A Beautiful Mess (19 page)

Upon prescribing me some prenatal vitamins the doctor said, “Alright, now lie back down on the table and I’ll show you your little bundle of joy on the machine.”

Lifting my shirt the doctor applied some gel and waited for the sonogram machine to power up. Placing the wand on my stomach she moved it around for a bit and then we heard a heartbeat. Pointing to a little dot on the screen the doctor said, “That right there is your baby.”

Instantly tears formed in my eyes and I looked over to Jason who was staring at me with tears in his eyes. Standing up from his seat he leaned into me and kissed me on the lips. “I love you so much, Ash.”

Smiling up at him I said, “I love you too, Jason.”

Once he sat back down the doctor asked, “Do you guys want pictures?”

Before I could even respond Jason said, “Hell yeah, we want pictures!”

The doctor just laughed and said, “Alright dad.”

After flicking the lights back on the doctor wiped the gel from my stomach and said she would be back with the pictures. As soon as the door closed behind her Jason had me in his arms and he was kissing me. I entangled my arms around his waist and let my legs hang loose on either side of him as I bit down on his lip.

Gasping for air Jason pulled back from me and said, “Behave, Ash.” Kissing him once more on the lips he sat down and we waited for our pictures to be developed. Once we got our pictures we left the doctor’s office. Getting back in the car we started our four hour drive to my home. Daddy knew we were coming because I wanted to introduce him and Jason but I was a nervous wreck about telling him that we were going to have a baby.

About an hour into our drive Jason turned off the music and held onto my hand. Without taking his eyes off the road he said, “It will be alright, Ashlynn.”

Looking out the window, I took a deep breath and said, “I hope so.”

Three hours later we were pulling into my driveway. I couldn’t believe how long it had been since I was home. It seemed like forever ago and as nervous as I was to tell my dad our good news I was ecstatic to see my dad because I really missed him.

I didn’t even make it out of the car before my dad was opening the front door and running towards me screaming, “ASH!”

Picking me up and spinning me around I could see the hesitation in Jason’s face but once I looked at him and mouthed, “I’m okay,” he settled down.

Putting me back on my feet dad kissed me on the forehead and said, “I’ve missed you so much.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Breaking eye contact, dad looked over at Jason. Releasing me he walked up to Jason. Jason extended his hand and said, “Nice to see you again Mr. M-,” but dad cut him off.

Pointing a finger to Jason’s chest he said, “I thought I told you to call me Garrett?”

Jason let out a forced laugh and said, “Sorry Garrett, nice to see you again.” Jason’s hand was out towards dad but dad shrugged it off and pulled Jason into a hug.

I smiled at the two of them, amazed at how well they were both getting along but I was still really nervous about telling dad my news and how he would react to it. Picking up a bag, dad slung an around me and then Jason took a hold of my other hand as we walked back to the house together. I wish I could have taken a photo of that image. I bet it was a beautiful one because I had the two men I loved most in the world by my sides.

Leaving our bags at the front door I could smell seafood cooking and I asked, “Dad, what’s the special occasion?”

Dad looked at me and said, “Well, as if it’s not special enough that my daughter and her boyfriend came for a visit for the weekend I have some news.”

Taking a deep breath I felt Jason tighten his hand around mine and I said, “I have some news too.”

Kissing me on the cheek dad said, “Well, alright then. Ash, you’ll be sleeping in your room.”

Turning to Jason he said, “You can take the spare room. Just a reminder; that room is right next to mine and I have exceptional hearing so you might want to think before you do anything.”

As soon as he said that I yelled, “DAD!”

Turning to me dad shrugged his shoulders and said, “What?”

I was getting ready to yell at him but Jason put an arm over dad’s shoulder and said, “I thought you said you had exceptional hearing, Garrett?” I couldn’t believe Jason said that and I just started laughing.

Dad laughed and said, “I have a feeling we’ll get along just fine, smartass.” Slapping Jason on the back dad walked into the kitchen and hollered, “Dinner should be ready soon you two.”

