The Offspring

by Laurinda Ruby

  “Just because you apologize doesn’t mean I’m going to let you back into my life,” Julie interrupted.

  “I understand. You can’t keep me away from my own son though. He’ll need his father. I know what it’s like to grow up without a father. I can’t let my son grow up that way.”

  Julie felt the bile rising in her throat. His father. My son. She was going to throw up. The bile sank back into her stomach, leaving the taste of acid and mustard from the pretzel she’d eaten earlier.

  “We wouldn’t have to tell our son the whole story. We could just say that we’d divorced before he was born. He wouldn’t need to know all the details. Nobody needs to know.”

  Our son. The words awoke something inside of Julie that had been asleep. Suddenly, she realized he would never stop. Not until he was dead. The thought of him being hit by a car crossed her mind. If she was a different person, one without a conscience, she would kill him herself. As he said, nobody needed to know. She would tell her son that his father died in a car accident. Simple as that.

  “No,” she said. “I don’t want you in my son’s life.”

  Peter’s eyebrows lowered. She could see her words had stung him. “What do you mean, no?”

  “I mean, you aren’t going to be part of our life. I won’t have anyone I don’t trust in my son’s life.”

  The words spilled out of her almost instinctively. She felt something. When the baby kicked again, she realized what the feeling was. Protective. The fragile human inside of her was shielded from Peter for now. He was warm and safe. Soon, he would be in the world, exposed to danger. She wanted to hold him now and keep him close to her. She wanted to keep him there with her forever. More words spilled out of her. “I’m his mother. I will decide who should and shouldn’t be in his life. That’s all I came here to tell you. I want you to stop following me. Stop terrorizing me and my father.”

  “Is that what he told you? That I was terrorizing him?” Peter asked calmly. The calmness in his voice irritated Julie more. He hadn’t heard her. If he had, he would’ve been upset. Instead, he’d brushed away her words as easily as one brushes away a fly. Peter continued when Julie didn’t respond. “After I sent him that letter, he responded. He told me that he was sorry for being a terrible father. He said he wished he could go back in time and change what he did. Then, he told me that you were having a boy and that he hoped I could be part of the child’s life the way he should’ve been part of mine. He said that there was a special bond between father and son that a mother could never replace.”

  Julie wanted to leap across the table and shove the words back into Peter’s mouth. They were feathers scattered in the wind now. She couldn’t collect them or unhear them. “You’re lying,” she said, trying to sound sure even though she wasn’t.

  “I figured you wouldn’t believe me. Here,” he said, producing a letter from his back pocket. “Read for yourself.”

  Julie glanced at the envelope. “You could’ve fabricated it. Had someone else write it so I wouldn’t recognize your handwriting.”

  Peter smiled a little. “You sound like someone who reads too many crime novels. Don’t you think you’d recognize your own father’s handwriting?”

  Julie doubted that she would, but nodded anyway. “Keep the letter. I don’t care what it says.”

  “We both know that’s a lie. Our father agrees with me, Jules. He thinks I need to be part of my son’s life. A part of you has to know we’re right.”

  We’re right. Her father had betrayed her. She didn’t need to talk to him to know that. It explained how Peter knew the baby’s sex.

  “I don’t know that, because you’re wrong. If you continue to stalk me, I’ll get a restraining order. And if you try to come near the baby after it’s born, I’ll have you arrested. If you try to fight me for custody, I’ll win. I’ll tell the whole world about what you did.”

  Peter leaned back and smiled. “You forget that I’m a lawyer, Jules. You won’t do any of that. Well, you might get the restraining order. But as far as taking me to court, you won’t, and here’s why: If you try to tell a judge that I am your half-brother, they will demand to see the evidence. That’s the thing, Jules. You don’t have any evidence. The only person that would testify would be my aunt, and how do you think the jury will believe a recluse living out in a dilapidated shed? Your father won’t testify, because he would have to admit to the world that he killed his first wife. Even after all these years, he’d be charged with manslaughter. He won’t do that because he’s a coward. So, you would lose and the court would grant me custody. They might even consider making you take a psych eval for coming up with such an off the wall story. If you continued to stick by your story, they might even take the child away from you completely, deeming you an unfit mother. I would then have full custody of our son. So, if I were you, I would think long and hard about those threats you just made.”

