Ties That Bind
7. Dealing With The PastCameron got Beth an icepack, applying it to her eye as she sat down beside her on the couch. The twins looked on wordlessly at their Mother, unsure of what had just happened to her.
“Mommy, why was that man hurting you? He gave you a bruise on your arm.” Jacob asked.
For being a young child of only five, Jacob was a very intelligent little boy. Never letting any detail escape him, while also always being kind, loving and considerate of others. Beth could only hope he would not turn into the monster is biological Father was.
Beth still couldn’t face her children. “Cam-” she uttered and Cameron knew to take over the situation and talk to the kids where Beth was unable to.
“Those men were just visiting and got a little upset. It won’t happen again. Now I want the three of you to go play quietly in the playroom.”
The kids nodded and Andrew ran to the playroom while Jacob and Jenifer walked there.
When Cameron was sure the kids were gone, she turned to Beth.
“I still can’t believe this. What are the odds of us meeting and becoming good friends, raising our kids together only to find out they are really cousins. And I can’t believe what became of Zac, he used to be really sweet and caring. I wonder what changed him.” Cameron spoke in thought while Beth was planning her next move to get as far away from Zac as she possibly could.
“I need to get out of here. I have to take my kids and get away from him.”
“Beth, it won’t do any good. You know he will never leave you alone, you even told me yourself and with him showing up today proved that. So the best thing to do next is, you need to face him and deal with the past someday. Why live your life in constant fear and always have to look over your shoulder wondering if he’s found you again?”
“I can’t, he’s put me through so much, today being no different. You know both of them, can’t you make them go back home to California?”
“I can try but Zac is determined to see his kids.”
In hearing that Beth looked up to her friend, her eyes retracting in fear.
“Even more reason I should leave with the kids - get as far away from here as possible.”
“Let’s not make any sudden decisions. I’d hate to have you start over in another town like you had to here. Let’s talk with the therapist when we go see her in a few days. Whatever she recommends is what we’ll do together.”
“But what about Zac? He’ll keep coming around here.”
“I’ll keep him and Taylor away from the house. I promise.” Cameron affirmed, squeezing her friends hand.
Cameron talked with Taylor on the phone and as promised the boys stayed away from the house.
*
On Monday morning, a mere two days after everyone was reunited after five years. Life seemed to go on as usual. Beth and Cameron dropped the kids off at school before going to their job at the local factory.
Zac had slipped Taylor something in his drink after they had gotten drunk and had some fun with two unknown girls from the bar they were at the night before. Zac left Taylor and the two girls sleeping peacefully in the room as he went over to the nightstand and took Taylor’s wallet and the keys to Taylor’s car before walking out of the motel room. Putting on a pair of sunglasses, Zac got in the car and drove off to his destination, excitement built within him as he got closer.
After parking the car, he walked quickly into the building. Taking only a few moments to find the office. He entered, walking up to the counter, leaving his sunglasses in place.
“How can I help you sir?” the young secretary asked.
“Hi, Doll. I came to pick up my son, Jacob. His Mother Elizabeth Baldwin sent me to get him.”
“What is the reason for this pick up?” the secretary inquired, giving Zac a hard look.
“He has a doctors appointment, she forgot and sent him to school. So, she sent me to come get him and she is going to meet us there.” Zac explained, keeping a straight face.
“What relation are you to the child?”
“I am his Father.” Zac answered with a smile.
“But you are not on his release papers as a parent.” the secretary pressed.
“I know, I have been out of town for awhile. She said she will be down later to add me to his school records.”
“I still can’t release him to you without proof of your immediate family relationship to the child.”
Zac removed his sunglasses. Looking at the lady with his luscious chocolate brown eyes, he leaned over the counter while speaking lowly and seductively. “Do you have his birth certificate on file, Doll?”
She leaned in towards Zac, beginning to instantly fall for his beautiful brown eyes. “Yes, we do.”