Carrying the bags upstairs I showed Jason my room. It was left the same way I had it in school. There were pictures all over the walls of friends, trophies from soccer, and my high school diploma.

Jumping onto my bed he looked at all of the stuffed animals and then back at me. “Nice room, Ash.”

Walking over and sitting down onto his lap I said, “Be nice. This was back in high school.”

Chuckling, he pointed to the posters I had on the walls and said, “So you don’t listen to Justin Bieber music anymore?”

Shaking my head back and forth I heard Jason ask, “So you don’t like Twilight anymore?”

Shrugging his shoulders he said, “Then nothing’s changed.”

Taking his head in my hands and looking into his eyes I said, “You’re wrong because everything’s changed.”

Breaking eye contact, he looked down at my stomach and then back up at me. There were tears in his eyes when he said, “I know.” I quickly wiped them away and then kissed him with passion and love and understanding. I wanted to show him in that kiss that he meant everything to me if he had any doubt.

Pulling away from me he said, “I love you so much, Ash.”

Nuzzling against his neck I said, “I love you too.”

We sat there in a comfortable silence for a couple of minutes and then heard the front door bell ring. I lifted my head from Jason’s chest and he asked, “Are you expecting company?”

I shook my head back and forth but then I heard a woman’s voice and dad saying, “Hey.”

My eyes widened and looking over to Jason he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Well, I guess we found out your dad’s news,” and then I heard dad yell up to us that dinner was ready.

Getting off Jason’s lap, he kissed me on the forehead and said, “Like I said before Ash, it will all be okay.” Taking Jason’s hand in mine we walked down the stairs and I heard my dad and this lady having a conversation in the kitchen.

They must have heard our footsteps on the stairs because they stopped talking and dad walked out and said, “Ash, there’s somebody I wanted you to meet.” Behind him walked a short lady with blonde hair and brown eyes. I looked from her back to dad and he said, “This is Janie. We’ve been seeing each other for a while.”

My jaw dropped open and I looked between dad and Janie in shock. Dad misunderstood my silence because he started rambling. “I’m sorry; I messed up, didn’t I? It’s just that you haven’t been home in a while and I didn’t want to tell you over the phone. I’m sor-.”

Cutting dad off, I took his hand in mine and said, “Can I talk to you in the other room, please?”

Dad slumped his shoulders and looked down at the floor mumbling, “Yeah, Ash.” Letting go of Jason’s hand, dad and I walked into the den and sat down on the couch.

It was silent for a while and then dad said, “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to spring this on yo-.” Again I cut him off and hugged him. He flinched for a minute but then I felt his arms wrap around me.

Letting go of him I said, “Daddy, I’m not mad at you for not telling me. It’s just been a long time since mom and I hated the fact that you were always alone. If you’re happy then I’m happy.”

Dad had tears in his eyes and he quickly wiped them away. “Is it dusty in here Ash or what?”

I just laughed and kissed him on the cheek and said, “Come on, I’m starving.” Grabbing dad’s hand, we walked back out into the front hall where Jason and Janie were standing awkwardly. The second Janie saw dad she smiled. I smiled and then looked over to Jason who was staring at me in amazement and I winked at him.

Letting go of dad’s hand, I walked over to Janie extended my hand. “I’m Ashlynn; it’s nice to meet you, Janie.”

Her smile got bigger and she extended her hand to me. “It’s very nice to meet you, Ashlynn.” Looking behind me she said, “Your dad has told me so much about you.”

After I introduced Jason to Janie we all went into the kitchen and sat down at the table where a huge pot of spicy shrimp with crunchy bread and salad were waiting for us. My mouth instantly watered and as soon as I sat down I loaded my plate up with shrimp.

Dad got out a bottle of white wine and started pouring glasses but I startled and said, “Not me.”

His back was to me but he turned around and said, “White wine is your favorite.”

