The Amy and Brad Story

It was a Friday night after another long week as I reached to top of the steps for my condo with my briefcase in one hand and a pizza in the other. My ex was sitting on the steps by my front door with a little girl sitting next to her. Amy wasn't really my ex, we were having serious discussions about getting married when she announced she was pregnant with her old boyfriend's child. That was five years ago I think and the pretty little thing must be their child, she looked like Amy's clone.

"Well hello Amy, and who might this little princess be?"

"I'm Jesse and I'm going to be five."

"Do you guys like pizza?"

"I love pizza, mom said your name is Brad and you use to be her boyfriend."

"That's right Jesse," I said as I was trying to navigate the door, briefcase and pizza in hand as Jesse darted between my legs.

"Let me take the pizza Brad and how are you doing?"

"Just another day in paradise Amy."

I went about setting up plates and drinks on the kitchen counter where I ate almost all my meals. I handed Amy the pizza cutter and asked her to serve the pizza while I got out some soft drinks. Jesse let me lift her up into the bar stool.

Jesse ate a whole slice and half another slice and never stopped talking. I found her simply amazing. After diner I set Jesse up in front of the Nintendo with some kid games some friend's kids left behind. As she was walking into the living room I noticed the limp, it was so obvious I was surprised I didn't notice it before.

Back at the counter with Amy I asked the question, "Why are you here Amy, it's been five years. How did you even know where I lived?"

"Your mother gave me your address. Jesse had an accident last year. I'm sure you noticed the limp. The doctors want to do surgery, they said the longer she limps, the more damage she is doing to her hips and muscles, damage that will be hard to undo. Even with insurance and savings, we're still $10,000 short. So I need ten grand."

I pulled my wallet out of my briefcase and handed her a credit card. "There's plenty of room on the card in case anything else comes up."

"You're just going to hand me your credit card even though I fucked you over?"

"I am handing you a credit card because your little girl needs it, our history should not impact her. She never hurt me. Is there anything else you need Amy?"

"The hospital would like to use what they call "trusted blood," or blood from a family member to support the surgery. Not only am I asking for ten grand, but I'm also asking for your blood."

"What's wrong with your blood, or her father's? Mark isn't it. And I'm not family."

"My blood isn't compatible and neither is Mark's because he's not the father."

I looked at Amy, I looked at Jesse and then back at Amy who was staring at her dirty plate like it was the most important thing in the world.

"Five years ago we were talking marriage Amy, after almost living together for the prior three years. And then you come over to my place, rip my heart out because you had been hooking up with an old boyfriend and were pregnant with his child. And now, you come here and tell me she's my child. Is this some kind of sick game, I gave you the money, no questions asked."

"I don't understand it Brad, I did the math, I added two plus two and came up with five. Telling you that I hooked up with old boyfriend five years ago was the hardest thing I ever did, hooking back up with Mark was the dumbest. By the time we were married I remembered all the reasons I hated him in the first place and we divorced a year later. He barely sees Jesse and that was before he found out he wasn't the father."

"When did he find out or how?"

"The blood test thing, he wanted to know how both of her parents blood could not be incompatible. I mean it is possible. Mark isn't that bright and a nurse spelled it out for him. His blood type and my blood type don't produce a baby with Jesse's blood type. It took him an embarrassingly long time to connect the dots and then he stormed out of the office. I haven't seen him since."

"Why Amy, you were the first woman I ever loved. You had mentioned one time what a dickhead Mark was, why crush me for a dickhead."

"Brad, it would be easier for me to tie myself into a pretzel than to explain that. My counselor thinks it was a case of pre-marriage jitters. I don't know, what I do know is I fucked you over for a dickhead and fucked over my little girl in more ways than you can imagine."

"So what happens now?"

"In the short term Brad I'm going to schedule the surgery and I'll give you the information to make the blood donation. Here's a form you can use to establish if you are truly Jesse's father."

"You mean there's doubt if I'm her father or not."

"I have no doubts Brad, it was either you or Mark and it certainly is not Mark so you're the only one left. The test is so you have no doubts. After which, all the choices are yours. I would love for you to be a part of her life, Mark certainly was not a father figure, but everything is up to you."

