video I secretly recorded of Wolf.
“Oh my god, Estelle. How could Katie have kept him from me?" He is squeezing my phone so hard his fingers have gone white I hear the anger in his voice, but also a touch of sadness like he knows exactly why she kept Wolf from him.
“I don’t know, but Michael that kid is angry. He's been told all his life you didn't want him or his mother. He is bullied on the reservation. And Katie, more than anything, seems scared. I don't know the whole story, but maybe just let it settle for a few days. Emotions are running high right now. You need to think of Wolf.”
“His name is Wolf?”
My guts wrench at what I’m about to say next. “No, his name isn't Wolf. His name is Michael,” I say in a whisper. “His name is Michael.”
Rhydian's POV
When I hear Princess throwing up, I grab a cool cloth and wipe her face down. It’s my job to reassure her that everything is going to be fine and it will be. I’m waiting to hear news on the house I put an offer on, and she knows I’m ready for us to be forever. I just have to make sure she knows how much I love her everyday
After an amazing forty-eight hours of exploring each other’s body, I know she is tired and probably sore when she falls asleep on my chest curled up like a cat. I know I will do everything and anything to make sure this is how I go to sleep for the rest of my life. Heading to the Denver Diner the next morning, we take the long way through Ute territory. It's beautiful out here. All along the desolate road are little shops that sell native jewelry and art.
We pull into the diner and sit to order, when I see Katie Blackwell come out of a little shop. When she turns, I see a little boy come out behind. When he looks up, I know I jump up not saying anything to Princess and head across the parking lot. The minute Katie spots me, I see the fear and shock register on her face.
“Katie,” I say in a clipped tone.
“Rhydian, it's been awhile how is everyone?” I see she is pulling the boy behind her blocking him and looking around nervously.
“Katie, are you really going to stand here and ask about my family?” I’m astonished she has the nerve to be this casual.
“What you like to talk about, Rhydian?”
“How about your fucking son?” I bark while pointing towards my nephew.
“Don’t talk like that in front of him, “she hisses aggressively. I turn to the boy, “You see that pretty girl with the brown hair, looking out the fourth window”. He nods.
“If it's ok with your mom, I would like for you to go sit with her. See she is my girlfriend and I’m scared if I leave her alone someone will run off with her. Can you be a strong guy and go sit with her and make sure she is okay?” I smile down at him.
The boy looks at his mother and she nods, we walk him across the parking lot and watch him down sit with Estelle.
“Katie, how the fuck could you not tell Michael he’s a father? What the hell have you been thinking?” I say vehemently.
“He knew,” she says,” He knew I was pregnant.” I move us towards the bench across from the diner, we will be able to talk and watch Estelle and the boy through the window.
“That’s a lie Katie, Michael would have never abandoned you and a baby, and if in some strange parallel universe he did, my parents wouldn't have turned their backs on their grandchild.”
She gets angry. She is yelling at me now, her arms are flying everywhere.
“Let me tell you about your precious brother, you're so quick to make me the bad one, but I was sixteen years old. He was eighteen, and he went off to his fancy college in New Hampshire and didn't look back. I was here alone pregnant and scared. While your precious brother was fucking coeds and playing beer pong. I was giving birth and taking care of a baby, while working and going to school. Don't you dare sit there and judge me, Rhydian Kerrigan. You have no fucking clue what happened between Michael and I.”
She
Lisa Mantchev, A.L. Purol