I looked to Jason for help and he quickly said, “I think Ash and I will just have water, Garrett.”

I quickly let out the breath I was holding when I saw Janie looking between us from the corner of my eye. I looked to her and she picked up her hand and locked her lips when I mouthed, “Thank you.” She nodded her head and we all went back to eating.

I must have been stuffing my face or something because I heard dad laugh and say, “Jesus Ash, are you eating for two?”

I started to choke and Jason began to pat my back.

Taking a sip of water, I wiped my mouth and looked over at dad. “I’m just really hungry is all.”

That’s when dad turned to Jason and asked, “Are you not feeding my girl?” Jason just started laughing.

After that little incident dinner was a lot of fun. I found out that Janie was our new neighbor and she was a photographer. Her husband died of a brain tumor a couple of years back and they’d never had children but she told us all about her two little pugs named Ozzie and Allie who are a handful themselves.

Once dinner was over Janie said she had to leave.

Shaking Jason’s hand she said, “Nice to meet you,” and then walked over to me and pulled me into a hug and whispered, “Congratulations.”

I whispered back, “Thank you,” and she kissed me on the cheek.

Pulling away my dad asked, “What were you ladies just whispering about?”

Looking back at me Janie winked and then turned back to my dad. Kissing him on the lips she said, “Nothing Garrett, just girl stuff.”

Jason walked over and placed an arm over my shoulder and muttered, “I like her.”

With a smile on my face and not taking my eyes off my dad and Janie I said, “Yeah, me too.”

Taking Janie’s hand he turned to me and said, “I’m going to walk Janie home but I want to hear all about your news when I get back.”

Attempting to smile I said, “Okay daddy.”

Without dad’s knowledge Janie turned around and mouthed, “Good luck,” while I mouthed, “I’ll need it.”

As soon as the door closed I turned to Jason and he said, “Breathe Ash, everything will be fine.” He walked me over to the couch and we sat there in silence while we waited for dad to come back.

Ten minutes later the front door opened and my heart jumped. Placing a hand on my thigh, Jason gave it a gentle squeeze and I looked over to him. Kissing me on the cheek he said, “I love you Ash.”

I smiled and said, “I love you too.”

Dad walked into the living room and plopped down in a chair and said, “So what’s going on?”

I looked to Jason and he just nodded his head. Turning to my dad I said, “We’re going to have a baby.”

I was so scared that dad was going to jump up from his seat and strangle Jason but he did something worse. He just sat there in complete silence looking between the two of us. Jason held tightly onto my hand and then dad’s vision stopped on Jason. “You still love my daughter?”

Jason cleared his throat and said, “More now if that’s possible.”

Hunching forward in his chair dad asked, “That question you asked me over the ph-,” but was cut off by Jason saying, “It still stands Mr. Miller.”

Leaning back in his chair looking between the two of us for a solid minute he said, “Well, okay then, and I thought I told you to call me Garrett.”

Chuckling Jason said, “Sorry Garrett.”

I’m sorry but was I living in the Twilight Zone or something? My dad was acting like he was okay with it and I thought he was going to shit a brick or something.

I needed to know what dad was talking about with a question but right now wasn’t the time to do so. Looking over to dad I asked, “You’re not mad?”

Shaking his head back and forth he said, “Ashlynn, you’re twenty-one years old. I’m mad that I’m only forty-eight and that I’m going to be a grandpa but we can’t really do anything about that now. Can we?”

Tearing up I ran over to my dad and hugged him.

I hugged him because this could have gone down a completely different path.

Kissing him on the cheek, I leaned back and looked at him. He looked into my eyes and then looked down at my stomach and said, “My baby is going to have a baby.” Placing a hand on my cheek he wiped away my tears and got up and shook Jason’s hand. Dad sat down on the couch with us but I jumped up and ran to go get my purse.

I heard dad ask Jason, “Where is she going,” and then Jason laughing and saying, “It’s a surprise.”