  Julie searched for words but found none. She couldn’t be sure if he was telling the truth or just bluffing well. She didn’t know the law as well as he did. If she was going to take him to court, she’d need a good lawyer. Before she could say anything, Peter stood.

  “Jules, it’s good to see you again.” She felt like telling him that he’d seen her plenty of times recently when he’d stalked her. “If it weren’t for that receptionist at your job, Claire, was it? I wouldn’t even have known you were pregnant. You hold the extra weight well.”

  He walked away, leaving her to drown in his words. Her father. Clara. How many other people had betrayed her?

  Chapter 10

  The phone sputtered out a cry to be picked up. Julie had already brushed her teeth and turned out the lights, although it had only been nine o’clock at the time. She sat up and squinted at the neon blue coming off the phone screen. It wasn’t a mystery to her who would be calling.

  “Hi, Anne,” she said groggily.

  “Julie, I just got a phone call from Carrie. You know we haven’t spoken much since that dinner. So, when I saw her call come in, I knew it was important.” Julie thought about interrupting but didn’t bother. “She told me she bumped into you at the Mets with Peter. Julie! Please tell me this isn’t true.”

  Julie sighed. “Anne, it’s a long story. I can tell you tomorrow—”

  “No! You’re not denying it then. You were with him.”

  Julie nodded as if to give her mouth the courage to say the words. “Yes. As I said, it’s a long story.”

  “I’ve got all night.”

  Well, I don’t, Julie thought.

  “Peter has been sending me letters about the—”

  “What?!”

  The shock in Anne’s voice sounded genuine. Minty must not have told her about the letter from the other night. At least someone was loyal.

  Julie continued, “He knows I’m pregnant, Anne. The receptionist, Clara, told him. Anyway, he wants to be part of the baby’s life. He wrote to my father saying he would be a better dad, and for some unfathomable reason, my father replied to tell him that the baby was a boy.” Julie fought back the tight bubble lodging in her throat. She couldn’t cry now. “I agreed to meet him at the Met’s because it was a public place and I wanted to tell him to stay away. That’s all. We bumped into Carrie. She obviously leaped to conclusions of her own after that.”

  The phone was silent for a moment. Then, “Julie, you shouldn’t have met him by yourself. He’s potentially dangerous.”

  Julie started to argue but remembered his words from earlier that night. They held a threatening tone in the air that lingered. It was subtle. But it was there. He could be dangerous. The beans had been spilled with Anne now. Julie took a deep breath and touched her round stomach.

  “Anne, I’m going to tell you something, but you can’t freak out. I agree with you that he could be dangerous. I couldn’t admit that to myself before tonight, but now…Anyway, I need to tell you what he said in case…”

  Julie continued to tell Anne everything. She wasn’t int
errupted once. Anne listened silently, but Julie could feel her horror through the phone whenever she’d gasp or groan softly as if she’d been punched by a leprechaun. When Julie finally finished, Anne said, “You need to move back in with me. Julie, listen to me. You can’t continue to live there. He knows where you live and he knows you’re by yourself. It’s not safe. If you won’t do it for you, please do it for the baby.”

  Julie didn’t argue. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Jules, he might be developing some sort of obsession. Do you remember that story in our psychology class with Mr. Tate? The one where the guy had been stalking his teacher for months. He was infatuated with her at first, but his infatuation grew into an obsession. He became convinced that she loved him too and that he needed to possess what was rightfully his. He started to view her as more of an object than a person. He ended up murdering her and her husband one night when they were sleeping.” She paused. “I’m not trying to scare you. Or maybe I am. Maybe you need to be a little more scared than you seem to be though. You have to take this seriously, Jules.”