"Tell me about the accident Amy." I wasn't looking at her when I asked the question, I was staring at Jesse in amazement. I had a little girl. My mom would be doing cartwheels.

I looked back at Amy, her dirty plate was filling with tears. "Mark came over supposedly to see Jesse, he had been drinking, I don't think it was Jesse he came to see. Anyway he started playing with Jesse, tossing her onto the couch. She was having a blast, he fucked up the toss and held onto Jesse's leg. There was a snapping sound. Mark didn't want to take her to the hospital because he was afraid of being charged with child abuse and at first we thought she was fine. The limp went from once in a while to all the time."

"God I let him convince me to get back together with him, I let him convince me not get my baby the medical care she needed. I wouldn't be here now if I took her to the ER and they fixed break in her leg then. I failed all the tests, girlfriend, fiancé, mother."

The thought of consoling Amy crossed my mind but I couldn't take my eyes off of Jesse.

"You know it Brad, you've known you're her father from the moment you picked her up. I saw it on your face. You have to tell me what you want. I could take her and you'll never have to see her again but I can see that's not what you want. I need to get her home and in bed. Maybe you can give me a call tomorrow and let me know what you're thinking or you could come for dinner. I know I dumped an earth shattering surprise on you."

Then Amy was off, trying to find Jesse's socks and shoes.

"Will I see you again," Jesse asked.

"I'm pretty sure you will Jesse." Amy gave me a kiss on the cheek and a thank you on the way out.

After she left I called my mom and invited her out for breakfast in the morning,

"What's going on Brad, I can make you breakfast and it'll be a lot cheaper."

"I'll pick you up at eight mom."

She started threatening me for making her wait all night but I ended the call. Graciousness was not one of my mother's strong points and she wouldn't hesitate to tell me I was being an idiot. Maybe that's why I valued her opinion that much.

Then I called Amy and said I would like to accept her invitation for dinner. We discussed details and I asked her to send me gift suggestions for Jesse. I mentioned that I was having breakfast with my mother in the morning. She joked about me being a momma's boy.

I went to bed with a strange smile on my face even though images of Amy telling me she was getting back together with her old boyfriend kept trying to peek in, I couldn't get Jesse out of my mind.

Amy fucked me up back then, I never loved a girl before Amy. I dated a lot and had sex with a lot of women before Amy but I never felt love for any woman. It concerned me so much that I asked my mother about it. She said I would fall in love when the right woman came along. It must have been two years later that Amy walked into my life. I was fucking giddy, almost as giddy as I was now with Jesse.

Before I picked up my mom I asked Amy to send me current pictures of her and Jesse.

Mom was all over me as we sat down to eat. I could tell she wanted to start as soon as she got in the car.

"Does this have anything to do with that Amy woman. She called me you know, wanted your address and phone number. I meant to call you and tell you about it but it slipped my mind. Weren't you going to propose to her?"

"Yes I was mom, but before I could she told me she had gotten back together with an old boyfriend and was pregnant with his child."

"I'm so sorry Brad, why didn't you tell me? So what did she want after all these years, that must have been five years ago."

"There were a bunch of things she wanted, most importantly she told me that she made a mistake and it was my baby she was carrying. Here's a picture of your granddaughter."

"God she's beautiful Brad, but Amy could be lying, wanting money or support or something."

"In my heart I know she's mine but I'm going to have the paternity test done to remove any doubt."

"Why did she come to you now?"

"Before she told me Jesse was mine, she told me Jesse needed surgery for her leg and she needed ten grand for the surgery and I gave it to her."

"You did that before you knew she was your daughter, even after Amy kicked your teeth in?"

"Amy kicked my teeth in, not Jesse. She has a limp from an accident she had a year ago, the limp was damaging her hips and muscles. There's no reason Jesse should suffer for the sins of her mother."

"What did you do to the boy I gave birth to?"

"Amy also needed my blood, something called trusted blood for transfusions during the surgery. Neither Amy or the man she thought were Jesse's father had compatible blood and that led to the discovery that he wasn't the real father."

"Are you the only other option?"

"Amy insists I am, but I'll get the paternity test done to remove any doubt like I said. Mom, when I held her for the first time, helping her into the stool in my kitchen, it was like an electrical shock went through me. The strangest sensation I ever felt."

