“Okay.”
“Cash… do you want to know what we are having? Then maybe we can start thinking about names…”
“Wait… you know?”
“Yes, I know. I wasn't going to find out but the ultrasound lady told me by accident. Then of course I told Breigh and my mother.”
I continued looking at her and felt guilt. “I should have been there for all of that. I wish I would have…”
“That is my fault, I should have just talked to you and…”
“Everything happened the way it was supposed to. God has a plan. Always.”
I moved to put my ear to Emma’s belly and felt a kick. “Oh my, baby.” I loved knowing I had created a living creature in my future wife’s belly.
“Okay, tell me… I wanna know.”
Emma finished chewing on her pickle and then smiled. “You sure?”
“Other than you, I have never been more sure about anything.”
“Cash… we are having a little boy.”
I smiled ear to ear and wanted to jump up and yell on the bed like a man who had just won the lottery.
I actually had.
I brought my hands to her face and held her before as I kissed Emma. “I love you, baby. I love you so much.”
“I love you.”
“And I love our little baby boy.” I leaned down to her belly and kissed it. “I love you, baby boy. I hope I can be the best daddy ever.”
30
CASH
Today was the final day I was going to see my dad before he was being moved to another jail. Wyatt was accompanying me to say goodbye as well. We weren’t being told which facility yet, not that it mattered.
It was more symbolic that anything. He was locked up and we were free.
My visits to him had been few and far between anyway. No reason to visit when you had nothing to say, right?
Plus, Mom had decided she would no longer be making visits either. Apparently more things had come to surface and she was moving on. Finally.
She had begun dating, ironically the man I worked for at the bank, the very same one who gave me the job.
I would be graduating from the academy tomorrow and I was proud to tell him about it. Frankly, I wanted to see the look in his face. Although, he had tried to train me, duplicate himself with me, he had failed.
Somehow, some way I had risen above it.
After the usual pat downs, the security walk-throughs, etc. we took our seat at the window waiting for our dad. Wyatt seemed at ease, the complete opposite of what I was feeling.
When Dad saw Wyatt and me, the look on his face wasn't a pleasant one. I was shocked he didn't turn right around and walk back behind the big metal door. Instead, he took his seat and reached for the phone with hesitation.
Wyatt took the phone first and said hi. He wanted to relay the message that Mom had decided it was the right thing to do to, not come any longer. She came because she felt she owed him after the long marriage and her two boys, but that ceased. She was washing her hands of it all.
He didn't look the least bothered and even let out an evil laugh. He didn't care. Not a shock.
“Will I have money on my commissary still?” That was all he asked.
Wyatt handed me the phone and smirked, he wasn't going to dignify that with an answer.
My brother turned to me with all seriousness just as he handed me the phone. “Do you see this? This is exactly what you were turning into. He is worried about whether he would have money.”
Wyatt stood up and took his place a little distance from Dad and me, but not too far that he wasn't within reach.
“More good news?” Dad said with a shit-eating grin. He looked like hell and I stayed tight-lipped to keep myself from laughing. He was used to being pampered but instead was miserable.
“Actually, yes… I’m graduating tomorrow from the police academy.”
Dad started coughing like he was choking.
“That’s a joke, right?”
“Nope. I just finished.”
“I’m shocked you were man enough to hack it. Figured you wouldn’t, since you would have to actually work for something. Never been your strength.”
I started laughing. Give me a break. What a piece of crap. Why did I never see it before?
“Yes, I made it through, I actually did really good.” I paused, debating if I wanted to share more information but decided to. I was happy, and he had nothing to do with it.
“To top off your day, Dad, I wanted to tell you that Mom, your ex-wife, was able to help get people jobs and paid those you screwed who had been working for Galloway Investments. Thanks to you, many of them were out a job and couldn’t support their families.”
“How was that my problem?”
It is official, my father did not have a soul.
I didn't respond to him. “I am having a baby, and am hoping to get married.”
‘Why would you want that prison? I didn't peg you for a family man.”
My voice was getting louder than I had realized. “You are the most selfish asshole I have ever met. I pray to God I will never be as miserable as you.”
He didn't respond or show any emotions. My father was stone cold.
“I will be a great family man.”
“Highly doubt it. You are just as selfish as I am, Son.”
At that comment I threw the phone down and stood up.
“Don’t ever call me Son again. You were never a father, you were a manipulating prick who did what he needed to get where he wanted to be in life, never caring who you had to destroy. I hope you rot in here.”
I turned to Wyatt and we walked away together. Not one time did I turn around to look at him, or wonder if he was still sitting there. I wasn't going to spend anymore time worrying about
