an ugly thought

"Thanks Dad, for the gift, again." Eric tried to sound pleased about his odd present. He'd only wanted a gift card, but he ended up with chocolate wine and was too scared to try it.

"Did you drink it?" His Dad wanted to know. "Its from Holland, you know."

"I know." Eric had read the bottle. "I'm saving it for a special occasion." He had a feeling he might never open it. "Too bad you have to go."

His Dad was leaving and Eric stopped by to see him at his mother's. Ian was out with Cami. Actually, it was his first day at school, and he was walking Cami home so it gave Eric and his Dad some time alone. His Mom was at work.

"Well, I was just thinking I don't know if I'm ready to go yet." His Dad smiled.

"Don't know?" Eric squinted. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, I'm thinking I might be staying." His Dad told him.

"Seriously?"

"Yes, your mother is in a bit of a quandary about you. Says you've had a bit of-"

"I'm not in trouble, Dad." Suddenly, Eric was defensive. "And yeah, I'm going to be a Dad, but-"

"You're gonna be a Dad?" His dad looked at him as if this was the first he'd heard of it.

"Mom didn't tell you?" Eric felt himself want to fall over from being dizzy.

"No," He winced. "She's worried about you seeing a girl with a drug problem. Is she the one having the baby?"

"No." Eric tensed. "Dad!" Eric shook his head. "Syd doesn't have a drug problem. OK. And Amanda, well, she's married."

"You got a married woman... pregnant?" His dad lit into him then.

"Not when it happened, but she is now. OK. She's, she's happy with him. And its going to work out." Eric hugged himself wishing his brother was here to talk to his Dad about mindless stuff.

"So you're not even going to be a part of this kid's life?" His Dad glared at him.

"Yes, Dad, I am. It'll be like you and me, I guess," Eric couldn't help but say.

There was a great ugly silence then. Finally, Ian unlocked the door. He was all grins.

"We're still going out for pizza tonight, aren't we Dad?" Ian asked.

His dad kept his arms crossed, shook his head and walked off. Eric thought it might be a good time for him to leave.