I’m not gonna let you just get away to lying to me.”
“Is there something you want to tell me?” I said crossing my arms as she continued to grab all of her clothes into many suitcases.
“What? I told you, I have nothing to say, I haven’t done anything.” she continues packing her clothes and all have the necessities Iris has here. She turned swiftly to me, and pointed “There is something I forgot to mention. I rented an apartment in the springs. It’s a 6 month lease, and I won’t come up here for you to see Iris. You can go down there, and see her every week either before court, or at the house.”
WHAT?! “Tessa, this is unfair! Why are you punishing me for something that happened years ago! I didn’t even know you! This isn’t fair.”
“You know what, Collin? Life isn’t fair, if you would have told me about the text message, and let me in on your life, then, and only then things would have gone smoothly.” She paused lifting the suitcase from the bed, “I still haven’t met your parents.” She grabbed her -now- fully loaded suitcases and walked them out to the kitchen where Iris waits in the car seat.
Tessa walked out, not even saying goodbye, the suitcases pushed together while the carseat was being carried on her right arm.
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