Jacob

Smile. Smile. That's all i have to do today. And be by Zoe's side. This is the woman i'm supposed to be with for the rest of my life. Anytime, I could have come back for Rachel and I didn't. So it's not meant to be. I glance around the guests to see if I see Rachel. I haven't seen her since earlier this morning and i haven't talked to her all day. I just want to make sure she's okay. I feel horrible to constantly ruining her. I can't bear to hurt her anymore. I told Zoe, we're leaving tomorrow. She was fine with the arrangement but I could see she was curious as to why I wanted to leave my family so quickly.

"Sure i can have everything packed by tonight," Zoe answered me earlier today while getting dressed, "but don't you want to spend some time with your mama?"

I was drying myself from my shower, hiding my hurt expression as I towel dried my hair, "we can come back and visit anytime. I just think if we have these plans for the clothing line and t.v. Show we should start as soon as we can."

Zoe skipped to me, "So does that mean it's a yes for the projects?!?" She rubs my chest.

I grin. I'm not sure I'm ready for this level of busyness but it should help me to forget Rachel. "I mean if it helps my bus—"

"Our business." Zoe corrects.

I look at her, "Our business, then I'll give it a good go." I said trying to feel optimistic about the new path in life.

Zoe kissed me gently on the lips, " I get to marry the man of my dreams, get to be in tv and have a clothing line." Zoe laughs with excitement, " life couldn't be any better!!"

I smile at Zoe, hoping her confidence in us is strong enough for both of us.

" Hey cowboy," I hear Billy's voice beside me, snapping me back to the party, " Any wildflowers here that I can pick?"

I give Billy a hug. God I so glad to see my best friend.

" I can't believe your mama put this together in such short notice." Billy said looking around the back yerd.

I look around too. I didn't really take it all in, but I know it wasn't mama alone. It was Katie, Zoe and ... Rachel too.

"I see my brother found Rachel." Billy says, hinting to see my reaction, of course.

"Yeah. I hope it works for them." I say, trying to convince myself.

"You're a lucky man to have someone like Zoe. You guys are superstars now. And you're going to do great."

I smile at Billy and who I see behind him by the back Porch, I was surprise to recognize but I'm shock that he had the nerve to show his face here.

What the fuck. He has the nerve to show up here today.

He's standing behind his parents, looking around greeting the folks passing by him. I feel my body stiff. I clench my fist, taking a deep breath.

"You okay Jacob?" Billy asks.

"Yeah I am." I answer trying to stay cool. The fucker doesn't come to see or call his son. Not even after Matty was in the hospital, and now he shows up. At my engagement party.

I stare at him. Standing by his parents, smiling at the other guests. Asshole. Why isn't he looking for his son? Or Rachel. Doesn't he know they're here?

"Hey hon," I whisper in Zoe's ear, " I'll be back." I say.

"Where are you going?" Zoe's asks with concern.

I smile, "just going to say hi to an old friend." I say giving her a kiss on the lips.

I might have been a jerk all this time, but I'm about to make it right for Rachel.

"Hey Mr. And Mrs. Bruner. How have you been?" I said walking up to David's parents.

"Ohhh," Mrs. Bruner reacts with joy, squeezing my cheeks, "Little Jacob Bridgestone!!!! I can't believe you're getting married!!" She shouts as I try to not react to the pain on my cheeks.

"Yes. Yes I am." I say as she finally let's go of my face. " my mama is over there, if you want to say hi." I say stretching my jaw.

"Ooo, Come Eral, let's say hi to Jane." Mrs Burner cheers, grabbing her husband's arm and stepping off. The porch.

"Hey, David, right?" I say looking straight at Rachel's ex. We knew of each other, but never hung out. The smell of his cologne is evident. Earthy with a hint of spice. He's tall and slender, no muscular definition. He wears eyeglasses and has a goatee. More!!!!

He looks at me and smiles offering me his hand, "Hey yeah. Congratulations!" He cheers.

"Long time no see. What have you been up to?" I ask starting my integration.

"Not much. Working out of town. Came to visit my parents for a couple of weeks then flying to Europe for business."

A couple of weeks? "Visiting just your parents?"

David smiles, " yeah. Before I go to Europe. My mama worries about me when I go away for business, so I see her for a few days before I leave."

"So you just got here yesterday?" I ask hoping the douchebag did just come to town yesterday.

"No, I've been here for about four days." David says thinking.

I'm steaming. Hes been here and never contacted Rachel and Matty.

