Page 45 of Jackass
“It was a shock. And of course, the way it all came out was a bit traumatizing.” She chuckled. “My mother’s reasons for keeping us apart were driven by pure selfishness. She didn’t have a valid reason other than she just didn’t want to share me. She also didn’t really want me. My mother was not a good mom. I was so thankful to have my Grams fill in for parents that weren’t really interested or involved in my life.”
She paused for a moment, and we both looked back at Charlie and Jack cuddled on the couch, talking. He lifted his eyes to mine and winked. Beck smiled and turned back to me.
“Do I wish I’d had my dad my whole life? Absolutely. But he said something to me the day I found out that stuck. He said,‘if I had to give up the first twenty-five years to ensure you got to be born, then I would do it again to have you in my life for the rest of it.’”
She must have seen the confusion on my face because hernext words explained what I didn’t understand.
“My father knew my mother was pregnant. She told him when she found out. Right before she told him she was having an abortion.”
“Oh my God.” My hand covered my mouth. “So she lied to him?”
“She did. I will be honest with you, Samantha.” She placed a hand on my arm before continuing, “I don’t love what you did, but I believe your heart was in the right place. I don’t believe for a second that you made any of your decisions for selfish reasons.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
My eyes filled with tears I didn’t want to shed. However, I couldn’t stop them when Beck reached over and pulled me into a hug.
“Mommy!”
I pulled away from Beck and quickly swiped at the tears.
“What, baby?”
“Daddy said we can go to the zoo. He said they has animals!”
I looked up at Jack, and there was concern in his eyes.Are you ok?he mouthed. I nodded and smiled reassuringly, then turned back to my daughter.
“Animals? That is exciting.”
“It is a little bit of a drive. Denver is two hours away, but if we get going, we should still make it back by dinner,” Jack explained.
“Well, I guess we should get going then. Beck, thank you for everything this morning,” I said, giving her another hug.
“You’re welcome.” Beck squatted down to Charlie’s level and hugged her too. “Charlie, I hope you had fun. We will do another sleepover soon.”
“Yes! Next time Uncle Blade said he would play spa with me, and I could paint his nails to match mine,” Charlie said.
Her excitement was contagious, I couldn’t help but smile.
“I bet you could talk Uncle King into a spa day too, Shortcake,” Jack suggested. Beck and I both laughed. I didn’t think that would ever happen.
“Uncle King wouldn’t like this color,” Charlie mused. Shetapped her finger on her bottom lip, like she was thinking and plotting. “I think green would be better for him.”
Jack barked out a laugh. “I think you’re right, Shortcake. We can go to the store and get some new colors before we come home.”
Beck and I both shook our heads, chuckling at Jack. He was asking for a beating if King found out he’d coerced Charlie into this.
The drive to Denver was quiet. Charlie fell asleep not long after we got started. She had been up early, and she was still young enough that I could usually convince her to take a nap.
The two-hour drive would recharge her battery and keep her from getting cranky walking around the zoo.
“Can you tell me about Charlie?” Jack asked quietly.
I turned to look at him. He was so handsome. He looked enough like Derek that I could have passed Charlie off as his, if he hadn’t had a vasectomy, but not enough to confuse them as the same person.
What is it they say? Everyone has a doppelgänger.
Jack was definitely Derek’s.