“If you take your sexy little ass over to that cabinet over there and pull it out you will see my name on his birth certificate.” Zac gestured to the cabinet as he smiled.
“Ok.” the secretary smiled back as she got up and pulled out Jacob’s file and brought it back over to her desk.
“Do you have a picture ID on you sir?” the secretary asked. Zac leaned back and pulled out his wallet, handing the lady his driver’s license.
Pulling out his birth certificate and comparing the names on both documents. The secretary looked back up at Zac a smile on her face.
“Ok, Mr. Hanson everything seems to be in order, just be sure that Elizabeth comes in and adds you to Jacob and Jenifer’s school records when she brings Jacob back to school.”
“She will.” Zac affirmed, smiling back.
“I’ll just call him down to the office.” the secretary announced before picking up the phone and made the call to Jacob’s classroom while Zac looked out the window, growing impatient waiting.
“So, Zac. Could I get your number and maybe we could go out for a drink sometime?” the secretary asked, trying to be seductive like he had been to her.
“No, I’m sorry. I’m taken. I mean, Elizabeth and I are getting married soon.” Zac replied half heartedly. Not at all interested in the young secretary or her advances.
Just then Jacob came into the office wearing his spring coat and his backpack, while holding a teacher aide’s hand.
“Hi, Jake. Mommy forgot you had a doctors appointment today.” Zac spoke quickly.
“But -” Jake started to say before Zac cut him off.
“We should go before we’re late.” Zac insisted as he took a hold of Jacob’s hand and lead him out of the office rather quickly, before Jacob said anything more.
Once Jacob was buckled into the front seat, Zac ran around the car and got in. As he drove away from the school. Jacob began to ask questions.
“Where are we going?” Jacob looked up to the man who was still a stranger to him.
“I told you kid, you have a doctors appointment.”
“Jenifer and I always have appointments on the same day.”
“Today it’s just for you buddy.“
“Where’s Mommy?“
“Mommy is going to meet us there.”
“You’re a stranger and Mommy told us never to trust strangers.” Jacob eyed Zac suspiciously.
In hearing that Zac pulled the car over and threw it into park. He turned to Jacob.
“I’m not a stranger.”
“If your not a stranger than who are you then? I have never seen you before you came to my house two days ago.”
“You are a smart kid, you know that? Truth is pal.” Zac took a deep breath before continuing. He was hoping he would be doing this with Beth instead of alone. But he had no choice so he told his son the truth of his identity. “I am really your Daddy.”
Jacob shook his head in disbelief.
“I don’t have a Daddy. Mommy said Jenifer and I were miracle babies and our Daddy was an angel in heaven.”
“She what?” Zac uttered, gritting his teeth and folded his arms in front of him, glaring at Jacob. He was starting to get really pissed off at the lies Beth would dare tell his kids. “Buddy, I am your Daddy. I promise, I wouldn’t lie to you about that.”
“I don’t believe you. If you were really my Daddy, you wouldn’t have hurt my Mommy the other day and you did! I saw it for myself! ” Jacob was starting to get upset and folding his arms in front of him. Giving Zac the same glare that he was displaying to Jacob. They were mirror images of each other. The resemblance between he and his son was overwhelming Zac. An idea suddenly came to him on how to win his son over.
“If I prove it to you, then will you believe me?”
“I guess.” Jacob shrugged, the glare never leaving his face.
Zac went back into his wallet and pulled out a picture. He leaned over the front seat and showed it to Jacob.
Jacob took one look at it and became wide-eyed.
“But, how did you get a picture of me and Andy?” Jacob said, rather shocked as he looked up at Zac still wide-eyed.
“That’s not a picture of you and Andy. That’s me.” Zac pointed to a younger version of himself and then pointed to the other little boy in the picture. “And that’s Andy’s Daddy, which is my brother, Taylor. You met him the other day when he was talking to Andy at the picnic table remember?”
“Yeah.” Jacob nodded.