"You father described that same feeling the first time he held you and your brother and sister. He told me once if we ever had another and he didn't get that feeling, we would have words."

"God she is beautiful, when will you see her again?"

"I'm going to Amy's for dinner tonight."

"I want to come, don't argue with me Brad, I find out I have a granddaughter and she's almost five. If I had my car we'd be driving over there right now."

"It's not my house mom, not my place to invite you to her house."

"Bradley, if you don't call her right now and tell her I'm coming I'll give you a tin ear."

When my mom called me Bradley I knew it was time to stop arguing with her. She threatened me, my brother, and sister with a tin ear our whole lives and we never knew what it meant.

I called Amy, "What's up Brad?" there was a sound of concern in her voice.

"I'm sitting in the restaurant with my mom and she is insisting on meeting her granddaughter. Her preference would be now but how about she join us for dinner?"

I was met with silence.

"Brad, I was sitting here regretting that I invited you to dinner in the first place. Mark is so behind in support payments he'll never catch up. As a result our living conditions are less than ideal. But I thought it would be good if you saw Jesse at her home. Besides, you mother can be pretty blunt sometimes."

I saw the reaction on my mother's face, "She heard you Amy."

"Oh god, tell her I'm sorry."

My mom pulled the phone from me, "No apologies needed Amy, when you get to my age you don't have time not to be blunt. Please tell me what size she wears, I know what dress I want to buy her."

Amy and my mother were discussing dress sizes and shoe sizes, what was Jesse's favorite colors while writing all of it down on a scrap of paper she pulled from her purse. My mom's face was glowing, she had been after me and my sibling for grandchildren since we graduated college and since I was the oldest, it was my job to be first. My mom handed me back my phone.

"I guess we'll see you at six," I said.

"Yes Brad, this is happening so fast, I guess I should have expected it. I'll see you at six." I ended the call.

"Finish up Brad, we have things to do."

"Like what mom?"

"Shopping of course, I can teach you some things about buying little girl clothes. Do you know how long I've been waiting to buy my grandchildren clothes? Plus I have way too much on my mind to drive myself. Come on let's go."

We went to six stores before I took her home. I don't know how much she spent but there were eight bags in my trunk from some high end stores.

My mom and I were driving to Amy's for dinner and I wasn't expecting Amy to be living upper class, but her neighborhood was a few steps below middle class. The clincher were the number of burnt out buildings. Compared to the rest of the neighborhood, Amy's building looked OK,

My mom grabbed my arm as I was gathering the bags. "My granddaughter can't live here Jack, I would be afraid to come here after dark."

"Mom, when was the last time you drove after dark besides Monday night Bingo?"

We rang the doorbell and could hear Jesse yelling the doorbell was ringing. Jesse opened the door for us, "Hi Brad," she said.

My mom reached for her hand, "And I'm Marge. I heard so much about you I had to come and see you."

"Great, come look at my room guys." We waved to Amy as Jesse dragged us to her room.

Amy's room was very nice, girly pink with stuffed animals everywhere. I left my mom and went to talk to Amy.

"I hope you're ok," I said.

"I know the neighborhood isn't the greatest, I'm sure your mother isn't happy that this is where her granddaughter lives."

"She is not happy Amy, my mom has her opinions and on somethings she's going to let you know. If she gets too strong let me know."

My mom was all smiles when her and Jesse joined us in the kitchen. "I love her room Amy, just perfect."

My mom picked up Jesse to help her into her chair, the lift turned into a hug. "Do you feel that Jesse, that's love."

She put Jesse into the chair and scurried off the bathroom. I'm certain there were tears in her eyes. Again, Jesse managed to clean her plate and never stopped talking. My mom hardly ate because she was 100% focused on Jesse. I have never seen my mother with such a grin on her face. Still, every so often a tear would leak out.

After dinner, my mother took Amy into her room and helped her try on all the clothes she bought. She would dress Jesse up and send the girl into the living room to model for me and Amy.

"Brad, that's at least $1,000 of clothes she bought."

"I wasn't going to stop her, she scares me when she's in that zone.

It was getting late, Jesse gave my mom and me a kiss goodnight and Amy joined us after.

