Rebecca's Little Secret. Judy Christenberry
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the door.
Rebecca hurriedly followed him in time to hear him say, “You’re not my real daddy!”
“Joey, don’t be rude, please. Let me introduce you to Jeff Jacobs. Jeff, this is Joey.” She tightened her hands on her son’s shoulders before she added, “And, yes, Jeff is your real daddy.”
“But you told me he was strong like Superman! He doesn’t even have a cape!”
Much to Rebecca’s relief, Jeff laughed. “I’m a lot stronger than your mom. Maybe that’s why she said that.”
“Yeah. We was scared and she said if you was there, you’d protect us.”
“We were scared, Joey,” Rebecca corrected.
Joey gave her one of his disgusted looks. He didn’t count grammar among the important things in life.
Jeff had been standing. Before the awkward silence got too long, he said, “May we sit down and talk a little? I’ve missed four years of your life. I’d like to know what you like to do. Your favorite foods, those kinds of things.”
Joey looked at Jeff and then his mother.
Rebecca braced herself for what was coming.
“When we have something to celebrate, Mommy takes me to McDonald’s!”
“Joey, you just had lunch. And it’s not nice to ask to be invited.” Rebecca felt her cheeks turning red.
“But, Mommy, he asked what I like. And I like to go there.”
“Fair enough,” Jeff said. “How about I take you there for dinner this evening?”
“That would be great. Me and Mommy will like that.”
Rebecca hurriedly said, “I won’t be going, honey. It’s a chance for you to get to know your daddy.”
Joey looked at Jeff and frowned. “I don’t want to go without you, Mommy.”
Before she could begin to persuade him, Jeff said, “That’s fine if Mommy comes. I’ll invite my fiancée, too, so you can meet her.”
“What’s a fiancée?” Joey asked.
“She’s the lady I’m going to marry.”
Joey backed up to lean against his mother’s legs. “Uh-uh, I’m not changing mommies. I’m keeping my mommy.”
Rebecca bent down and kissed her son’s cheek. “I’m glad you want to keep me, sweetie, but that’s not what your daddy meant. Chelsea would be your stepmother and I would be your mommy.”
“Stepmother? Like the one in Cinderella? That would be bad! I don’t want a stepmother!”
“Joey, mind your manners. I’ll explain later.”
Jeff looked at the little boy with his stubborn chin. “Maybe that’s a good idea. You’ll have time to explain everything and we can talk at McDonald’s. Okay, squirt?”
“What’s a squirt?” Joey asked.
“Your mom will explain that, too.” Jeff moved toward the door. “About seven?”
“Actually,” Rebecca said, “little boys like to eat around six, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind. You don’t need to go back to work today. I’ll explain to Harriet that you’ve got today off and that you’ll be there tomorrow.”
Rebecca froze. “You’re not going to fire me?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Maybe because you’re mad at me?”
“I’m not. Besides, my new partner comes in the morning. You’ll be able to help out until he hires a full-time secretary.”
JEFF SAT IN HIS CAR for several minutes, trying to take in all he’d learned this afternoon. He had a son. He’d always wanted children some day but this wasn’t exactly how he’d expected to form his family. Still, he wanted to hold him, to hug him, to be there for him. But Jeff knew he was a stranger to Joey, and it would take him time to warm up to him and show his love.
He remembered the photo Rebecca pulled out. Joey looked like he did as a boy, but he did have Rebecca’s stubborn chin. Jeff laughed. That was no surprise, but it probably explained how she managed to raise Joey alone.
Now he had to face Chelsea and explain how his life had changed in one afternoon. He was supposed to take her to dinner, and McDonald’s wasn’t what she would be expecting.
When he reached the Wexham home, he paused. Suddenly he realized that he didn’t like the Wexhams’ home. It wasn’t a home. It was a house with expensive things in it. He couldn’t see bringing Joey there.
Then he thought about Vivian Greenfield’s house. Jeff had always liked her house. He’d first visited it almost five years ago with his uncle. Vivian’s house was a home, warm and inviting. He wanted that kind of house for his son.
With a sigh, he got out of the car and went to the door, ringing the doorbell. The housekeeper answered the door. She wasn’t part of the family, like Betty and Peter. Mrs. Wexham never let her forget her place.
“Is Chelsea in?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. I’ll tell her you’re here.” She led him to the parlor and left the room. He stood there, looking at the brocade antique sofa and the accompanying chairs. He decided that he would ask Chelsea to go for a ride. He certainly didn’t want their conversation interrupted.
“Jeff! This is a surprise. How nice,” Chelsea said with a beautiful smile.
“I know. I should’ve called but, well—you’ll understand when I tell you what’s happened. Can we go for a ride?”
She was wearing slacks and a shirt. “I’m not dressed to go out, Jeff. I could change—”
“No, Chelsea, we won’t get out of the car. But this is important. Please.”
She gave him a curious look. “All right. Let me tell Mother.”
She came back several minutes later. “Sorry. She had to lecture me about going out like this,” she said with a smile.
For the first time, Jeff considered what kind of parent Chelsea would be. He could picture Joey in a proper suit, standing rigidly at attention. And being seriously unhappy.
He shoved that thought away and led Chelsea to his BMW. He drove to a nearby park, pulled into a free space, then rolled down the windows and turned off the motor. It was a mild fall day, not too hot as long as there was a breeze.
“Okay, what happened today? Is it good? Did you get a new client?” Chelsea asked.
“It’s more personal than that. It’s rather complicated as well. Rebecca—Rebecca told me that she was pregnant when I left Arkansas. She has been raising my son alone since his birth.”
“And she didn’t tell you? Well, I think you’ve got a good case to get out of paying child support.” Chelsea was looking at her nails, as if trying to decide if she liked the color.
“I have no intention of avoiding child support payments. He’s my son.”
“Are you sure? I think you should have a paternity test done. She could’ve gotten knocked up by some jerk who ran off and she sees an opportunity to get some money.”
“Chelsea, how could you be so cold? Rebecca’s not like that!” Jeff snapped.
“Jeff, you haven’t seen her in five years. She may have changed.” She looked up at him. “Right?”
“It’s possible, I guess.”
“So get the test.”
“When you meet him, you’ll