“So, do you believe me now that I am your Daddy?”
“I guess. But one thing.” Jacob looked to Zac rather confused. “How come you haven’t been around, until now?”
“I was tied up out of town for awhile, but I’m back for good now. I am never leaving you again son, I promise.” Zac affirmed before leaning over and hugging Jacob for a moment before sitting back upright, then driving the car away from the side of the road.
“So, what’s your name?” Jacob inquired.
“Daddy.” Zac replied keeping his eyes on the road.
“Right, I get that you are my Daddy but what is your first name? Like my first name is Jacob, people call me Jake. So, what do people call you?” Jacob looked over at Zac, who was starting to tense up again. Why did his kid have to be so smart and ask so many questions. It was beginning to drive Zac crazy.
“My name is Zachary, Zac for short. Answer your question, kid?” Zac replied rather agitated.
“Yes, thank you. What do you do for a living Zac?”
“I’m unemployed.”
“Got a wife?”
“No.”
“Got any more kids?”
“What is this 20 questions?” Zac looked at Jacob raising an eyebrow. His son was too much like him and it was really beginning to scare him.
“Yeah, I’m trying to get to know you better, Zac. When I am done, you can ask me questions to get to know me better. It’s only fair since I have never met you before and I don’t know anything about you. Is that ok?“ Jacob said as if he was almost challenging Zac.
“Do I really have a choice kid?” Zac rolled his eyes.
“Not if you want me to trust you and to do that I have to get to know you, Zac. Now, let’s see my next question was do you have any more kids?”
Zac rolled his eyes again and wondered if he was this inquisitive and annoying as a child. He felt as if this was the only way to gain his son’s trust then he’d deal with all of the kid’s questions.
“No, I only have you.” Zac replied.
“And Jenifer.” Jacob corrected.
“What?” Zac said slightly caught off guard and confused as his mind was really elsewhere at that moment and not really into answering all these questions.
“Well Zac, you said I was your only child, you forgot about my sister Jenifer. We are twins and if you are my Daddy then you are her Daddy too.” Jacob said with fact.
“Oh, yeah. You are right on that one kid.” Zac nodded absentmindedly.
“So, why isn’t Jenifer with us right now, Zac?”
“I told you kid, today is just about you. Maybe we’ll get her later.”
Jacob nodded before asking yet another question.
“Ok, so how many brothers and sisters do you have, Zac?”
After hearing his first name come out of his sons mouth for the sixth time since he was told it a mere five minutes earlier. Zac got upset and shouted.
“Daddy!”
Zac took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. He didn’t want to scare his son and make him afraid of him so soon after meeting him. If Zac did that he felt Jacob would never trust him. So after he calmed down, he spoke calmly.
“Would it kill you to call me Daddy instead of Zac?”
“But we just met. I am still trying to get to know you.” Jacob protested.
“I know that kid, but I’d feel a lot better if you called me Daddy. Only adults can call me Zac. You are my son, so you would call me Daddy. Do you ever call your Mommy by her first name?” Zac asked impatiently.
“No, I am not allowed. Only Aunt Cameron and Andrew can call her by her first name.” Jacob replied looking down to his lap.
“And I expect the same from you Jacob. I am your Daddy and you will call me by that name and nothing else. Are we understood?” Zac chastised his son.
“Yes…” Jacob trailed off looking out the window.
“Yes, what son?” Zac glanced at Jacob expectantly as Jacob turned to look at Zac.
“Yes, Daddy.” Jacob answered lowly, then turned to look back out the window. He didn’t feel like asking any more questions. He began to wonder why this man who said he was his Daddy even took him in the first place and why he didn’t also take his sister Jenifer. If he was a good Daddy he would have taken both of them. Jacob could only sit and wonder the answer to that. He didn’t dare ask for fear of what the answer would be. He thought for a moment that maybe Jenifer wasn’t really his sister and she belonged to someone else or even aliens could have left her behind.