Revelations (2)
April was just done with her visit to her psychiatrist when she received a call from her father. She was asked to come home as soon as possible.
Puzzled, she did as what she was told. She was actually planning to bring Sky to an amusement park for the day. Oh well, there's always tomorrow. She thought.
When April arrived. Her father told her mother to take Sky somewhere, while he will have a talk with his daughter. April started to get nervous. Once she was alone with his father in the living room, she couldn't help but ask.
"Did something happened dad? What's with all the secrecy?" She gulped and sat down on the couch. Her father was currently tapping his armrest.
"April, remember how we didn't ever asked about Sky's father. It's because we thought that since it already happened, might as well accept it. Also because nobody came forward to claim as his father." Ted grabbed his coffee and sip on it. He was trying to be gentle with April, even though his own emotions were unstable.
April had a hunch now, when she heard that it was about Sky's father. She clenched her fist.
"Did he finally came forward dad?" Her head was down, afraid to meet her father's eyes.
"Yes. A certain Alexander Hawthorne came forth, claiming to be Sky's father. Is it true April?" Ted looked at her daughter. She looked guilty like a mouse. April didn't reply.
Ted sighed. "I am not mad. Infact, if Sky didn't came along; you wouldn't be here now. We all have to thank Sky's existence for helping you".
He got up and kneel in front of his daughter. He held her hands and gave it a slight squeeze. He love his daughter so much. The day that she disappeared was his biggest regret in life. He would always protect his child with everything he got. If April didn't wanna acknowledge Alex, then so be it. They would never make April be unhappy.
"I won't ask how it happened. But can you enlighten your father? Is he Sky's father April?" Ted looked at his daughter, waiting for any kind of reply.
April sighed and raise her head. She looked at his father's eyes, in it there wasn't any kind of judgement. Instead, it was warm and worried. April smiled, it was silly of her to think that her father would get mad at her.
"Yes. He is. Just that, I didn't expect that he would remember me. He was drunk that time. I saw him by accident in the hotel hallway, puking. I went to the hotel since I heard that Colm was there. I wanted to ask him something that day." April recalled to her father what happened that night.
"I recognized him as Colm's friend, so I thought about helping him out. Just then, a hotel staff saw us and told me that he knows which room Alex was staying. So he helped me out and carried Alex to his bed. When Alex was resting, he told me to stay and that he will get Alex's friends help. Also that he knew them because they were throwing a big party for Alex. So I agree and stayed. Alex was feverish night, so I got him a wet face cloth for his forehead. When I came back, he was sitting and he was half naked. Next thing I knew.. he.. " April pursed her lips. She was still around 16 that night. She was underaged and her mentality was like a child.
Ted's eyes were red. His daughter was raped again. He suddenly got up and clenched his fist. Although he had heard that Alex was drugged, he still couldn't forgive that man. No wonder April didn't tell them how she got pregnant. She experienced again what happened to her before.
"Dad. Please don't be mad. He was drunk, he didn't know what he was doing." April sided Alex. She was still hiding a small part of the story. She too was guilty that night. She could've push Alex easily and yet she didn't. Alex wasn't that forceful to her, in fact he was gentle.
"How could I not be angry to him? He forced himself to you!" Ted was now loud. Good thing he already sent everyone out.
"Please dad, I don't want this to get big. Don't tell mother, she will keep crying for me again. Do you want that to happen? If Alex wants to stand up as Sky's father, that decision must be up to me. Please dad. Let me make my own decisions as well. I know that you are worried about me but I have to grow up. If you want me to completely heal, I need to stand up for myself. This is what my psychiatrist said to me today." April gulped. She didn't knew that it would actually happened. How did Alex know about her and Sky?
Ted was stunned. He had never heard April like this before. Ever since the accident, she was never this open. She didn't even talked about what happened to her before. Neither does she talked about her nightmares. Its seems like Alex was the key, that she even defended him.
"Are you in love with him?" He asked directly.
April knew that his father was smart. She wouldn't be fearless and bullheaded before, if she didn't get his genes. Unfortunately, the accident happened. The accident killed that fearless child.
"Yes." She replied.
Ted sighed. Of all the men in the world. His daughter was in love with someone who was already married. At this moment , his head was starting to hurt.
"I'll think about it. Don't tell your mother anything." Ted left and went to his study.
April sighed. She knew that her father's weakness was her and her mother. Anything to keep them safe is his duty. Just then, she heard Sky's laughing tone coming back in the house along with her mother.
April instantly changed her expressions. She needed to smile in front of her son and mother.
"Mommy!" Sky saw his mother and ran to her embrace.
"Did you have fun with your grandma?" April rubbed her son's hair.
"Yes! I saw summ butterwyy! Mommy okay?" Sky touched his mother's face. There weren't any tears.
"Yes baby, Mommy is okay." She kissed his forehead.
"What a good kid." Annie smiled as she looked at her daughter and grandson. "Where's your father?"
"He went to the study, he said he had a headache". April pursed her lips. Well, it looked like he was having one. She thought.
"Hmm.. Okay I'll go check on him. You guys stay for dinner, okay?" Annie left them both to check with her husband. She understands that the news today was pretty shocking for the both of them.
When April was alone with her son, she pinched his cheeks.
"Sky, do you want to have a daddy?" Sky had never shown any indication before nor did he asked. She doesn't even know if Sky knows about having a father yet. But she knew that her son was smart. Sooner or later, he would know.
"Daddy?" Sky shook his head. "Sky only wun mommy." he then hugged his mother.
April smiled. Her son was the most precious to her. But what can she do, if Alex insisted to be part of their lives?