“What are you doing here? I thought you wanted nothing to do with me,” I said angrily.
“I’m just here to talk. Can you let me in?” he asked.
I was hesitant to let him in since he had kicked me out of the house.
“Look, I didn’t come here to fight. I just want to talk,” he continued.
I decided to let him in.
“Fine,” I said petulantly.
I showed him to the couch. We sat down in silence for a few minutes.
He looked at me for a moment and began to speak, “Look, I came here to apologize. I know things haven’t always been the best since your mother died. I just decided to focus on work and taking care of things financially. I just was so hurt by the loss of her that I stopped being a father and focused primarily on being a businessman. So I am sorry that I haven’t been a good father to you. I know I can’t change the past, although I wish I could. I should have at least tried to be a better father to you. I can’t forgive myself for not being there for you then, but I am here, I want to make up for lost time.”
I can’t believe that he was saying this. This wasn’t like him at all.
“Okay, Dad. I appreciate the effort it took for you to come down here and say all of this, but you could have called,” I told him.
“But would you have taken my call?” he asked.
“No, probably not.”
“Exactly. That’s why I came out here. Also, that April girl…there’s something different about her. I think she’s a good woman,” he offered tentatively.
I sat there listening to my father and wondered what changed his mind.
“I think she’s good for you and that you should hold onto her.”
“What makes you say that?”
He responded by saying, “She came by the house recently and we talked for a while. Wow! I didn’t know she was so pretty and quite bright. Anyways, she convinced me to come here and talk to you. She felt guilty that we weren’t talking and she wanted to do something about. I didn’t even know she was in law school or had gotten an internship with Roberts and Stanwell. That’s a tough place to even get a job. She seems like a well-rounded lady. I’m sorry I misjudged her. You are lucky to have her.”
“I told you so,” I replied sharply.
“Also, I heard some things about Jennifer that were quite distasteful. I’m actually glad you broke up with her. She really didn’t seem like the type of young lady who could be so mean and disrespectful to others. I also didn’t expect her to only be interested in money. So I am also sorry for telling you to go back with her.”
“It’s okay. You didn’t know,” I placated.
Then he said, “Yeah, but April seems like a respectable woman who is going to be a lawyer. Last time I checked, lawyers made a lot of money. Plus, for her to come to the house to speak to me, that was pretty brave of her. I think you should marry her as soon as you can.”
I couldn’t believe what dad was saying. He was giving me his blessing to marry her! I didn’t need it and I had planned to make an honest woman out of her anyways, but Dad’s support meant the world to me.
He then handed me some money.
“Here, take this,” he said.
I counted it. It was $4000!
“What’s this for?”
“That’s to help cover any expenses when you guys begin to live together.”
“Wow, thanks Dad,” I offered as we then sat down and began to talk.
“I didn’t know that you were selected to play with the Giants. I guess that was my fault, huh?” he supposed.
“Yeah, I really wanted to tell you but, we weren’t exactly talking,” I replied.
“Sorry about that. I just wanted to say that I’m proud of you son,” my dad said with a grin.
I smiled back at him. We decided to see the city and we finally did some father-son bonding. Since my dad frequently visited the city, he told me where I should go and where I should avoid. We also stopped to get some pizza and we talked about football and stats. It was like I got the father I had always wanted when I was growing up.
I opened up to him and told him that I had met James Jones and that now I might have a chance to meet Mark. I also told him that practice with the team was going well and I told him the benefits I got as a result of signing up with them. Dad was quite impressed that the team was taking very good care of his son. We continued talking as we headed back to my apartment. Once there, we each had a beer and talked for a while longer and then he looked at the time.
“Well, I have to get back. There’s a lot that I have to do. Well, we need to do this again. There’s still a lot I need to know about my son,” he said.
He then rested his hand on my shoulder. I couldn’t believe that I got to spend almost the whole day with my dad. I hardly could even get a minute with him when I was growing up. Whatever April did, worked. He clearly came out of his shell and was definitely trying to fix the relationship.
“Anyway, I have to go right now. I have got a flight to catch,” he went on.
