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My Father's Secret

My Father’s Secret

Grade school seemed to be the best time of Jocelyn and Charlie’s lives. They passed innocent love letters in class, snuck gentle kisses at recess, and nervously held hand in the halls. Puppy love is what some may call it, but they knew it was more than that. Over the next several years they exchanged more letters, hugs, kisses and smiles but neither knew where they were headed, they just wanted to be together forever.

“Three years from now I will be able to give you the world.”

“If you gave me the world Charlie I would not need you, therefore I do not want the world.”

“My life goal is to make and keep you happy. Until the new additions to our family, nothing else matters.”

“Is there something you know that I do not know honey?”

“I should ask you that sweetie.”

“Nothing new, yet. I wonder what is going to happen in three years.”

One new big beautiful home, three cars, and five luxurious vacations later, Charlie has kept his promise to Jocelyn. He leaves for work and Jocelyn is left to unpack the last few boxes of the house. While unpacking she discovers the very first love letter Charlie ever wrote her.

Do you like me? Check yes or no. I hope you pick yes because I like you.

Smiling at the immature handwriting, she unconsciously chooses yes again. Underneath the letter was a dusty old black book. It could be no one else’s but Charlie’s and curiosity was getting the best of her. She considered the age and irrelevance of the book and decided not to pry. All boxes were unpacked and everything was neatly stored away but Jocelyn just could not get that tiny book out of her mind.

“Everyone knows the significance of a black book but we have been together for years, so why does he still need it? Is he still using it? What could this mean? Okay, maybe I will just talk to him when he gets home. Only one of two things can happen: he could throw it away, or he could deny it. I will just take a peek and be done, after all nothing in this book matters right? I tell myself that but in the back of my mind, this book is going to be devastating. I am not ready for the reality of it all and as much as I want, I cannot bring myself to open the book that potentially holds my fate.”

The doorbell rang,

“Hello Ms. Mayfield?”

“Yes, I’m Ms. Mayfield, how may I help you?”

“I’m Jevon Freeman from the delivery company. We have your order for you today ma’am, I just need you to sign here.

“Great, more things to unpack, lucky me.”

“Your next delivery will be made at the end of this week so I will see you then.”

“Thanks, have a good day sir.”

Hours passed and nothing was left to do but pop bubble wrap. Jocelyn tries to keep herself busy to get her mind off of the book but nothing seemed to work. She decided she was going to take a quick look just to ease her mind.

“Okay, here goes nothing.”

Ding Dong, the doorbell rang again.

“You again but, it’s not the weekend?”

“Hello to you too Ms. Mayfield.”

“You make deliveries and install cable?”

“Yes ma’am, my son cannot feed himself and my student loans are not going to pay for themselves either.”

“Well you better come in and get started.”

“Thank you Ms. Mayfield I will get started right away.”

“Please, call me Jocelyn, Ms. Mayfield is my dog.”

Jocelyn continued her duties while the cable guy was busy working. Luckily all the unexpected visits was keeping her mind off the book because in reality she could not accept the unknown truth.

“You have a very beautiful home Jocelyn. Do you live here all alone?”

“I do not actually. I share this home with my fiancée. Would you like anything to drink?”

”Water would be fine, thanks. If you ever need any repairs done I am a great handyman also.”

“You are like the jack of all trades.”

“I do what I can.”

“You mentioned your students loans earlier, what are you studying?”

“I’m studying to be a doctor. Something like House I imagine.”

“You aspire to be a pill popping asshole with a bummed leg, that’s new.”

“Well not that part. I am all done here ma’am, everything is set and ready to go. If you do not need anything else I will get out of your way.”

“I am all good here, thanks Jevon see you Friday.”

Jocelyn decides to take a power nap from all the tiring work previously done. When she awakes, she goes to the kitchen to get herself a glass of water. There on the counter lies the infamous black book. Nervously creeping toward it, she began to feel her heart beat faster. Sweat rolled down her face and onto the knot forming in her throat. She did not know what to expect, but whatever it was, it was about to be uncovered. All of a sudden keys turned in the door knob so she quickly and swiftly hid the book.

“Hello darling, how are you?”

“I’m great honey. You are home early. How was work today?”

