Stuck-Up Suit(85)

“No.” Graham looked at me, and we both couldn’t help but laugh a little. He continued, “I was with your mother before him. Genevieve and I made you together. I didn’t know about it at the time, though. Then your mother and your father, Liam, got married. Liam fell in love with you and became your dad. He believed he was your only dad. I only found out you existed after Liam passed away. When I saw your face, I knew you were mine. I know it’s confusing, baby girl.” He placed his hand on her chin. “See how much we look alike? That’s because you’re my daughter.”

She reached her little hand over to his face and began to examine his features. It was adorable when she said, “I always thought I knew you from somewhere.”

“Yeah. From the moment we met, right? That’s because we’re connected.” Graham smiled.

“You’re really my dad?”

“I am,” he whispered, his voice shaky.

“Wow.” Chloe stayed still for a moment as she processed everything. Then, without warning, she leapt into his arms. Graham closed his eyes, looking so happy and relieved.

I just sat back and enjoyed the sight of them hugging tightly. Chloe’s reaction confirmed that we’d made the right decision to tell her tonight. Genevieve had originally given us trouble about it. She wanted to be here, but Graham promised to sit down with the two of them after he dropped Chloe back home later.

There was a reason for the timing of this conversation.

When Graham flashed me a questioning look over Chloe’s shoulder, I nodded, giving him silent approval to give her the other piece of news.

“So, Soraya and I sort of have something else to tell you.”

Her eyes widened with excitement. “You’re taking me to Disney World?”

“No.” He chuckled. “But we’ll go there someday, alright?”

I chimed in, “You know how you always said you wished you had a brother or sister?”

“Yeah?”

Graham placed his arm around me. “Well…that’s about to happen. Soraya and I are having a baby. That means you’re going to be a big sister.”

At first, Chloe didn’t say anything, but when she started to jump up and down for joy in her seat, Graham and I let out a collective sigh of relief. She got out of her seat and walked over to me. “Where is it?”

“It’s in here.” I pointed to my belly as she placed her hand on it.”

“Is it going to come out with pink hair?”

I laughed. “No. But we’ll find out who he or she looks like in six months.”

She started to speak into my stomach. “Hey, in there! I’m your sister.” Graham and I looked at each other and smiled. When Chloe looked up at me, I nearly lost it myself when she said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Thank you for being so sweet to me.” The truth was, if Graham’s daughter hadn’t opened her heart to me, I didn’t know that he and I could have lasted. Her innate goodness made that possible.

The waitress came by and asked, “Is everything okay over here?”

Chloe proudly exclaimed, “Yes. I’m gonna be a big sister, and I have two dads. I’m gay!”

She clearly misunderstood what Genevieve had explained about her classmate’s parents, interpreting it to mean that any person with two dads is automatically gay. We’d have to explain it to her later.

The waitress thought it was adorable.

Graham interjected, “You know, the word gay means happy.”

Chloe smiled with her head still on my belly. “Then, I’m very, very gay.”

***

GRAHAM



SEVEN MONTHS LATER



Dear Ida,

It’s been a while since I’ve written to you. You might remember me as Stuck-Up Suit, Celibate in Manhattan, Fucked in Manhattan and Fifty Shades of Morgan. Same guy. Well, tonight, I’m happy to say I’ve earned a new name: Poopface in Manhattan. That’s right. I just looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and noticed that I literally have shit on my forehead. Don’t ask me how it got there. You know what the funny thing is? I’ve never been happier in my life. That’s right. This guy with shit on his face is deliriously happy! That realization prompted this message. You remember that smart-mouthed girl I met on the train—the one I used to write in about? Her name is Soraya. I knocked her up. Can you believe it? She gave birth to my son a month ago. I’ve trapped her forever, and now she’s producing little dark-haired, Italian Morgans. I have a son, Ida. A son! Thus, the shit on my forehead right now. Pretty sure it’s from when I changed his diaper a little while ago. Yes, the poop is still there. I haven’t wiped it off yet because…have I mentioned…I’m deliriously happy? I haven’t gotten sleep in six days. SIX DAYS, Ida! I didn’t even know humans could survive on no sleep, but apparently you can! I’m proof. You know why it’s all good? Because I’m DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY. On no sleep. There’s one thing, though, that my life is missing. See, Soraya won’t let me make her an honest woman. She thinks she has to lose all this baby weight, fit into a fancy, white dress and walk down an aisle. Our date is set for six months from now, but I just can’t wait another day. I want her to be my wife. I know we don’t need a piece of paper to validate what we have, but I’m selfish. I want it all because I love her so much. So, my question to you is…what can I do to convince her to marry me tomorrow?