“Bye, Dad. Thanks for visiting.”
We hugged and then he left. I closed the door and thought about what had just happened. I never expected my dad to ever say that he was proud of me. I sat alone in the apartment and wished I could tell one person everything. I tried to call April, but she wasn’t picking up. I wondered if she was okay.
I tried again but no answer. I began to panic. I know she wasn’t at work, because work finished an hour ago and since school was over, I know she wasn’t studying. I began to panic. Where was she? What was she doing? I couldn’t think straight.
Suddenly, I heard the doorbell and I looked outside.
“What are you doing here?” I asked in relief.
“I had to see you.”
It was April. She had a few bags with her. I helped her with the bags and told her to come in.
“How were you able to get here?” I wondered.
“Your dad. He gave me some money. Look, I hope it wasn’t a problem talking to your dad behind your back. I felt guilty because I thought I had gotten in between you and your dad. I just wanted to make things right,” she worried.
“Wow, you didn’t have to.”
“But I wanted to.”
I leaned in and kissed her.
“You really didn’t have to, but I’m glad that you did,” I told her.
“Yeah, so you and your dad finally bonded, huh?”
“Yes, we did. Thank you,” I told her gratefully.
I kissed her and held her.
“I see you decided to move in early,” I teased.
“Yeah. It was hard for dad let me go but eventually, I left.”
“Yeah, I can imagine. I’m glad you are here though.”
“So am I.”
I then held her close to me.
“April, there is something I have been wanting to tell you for longest time. Ever since I met you, I knew you were different. I had never met anyone like you and I don’t think I ever will. I know you have heard me say this all before, but it’s how I feel. It’s not always easy for someone like me to express my emotions and say how I feel, but with you…with you it’s easy. I can say what’s on my mind and not feel judged or stupid….”
“Well there was that one time you did say something stupid…,” she cut in.
“April, I’m trying to be romantic. Please just let me.”
“Okay, sorry.”
I began again, “Okay. Ever since I met you, my life has changed for the better. I now have my dream job with my dream salary in the city I have always wanted to live in and also, I have my dream girl. I don’t think any of these things could have happened without you. You make me want to be a better person and you showed me what it is to actually love someone. I don’t know how much more I could ask for, April. You are the perfect woman for me. You are smart, kind, considerate, hard-working, amazing, great in bed and can cook. Women like you shouldn’t even exist anymore, but here you are in fro
nt of me and I’m so grateful that you are. April, I’d do anything to keep you around and to take care of you. If you didn’t pass that last exam, I would have given up the position here and transferred to a local team. I would have done that just to be closer to you.”
She was beginning to tear up.
“But playing with the Giants is your dream! I wouldn’t want you to give up on your dream!” she protested.
“But that’s the thing. You are my dream,” I told her sincerely.
She began to cry and smile. I wiped her tears and kissed them away.
“There’s something else that I wanted to say to you.”
She wiped the rest of her tears and waited.
“April, I…” I began haltingly.
I stopped. I realized that I had never said those words before to another woman. I was scared to do it now.
“April,” I swallowed my pride and found the strength to tell her, “I love you. I have never loved anyone the way I love you. I don’t think I ever will. I love you, April. I love you!”
I then hugged her and kissed her once again. It felt so good to finally say it. I finally let her go and I wanted to hear what her response was.
“Nick there is something I wanted to tell you too,” she said.
She left me in suspense for quite some time until she said it.
“I love you too, Nick,” she said softly.
Epilogue
Nick
It’s been a year since she moved in with me and things have been great. I’m not the neatest person to live with but we have both learned how to deal with it. We decided to get a maid since we can afford it.
April also got a permanent job with Roberts and Stanwell and was enjoying it. She was working on interesting cases and doing quite well in the firm. Rumor had it that she was going to get a raise soon, but I wasn’t sure if she would have the free time to enjoy the extra money
I sometimes wished that she would stay at home because the job can be stressful. But I guess she was also living out her dream. Her other dream was to have a career and get married. I helped her with the last one.
