I was surprised she felt that way. I just hoped I wouldn’t let anyone down. We said our goodbyes. Even though this last stop on the recruiting trail had held personal surprises, I’d liked Alabama. Still, I was happy we were done. For now, I could focus on getting well, finishing up the semester, and preparing for LA. It was comforting to know what lay before me.
◊◊◊
Mom had taken Scarlet and Carol under her protective wing. They would be okay with her watching over them. I didn’t want them to feel like they were an afterthought or anything and knew that my mom and dad wouldn’t let that happen. Though Mom might be the second-most excited about having a new granddaughter. I suspected a certain hound would be all wiggles when he met her.
On the flight home, I was seated next to Brook in first class. Caryn had upgraded our seats; she must want a raise or something. I had my earbuds in and was zoning out as I listened to my tunes. Brook grabbed my hand. I turned to her and then sighed because she had that ‘we need to talk’ expression.
“You mentioned that you had been told you had five kids. Is there something you need to tell me?”
Yep, we were having a talk. I guess I should have seen this coming. I’d told Brook about the psychic and his proclamation. At the time, I was sure he was crazy. Either that, or he was counting Greg’s kids in the mix, which was okay. I considered them part of my family, too.
“Well, I was kinda hoping we might knock one out before graduation. I’ve always wanted my own basketball team. Of course, it would have to be a boy.”
Humor wasn’t the right direction to take this conversation.
“Sorry,” I mumbled. “As far as I’m aware, we’re done with surprises.”
Brook didn’t seem reassured.
“I knew that you had a son. I also knew that you considered Peggy’s little boy to be a part of the family. But I’m not sure what to think of three more.”
“It’s not like I plan to have them all move in with me.”
She got a determined look.
“Remember last spring break? How much fun we had traveling?” she asked. “What are your plans this year? Do you plan to go to Alabama to see your boys? What about Christmas? What about birthdays?”
“You said I needed to get my pilot’s license.”
Brook closed her eyes and let out a long breath.
“David, I’m not sure this is what I want. I realize you have no control over this, and it’s not your fault. And I can’t ask you to turn your back on them.”
She paused and then collected her thoughts before I could say anything.
“I knew when I agreed to date you what your life was like. I decided that if I wanted to spend time with you, I needed to go on these weekend trips. You’ve said yourself that your life needed to be simplified. I just see it getting worse.”
“Hang on. We do something together almost every night. Even with my schedule, we do a lot together.”
“That’s just it. We do things that you need to do. Am I supposed to plan my life around three more kids?” she asked.
I sat in stunned silence. I had no idea Brook felt this way. My first instinct was to lash out and show her the door. I hated to admit it, but Tami might have this right. I shouldn’t go with my first instinct.
“Brook, I love you. I realize that my life changed once again this weekend. At the same time, I can’t turn my back on them. I think we can work this out, if we want to,” I said.
“David, I’m not sure I want to,” Brook said as she let go of my hand.
“Are you breaking up with me?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” she said. She began to tear up. “I need to think about it.”
Brook got up, and I let her go down the aisle to where Cassidy was sitting. Cassidy looked at her funny and then came and sat next to me. She took my hand and closed her eyes to take a nap.
It was like I’d just been kicked in the gut. Mom had said that she didn’t think I really loved Brook because I hadn’t considered how it would affect us when I first found out about my kids. I’d told myself that it was because I was in shock. I wondered now if Mom hadn’t been afraid of precisely this result.
It felt like everything came crashing down on me. If I’d been alone in my car, I might have cried.
◊◊◊
“Give her time,” Cassidy said as we started our final descent into O’Hare Airport. “Finding out your boyfriend fathered three more children isn’t easy.”
“Not much I can do to change it. I guess my date with Destiny will be much more interesting now that Brook dumped me.”
“She didn’t dump you. She just needs time to think,” Cassidy said and then gave me the evil eye. “You better not do anything stupid.”
“There’s a reason they call me a ‘stupid boy,’” I fired back.
“I’ll take her side,” Cassidy warned.
“Go ahead and do it. I’m done,” I said.
“What?