  “I’m getting a restraining order tomorrow,” Julie said, feeling the weight of the words fall flat as soon as they left her mouth.

  “A restraining order? Are you planning on beating him to death with a piece of paper when he ignores court order? Come on, Jules.” She sighed. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t get one. It’s probably a great idea. I’m just saying…” her voice trailed.

  “I know what you’re saying, Anne. I’ll think about your offer. I promise.”

  The phone call ended.

  Next door, Julie heard a sound she hadn’t heard before. A high pitched tune. A whistle. The tune was familiar. She tried to match the whistle with her quiet hum until the song came back to her. Where did she know that tune from?

  The blood drained from her face. Peter.

  ***

  Julie had tried to shake off the idea that Peter had moved in next door. The notion was too strange and unlikely. Still, it was strange that she’d never seen her neighbor. As if he were purposely avoiding her. He hadn’t sounded like Peter through the door. His name was John. Both of those things should’ve made her feel better, but they didn’t. They were flimsy details at best. People can change their voices and name.

  She marched into the building where Minty worked and hoped she wouldn’t bump into Paul. They were supposed to go out again, but he’d never called. If they saw each other now, he would feel obligated to apologize or ask her out. That wasn’t the way she’d wanted their story to go. So, she plowed through the lobby, like a woman on a mission, straight for the elevator. She pushed the round button and waited. No voices called out to her in recognition as she waited. And when the elevator doors opened, Paul was not standing there. Just an empty elevator awaited her.

  ***

  Minty looked surprised to see Julie. Probably because Julie had never just dropped in unannounced. They hugged and shuffled over to Minty’s desk—a cubicle enclosed by thin cardboard walls. Whatever Julie said within the cubicle could be heard outside of the cubicle. Julie suggested they go somewhere more private. As they shuffled back to the elevator and through the lobby, neither of them spoke. Julie kept her eyes peeled for Paul to avoid any potentially awkward bump-ins. She’d made it to the exit when the doors swung open and produced a handsome man before her.

  They stood facing each other for a moment. Neither of them seemed to remember how to talk until Minty broke the silent standoff. “Hey, Paul. Back from lunch, huh? We’re just going to grab a bite now.”

  Paul nodded. “Right. Enjoy.”

  Julie started to say hello but Paul had already skirted around her in a hurry to get away. Her heart seemed to be running away with him, leaving her behind as well. The baby picked up on her stress as always and offered a kick to let her know he was still there. She wasn’t alone.

  ***

  “I need you to help me get a restraining order against Peter.”

  Minty set down her espresso and stared at Julie. “Okay.”

  “Did Anne or Carrie talk to you yet?” Julie asked.

  “Carrie? Why would Carrie call me?”

  That answered Julie’s question. “I’ll update you on everything. First, I need to know how long it will take to get the restraining order?”

  “It can take up to three weeks just to get the court date,” Minty said.

  “Geesh. No wonder women don’t bother.” Julie tried to calm herself again, feeling the baby stirring, and knowing a kick would follow soon if she didn’t. “I need another favor too.”

  “Anything.”

  “Can I file for custody of the baby before it’s born?” Julie asked, remembering not to reveal the sex yet. “Peter threatened to fight for custody.”

  Minty’s eyebrows furrowed. “Well, he could file a paternity action now. That would make it easier for him to fight for custody later.”

  “I can’t let him win custody. He’s not…” her voice faded. “He’s not safe.”

  Minty nodded as if she’d known this for a while. “I’ll help you any way I can. I think you should hire a lawyer though. You’re going to need all the help you can get. Peter knows the law better than you, and he is a liar. Who knows how far he’ll go to get what he wants?”

  Minty had taken the words out of Julie’s mouth. It wasn’t like Minty to be so serious. The somberness of her voice shook Julie to the core.

  “Who do you recommend?” Julie asked.