After we had confessed our love for one another, I proposed to her. She said yes and after months of planning, we got married and now she is my wife! I am so proud of myself for marrying a hot lawyer. I planned to make her happy for the rest of my life and so far, I was doing my job.
I wasn’t doing too badly either. I was currently the MVP of the league and everyone wanted to sign me. I had a lot of sponsorship deals and contracts to look at. The good news is that I married a competent lawyer who helps me with these things and I am so grateful that I did. It was also the perfect opportunity for us to spend time together as our schedules were otherwise extremely busy.
I put the thoughts out of my mind and regained my focus. This was the last game of the season. I had to bring home a win for the team. Failure was not an option. I had very important people watching me. April, my father and my father-in-law were watching in the VIP lounge and I had to make them proud of me. I already knew I was taking home that win.
The first half was pretty tough. This team was giving us a run for our money. It seemed like they knew all of our plays and we didn’t have anything against them. The coach called us and discussed strategy while we were all in the huddle. He was telling the defense not to drop their guard so soon. He also said not to wait too long to tackle. He also told me to put some extra grip on the ball when catching it so as not to let it get knocked out of my fingers. When we had been reassured, we took a break. Some of the new guys began talking to one another.
A few of them even teased me about getting married. I didn’t care. I knew they were jealous that they didn’t have someone to come home to or someone who can cook for them. They were the real losers. I grabbed some of my sports drink and tried to get my head back into the game. I reminded myself that we were down but not out. After we had re-hydrated and found motivation, we were about to get back onto the field. Suddenly, there was a short report on me. They told the audience a bit about me such as my biography, pet peeves, taste in music and that I was married to April Hansen, a very successful lawyer.
“Wait Jim,” said one of the announcers, “we are getting some incoming news.”
“Well,” I thought to myself, “they have never done this before.”
I wonder what it could be.
“Bob, it seems that our favorite MVP has a message from his wife,” Jim replied.
I immediately looked up at the stands and the screen and saw that she was on the screen with a big smile on her face. April had two things in her hands. In one hand was the picture of the ultrasound from the gynecologist. Another was a sign in her hand that said we were having a boy.
I wanted to cry. I was going to be a father. Me? Nick Barrett, a dad?! My old college roommates would have gotten a good laugh out of this. The old me would have been disgusted by the news. But knowing that there was a part of me and a part of April inside of her, I was trying to fight back tears.
“And there you have it, folks. Not only is Nick Barrett the MVP of the league and a married man who loves peanut butter sandwiches and rock and roll, but now he is also going to be a dad.”
“Yeah, congrats Nick!”
“Congrats!” everyone shouted.
The stadium began to cheer. There was a solitary tear rolling down my cheek. I had to play my best and I was willing to do whatever it took to win this. I was filled with joy and determination. The other members of the team congratulated me until the coach interrupted us.
“Guys, I know we are down, but we are not out. When we win this thing, which we can, we will all have something to celebrate. But congrats Nick.”
“Thanks, coach,” I said.
We then broke away and got into formation. We were going to win this. The ball went flying. Our defense was strong. My teammates almost tackled every player that came after me. Jim was about to pass the ball. He was asking me to stay open. The opposing team was trying to block it. I caught the ball and I kept running. I didn’t care who was coming after me. I was taking this across the line and into the end zone and winning this. They came close to tackling me, but I dodged it.
I was only a few inches away. I was almost tackled by the opposing team, when all of a sudden I stepped sideways and pushed myself onward. My thighs burned. The rest of my muscles ached. But I knew victory was in sight. I then managed to reach the line and secured victory for us. “Touchdown! The MVP has done it again!”
The crowd began to celebrate! Everyone was going wild. My pregnant wife came on the field and kissed me. I did it! I was so thankful for my wife who motivated me and also, the life that was growing inside of her. I can’t believe I did it! And it was thanks to her for staying by my side and supporting me when things got rough. Who knew you can eventually find love on a lonely, rainy day?
Dirty Indiscretions: A Dark Mafia Romance Page 43