"I know you don't like where I live Marge but it's what we can afford."

"Your right Amy, I don't like where you live, but that's a need. I look in your daughter's room and I see love. Ain't nothing more important than that. But now with her real father in the picture, with our help, you have more options. I'll give you a call tomorrow evening and we can discuss what's feasible."

My mom kissed Amy good night and the meeting was adjourned. My mom was always headstrong which is why my father never said no to her. But I not sure how Amy was going to react. Amy asked me to call her when I got home.

"Your mom is pretty, I don't know, strong willed?"

"Yes she is, but if you tell her no firmly, she'll cave. She has money Amy, she was shocked how much my father had saved when he passed and she lives a simple life. So she has the money and I know she'll want to help her granddaughter. If you think she's being to overpowering just tell her you'll discuss it with me or say goodbye and hang up, that's what I do."

"It's supposed to be nice tomorrow, would you like to join us at the park? I don't mean to be throwing her at you but you certainly look happy when she's in eyesight."

"Certainly, give me a time and place. Don't forget my mother's call tomorrow."

Sunday was a beautiful afternoon. I played with Jesse on the swings and on the slide. We fed the ducks and ate hot dogs. The girl was amazing. I was in heaven. After I wore Jesse out, we headed back to my place so she could take a nap.

"I love watching her with you Brad. Mark never connected with her like that maybe that should have been the first clue."

"Are you going to ask about 'us' Amy?"

"Not now, my focus has to be on Amy right now and the surgery. I want you to get the paternity test done and remove any doubt. After the surgery, we can discuss if there can be an 'us' again. And there doesn't have to be an 'us' for you to have any kind of relationship with Jesse that you choose."

My mother was calling Amy at about the time Jesse was waking up from her nap. Jesse and I played video games while Amy and my mother chatted. After which we went out to dinner. I had thought that Amy and I could discuss how it went with my mother but Jesse occupied the conversation.

"I'm sorry Brad, it's just been Jesse and me for a long time and like you, I fall under her spell when she starts talking. But we need to discuss my conversation with your mother. Can you follow us home and we can talk when Jesse is in bed?"

Amy poured us a couple of glasses of wine, "Your mom was pretty much all over the place, just throwing out ideas. I gave her the address of Jesse's preschool and the office where I work. She's searching for something between us that will work. She even offered to buy me a house, or Jesse a house. I can't let her do that. She suggested that Jesse and I move in with her and she could provide daycare to Jesse. My commute to work would be a bitch. She didn't say it out loud but what she really wants is for Jesse and me to move in here with you, she said you have three bedrooms so why not, according to your mother."

"What about the logistics to your office and the daycare center?"

"The difference would be insignificant."

"But you have some reservations Amy?"

"Right now I need to be focused on Jesse as I said. And maybe afterwards we can see what happens between us. Moving in with you seems like pushing it too hard."

"I think getting past the surgery is a good plan." Amy gave me a kiss on the cheek before I left but not before I spent fifteen minutes watching Jesse sleep.

We had a plan and god laughed. That night there was a gang shootout a few houses away from Amy's. The police said hundreds of bullets were fired, two men were dead and seven more were wounded. My mom was livid that gangs were shooting each other outside her granddaughter's bedroom window. Amy had no choice but to fold and the following weekend my brother and sister were helping us move Amy and Jesse into my condo. Amy had her own room and Jesse loved her new room. My brother and sister immediately fell in love with Jesse.

Jesse's surgery was scheduled for the following Monday, I had scheduled the day off and my mother planned to be there. Jesse would be in overnight. It would be a week before she could return to the daycare center and my mother insisted she would watch Jesse so Amy could go back to work.

The week before was hard on me. I didn't do a lot of dating after Amy left me and it had been a year since I had gotten laid. And Amy was right there, the more time we spent together, the more I was reminded of why I wanted to marry her in the first place. And then I would remember those words, "I've been hooking up with my old boyfriend and I'm pregnant with his child." There wasn't any conversation after that, she got up and left.

And now the questions were running through my head, how long had she been hooking up with her old boyfriend, was it weeks or months? Was I completely oblivious that she was fucking someone else while she was fucking me? Like Amy said, Jesse first.