  Minty let out a slight laugh that almost passed for a scoff. “You won’t like what I’m about to say.”

  Chapter 11

  They met at a cafe called On, on Madison Ave. Julie didn’t like the name because it had caused some confusion during the plan-making process. She’d had to ask where she was supposed to meet him on Madison twice until she realized the name of the place was On. Now, she was finally here.

  She’d never hired an attorney before. Something about the process made her nervous. She wasn’t accused of a crime. He wasn’t her defense attorney. Still, that’s exactly how she felt as she stepped into On and saw him sitting near the back, where the least amount of people were. He’d claimed a table for the two of them and had already ordered two coffees. She smiled at the gesture.

  When she sat and took off the layers of jackets and scarves, she thanked him for the coffee. He glanced up from his file and looked at the cup as if he were confused. Then, his lips moved to one side. “Oh, those are both for me. One is just milk and sugar. The other is espresso. I figured out it’s cheaper to do it that way instead of getting a latte.”

  Julie laughed a little. “I’m sorry, I don’t see you being the penny pincher type considering you are charging me fifty an hour just to talk to you.”

  His cheek turned blush-pink. She laughed. “I’m kidding, Paul. This is the most expensive date I’ve ever paid for though.”

  Once again, his eyes widened. She thought he might spit out the sip of espresso he’d just taken in. “I’m just trying to make this a little less awkward by joking. Clearly, my efforts are crashing and burning.” She cleared her throat even though nothing was in it. “Can I ask you why a fancy attorney from Blanch Law Firm would take a family law case? You’re not doing this as a favor are you?”

  “No. Not a favor exactly. I mean, I did agree to it because Minty asked, but I also thought it’d be a good pro-bono case.”

  “Pro-bono?” Julie repeated.

  “It means—”

  “I know what it means. I just don’t understand why you aren’t charging me.”

  “I have to have a certain number of pro-bono cases every year. I like to make sure they are cases I feel strongly about.”

  “And you feel strongly about my case?”

  “Well, yeah.” He looked down. “I do. I don’t think a single mother should have to go up against her ex-husband, who happens to be an attorney alone.”

  Julie studied him for a moment. She thought about asking why he hadn’t ever
called her or why he avoided her the other day with Minty. This wasn’t the time nor the place though.

  “Okay. Fair enough. Let’s get to work then. Shall we?” she asked, cracking her knuckles like she was ready for the fight.

  “Right.” He smiled. “So your ex-husband wants custody of the child, and you are going to fight that he gets no custody or visitation at all. You could deny that he is the father, but the court will ask if you’re willing to take a paternity test to prove that claim. If you’re sure he is the father, I would advise you not to do that.”

  Julie nodded then realized he was waiting for a response. “Oh. He is the father.”

  Julie felt her stomach clench as she told the man she’d had a crush on that her ex-husband was definitely the father of her child, and that she hadn’t slept around. She could go ahead and dismiss any notions of a future date with the gorgeous man sitting across from her. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder if those chances had already been non-existent after their first date. He’d never told her why he hadn’t called back. Had she talked too much? Had she burped out loud?

  Paul stopped talking which made Julie realize he had been talking in the first place. “I’m sorry. Can I say something?” he asked. Julie nodded. “I’m a little surprised you hired me to be your lawyer. Can I ask why you did?”

  “Yeah, I know it’s a little awkward representing a girl you went on a date with, in court over a custody battle. The thought crossed my mind more than once.”

  He interrupted. “No. I’m not talking about that. Though, that’s a little awkward admittedly. I’m talking about the letter you sent. I thought you never wanted to see me again. Why’d you change your mind?”

  Julie shook her head. “What letter?”

  Paul frowned. “That letter you sent me. The one that said you weren’t ready to date anyone and didn’t want to continue seeing me. You told me not to call you.” He paused. “The letter.”

  Julie dropped her head and tilted it as if to say, “What are you talking about?”