"What about Matty? Did you ever fucken think of him?!?" I was fuming. How dare he walks his ass into my mama's house without visiting his son until today.

"Whoa, whoa," David says, putting his hands in front of me, " Who's Matty?"

My eyes nearly bulged out of place, " You're kid!!! Matthew? With Rachel?" He looks at me dumbfounded, "did you hit your head in the last five fucken years. Did you not care about him? What fucken asshole are you to be in a relationship with a women, have a child and drop both of them?"

"Wait. Stop." David says angrily, straightening himself looking to see if anyone is hearing us. "First of all. You have no right to talk to me that way. Second of all, I don't know where you got your information but Matty's not my kid."

I froze. I can hear my heart pounding in my chest, drowning out the sounds of the guests around me. A rush of cold shock trembles through my body. I stare at David. Waiting for him to take it back. This is a joke, right? "What?" Was all I could said.

David steps closer to me, "I don't like to talk about it. I was mortified when I found out but, I'll tell you so you get your facts straight. It's no lie that our marriage didn't go as well as I thought it would. Rachel and I eventually lost interest in each other." David straightens himself, seeming uncomfortable talking about this, "About three years ago, we decided to separate. I ah... mention about making a custody agreement for Matty... that's when Rachel... told me that Matty wasn't my son. I was crushed. I mean, how could she have led me to believe that I was his father." David said, choking on his words, " my family. My job. Everybody knew that I had a —" David takes a deep breath through his nose, holding back his tears. I froze trying to focus on every word David is saying. This doesn't sound like Rachel at all. " Needless to say, I haven't talked to Rachel since." David concludes.

I rub my face as I try to hold myself together. It can't be. How could Rachel lie to me? I thought. "David, I'm sorry. I didn't realize..." trying to comfort him but I'm baffled myself. I try to compose myself as guests walk by patting my shoulder and greeting me with smiles. I try to smile back but feeling like a mac truck just ran me over and I'm looking all shit face right now. With David's words echoing in his mind, over and over. "Mattys not my kid."

If David s not Matty's father... then who?? A sick feeling twisted in my gut.

I search for Matty. He's playing out on the field past the dining tables with the other kids. I catch him in a moment of being himself. A playful grin on the boy's face as he runs around in the yard. But I'm not focusing on what he's doing. I'm looking at him. Really... looking at him. I lock my eyes on the boy's features—the slightly wavy hair, the shape of his chin and his eyes. But also what's been going on. His taste in jam and cream cheese, the way he sits and calls mama   Grammy.

"Do you know who the father is?" I ask David.

"Nope. She wouldn't tell me. I spent a lot of time threatening her, yelling at her to tell me who it was." David answers with anger, "If she tells you, let me know who's the lucky bastard who got away from her." David said, giving me a pat on the back before leaving to follow his parents.

I'm so consumed with sheirshock right now to think straight. Why would Rachel say David was the father? It doesn't sound like Rachel. The thought came crashing, too fast to push away. No... no way.

Matty couldn't be— But the timeline—Rachel's sudden coldness, the way she'd wanted to keep Matty at a distance. The boy's age. Five years old.

Five years.

My heart pounds louder now, the realization striking me. That night. The last time I was with Rachel... our last night, before I left.

Matty's laugh cut through my racing thoughts. I look at Matty again. The way the boy tilts his head, the spark of energy, it all became so clear, painfully clear.

My son??

I caught my breath, and a cold wave washed over me. I swallow hard, my throat dry. I lean against the post of the porch, everything I have known, everything I planned, unraveling in seconds.

A wave of guilt crashed over me. How could Rachel have kept this from me? How could she have...?

I gasp with the realization. I caused this—. She didn't want to hold me back, and didn't want to be the reason I didn't chase my dreams.

My hands trembled, my heart pounding in my chest. Matty is my son.

The truth was undeniable now. the next question is the hardest one:

What am I going to do about it?

"Hey, Jacob. Are you okay?" Billy asks walking up the porch stairs with two beers.

I look at him trying to shake off the new revelation, "Yeah. Just taking it all in."

"Here." Billy hands me a beer, "congratulates to a bright and happy future!" Billy announces raising his beer. I weakly smile at him as I cling our beers together. I down my beer in one chug, "oh shit Jacob relax. You've got all night to drink." Billy laughs.

"True." I said looking around for Rachel. I have to find her and talk to her. This can't wait. David must be lying about something. "Sorry man. I'll be back." I said walking towards the guests.