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Chapter 46, Part 4
Back to: Chapter 46, Part 3 Next: Chapter 47, Part 1

Jade groaned softly and rolled over. Her head ached terribly, and she did not want to open her eyes just yet. Sighing, she scooted closer and rubbed the head of the person next to her. “Hey,” she muttered sleepily. “You won’t believe…”

She trailed off, remembering the events of the night before. The texture of the hair felt wrong. Dry and over gelled. This was definitely not Graham’s hair. She opened her eyes quickly and scooted off of the bed as though it were on fire. “Crud,” she muttered, staring at Mark, who was still sound asleep. “This isn’t good.”

She quickly hurried around the room, collecting her clothes and dressing. She smoothed her hair down as well as she could and pulled it away from her face. No one’s going to notice what it looks like if I just pull it back, she reassured herself, preparing for the “Walk of Shame.” She slipped her shoes on and looked over at Mark, making sure that he was still sleeping. Smoothing her clothes down, she slowly opened the door and slipped out, shutting the door silently behind her…


___________________________________________________


“It was all a mistake,” Jade said, more to herself than to Mark. “We were drunk. It never should have happened. And I don’t know why I didn’t control myself or stop you.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Mark replied, “but the thing is--”

The conversation quickly halted when Nathan peered into the room. “Hey, Mom,” he called. “Is dinner ready yet?”

“No, not yet,” Jade replied wearily. “Your dad will be home soon, I told you. Now, go back to your room and play.”

They watched him leave, and when Jade finally heard him return to his room, she sighed with relief.

“Your kid?” Mark asked.

“Yes. He’s eight.”

“Only kid you and Graham had?”

“Yeah,” Jade replied, turning away. “It’s… it’s kind of funny, actually. Graham and I were trying for about three or four years to have a kid, and we had no luck. And then, about a month or two after that… that concert, I found out I was pregnant. And for the past three or four years, Graham and I have tried to have a kid, but… well, no luck. Looks like he’s going to be an only child.”

“Am I…?”

“As far as I’m concerned,” Jade replied, turning to Mark, “Graham is Nathan’s father. He’s the one who raised and cared for him, after all.”

“Jade, if I had known…”

“Then, what? Would that have really changed anything?”

__________________________________________


Would it have changed anything? Mark wondered, walking down the street. He stopped at a park and sat down on a bench. Nearby, a little girl was joyfully running around. A short distance from her, two women were having a quiet but very intense argument. He peered closer and nearly gasped. The two women were Ophelia Foley-Cloud… and Tacita! And the little girl was none other than Lisa. He tried to watch in as inconspicuous a manner as possible, but Lisa noticed him and ran over, smiling.

“Hey,” she greeted him, grinning.

“Hi. You’re… you’re Lisa, right? Tacita’s kid?” Mark replied, feeling uncomfortable.

“Uh, yeah,” Lisa replied. “You look pretty cool.”

“Well, you look pretty cool, too. Like your mom. You’ve got her eyes… same great skin…” He peered closer at her. “You ain’t got her hair, but otherwise, you’re a looker like your mom.”

“Thanks!” Lisa replied, laughing.

“You get away from her!” a voice boomed. Tacita rushed over, glaring at Mark.

“Hi, Tacita,” Mark greeted her. “Long time no see.”

“Not long enough in my book, Mark,” Tacita snapped, scowling. “Lisa, you come here immediately. We’re going home.” She grabbed Lisa’s arm and tugged her closer. “And as for you,” she added, giving Mark the look of death, “are there no depths you won’t sink to?”

“My God,” Mark grumbled, “we were just talking. Can’t a guy talk to his, y’know, his old friend’s daughter? I mean, what do you think I am?”

“I know what you are, Mark. I’ve know what you were for years, and don’t you ever forget that.” She turned to Lisa and directed, “Get in the car, Lisa!”

“Tacita,” Mark pleaded, “listen, I thought we’d settled all that a long time ago.”

“No, things like that don’t ever get settled. Not completely.”

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