“Work was great as usual. I see you have been busy around here today. Everything looks amazing.”

“Yea, just a little. The delivery and cable man came today. Everything is unpacked and in place the only thing left to do is wait on the rest of the deliveries. Why don’t we order takeout tonight and watch a movie.”

“Sounds great honey. Let me shower work off and get more comfortable. I will be back in a few.”

While Charlie went upstairs to shower Jocelyn decided to store the book away. The takeout came and she found a romantic comedy to watch while they ate. Charlie came back down as promised and there they ate their first meal in their new home together. When the movie finished, they called it a night and went to get ready for bed.

“Hey honey, if you had a secret diary like in the movie, would you tell me about it?”

“If it’s a secret diary babe I don’t think you’re supposed to know but because I love you I would tell you anyways.”

“What if you had something like old love notes from girls in your past, would you tell me about that?”

“If they were just old notes and didn’t mean anything I would not tell you about them. I would simply throw them away to avoid any confusion. If that’s okay with you of course.”

“It is babe, let us get some rest we both have busy days ahead of us tomorrow. Goodnight honey.”

The next morning she sends her love off to work and starts her day. As she put last night’s dinner away, she comes across the black book once again. This time she has no fears about the content inside because none of it would be life changing. Everything is going to remain the same no matter what. She finally opens the book and so far all is well. She realizes how overworked she was about nothing and closes the book. When she closed the book a picture fell out. On the back it read: our first baby, three months old. Jocelyn began to study the baby’s picture extensively. She and Charlie have no children, he has no nieces, nephews or younger siblings, so who could this baby belong to? She reopened the book and found a card inside along with the phone number of a Caitlyn Freeman. She makes a bold move and calls the number.

Phone rings

“Hi is this Ms. Caitlyn Freeman?”

“This is she, may I ask whose calling?”

“This is Ms. Clark with the Department of Child Services. I’m calling concerning the status of your child’s father and his absence. We have documents here stating that you are a single parent. It is my recommendation that all absentee parents should pay child support to cover half of the expenses of that child. Is that something you would like to consider Ms. Freeman?”

“Charlie is highly active in our son’s life and he takes care of him very well without my asking, so if it is okay I would like to keep it that way.”

“Thank you for your time Ms. Freeman. Have a nice day.”

After this heart breaking news Jocelyn would confront Charlie as soon as he came home. But before then there was a knock at the door. With tears in her eyes she answered.

“Hello again Jocelyn I have…are you ok? Why are you crying?

“Hi Jevon, I am okay. I just found out the most terrible news of my life. How could he do this to me?”

“I’m sure whatever it is it will be alright in time.”

“My fiancée has been cheating on me with some Caitlyn girl and now they have a child together. How will it be okay?”

“Oh wow that is terrible news. A Caitlyn you say?”

“Caitlyn Freeman or something. What am I going to do now? He has a child with another woman!”

“Ms. Mayfield I know you are going through a lot right now so I will bring your packages in and be on my way. You take care ma’am.”

Shortly after Charlie arrives home.

“Hello honey. How are you?”

“Sit down Carlie I have to talk you.”

“What’s wrong honey, is everything all right? Why are you crying?”

“Who is Caitlyn? “Damn. Caitlyn is th…th.”

“She’s the mother of your child Charlie! The MOTHER of YOUR CHILD! How could you do this to me you bastard? Did you for one second think about us and this relationship? What the hell were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking honey. Things just started to happen and it went a little too far I admit.

The door flew open.

“Jevon! This is not a good time.”

“Who is Jevon?”

“The cable and delivery guy. Jevon what are you doing here.”

“Caitlyn Freeman is my wife. My son is not my son because of you. And like that cheating bitch you have to die too.”

The two men fought over a sharpen butcher knife. Jocelyn screamed at the top of her lungs. Five stab wounds to the chest and Charlie fell to his death. By the time the police had come it was too late for Charlie. Jevon was arrested and he now faces life in prison. This innocent parentless little baby is all left alone in this world now. Everyone who loved him was now gone, he didn’t ask to be brought into this world to be left behind. Jocelyn, struck with grief, sorrow and anger takes this beautiful baby boy into his father’s home.

DMU Timestamp: October 27, 2015 10:51