Another

My dad cleared his throat. “That’s great. It’s about time you settled down. I’m assuming we didn’t miss the wedding?” he asked, his brows lowering, forming the deep grooves of disapproval.

I opened my mouth to correct him, but my parents were on a conversation roll, which meant I wouldn’t get many words in edgewise.

My mom slapped my dad’s arm, playfully. “Of course not.”

“Obviously, that will be remedied,” my dad said to my mom like I wasn’t even there, and they were so sure of my future. “So, when’s the big day?”

I thought about it and realized I didn’t even know when Carina was due. I did the math quickly in my head and figured she must be close to eight months along. “She’s due next month sometime.”

Again, my mom was the first one to see the missing connection. “Next month? Why are we just now hearing about this if she’s eight months pregnant?”

My dad might as well have not even heard her. “No, Ian. When’s the wedding? If you haven’t already set the date, maybe you can do it soon or closer to Christmas so we can be there without having to book an extra flight home.

Did he really just ask me to plan my future around their trip next month. I laughed softly, trying to hold on to my patience, but it was hard when he always managed to push my buttons. I didn’t even know why I was shocked by his comment. Their lives—their trips—always came first. I looked across the table at their expectant eyes, and my blood pressure rose.

“There’s no wedding, and we’re not together. The reason you’re just now hearing about it is because I found out about it not too long ago.”

“What?” My mother lifted a trembling hand to her lips like I’d announced I murdered puppies.

“It was a single date—”

“Another one of your one-night stands,” my dad sighed, and I struggled not to react to his disapproval.

“It was a single date, and she didn’t have a way to get a hold of me. We happened to run into each other yesterday, and to say I was shocked was an understatement.”

Just reliving the moment now had my head spinning, and my heart thumping harder. The image of her tall body, round belly, and wide blue eyes stole my breath all over again.

“Well, I’m not surprised. I’ve been waiting for something like this to happen eventually from you. You never take things seriously.”

“Except my business,” I defended with my jaw clamped.

My dad leaned across the table, leveling the same gray eyes as mine at me, letting me feel the full weight of his disappointment. “Life is more than one-night stands and work, Ian.”

“Seriously?” I asked, gesturing to the two people who left me alone most of the time to work.

“We’re a family,” he proclaimed, stabbing the table like he was making his point.

“No, you and Mom are a family. I’m just some trophy you leave on the shelf at home.”

“Boys,” my mom admonished. “Not here. Please.”

My father leaned back in his chair, but nothing in his stare changed.

“When do we get to meet her?” My mother’s overly chipper tone tried to break the tension, and it barely put a crack in it.

“I don’t know. I’m meeting her for dinner tonight to discuss where we go from here.”

“You marry her,” my father decreed. “That’s where you go. I didn’t raise you to abandon your kid. For once, Ian, try to be dependable to someone other than yourself.”

“You didn’t raise me.” It was a petulant comment, but he was pushing me hard.

“Ian, please,” my mom pleaded quietly. She knew she was just as guilty as my father for leaving me alone.

I dragged a hand down my face and blew out a hard breath. I tried to get my irritation under control, but when I looked across the table and saw the contempt on my father’s face, I knew this lunch was over. Neither of us was backing down, and he wouldn’t hear anything I had to say past this. We both needed to cool down before any more talking happened.

“I have to get back to work,” I said, tossing money on the table for more than my meal. “I’ll keep you updated on what I can.”

Without bothering to meet their eyes or stay for hugs from my mom, I bolted. I needed to get back to work, something I couldn’t be questioned on.

Back at the office, I sank into my chair, grateful to not have run into anyone. I wasn’t in the mood to chat or explain my sour attitude. I looked at the clock and saw it was just past two. That gave me plenty of time to get through my crowded inbox and tackle a few phone calls. I needed to be done before seven, so I could meet Carina for dinner.