Page 42 of It Happened Back Then (Nilsson Family #3)

I ’ve been sitting in my truck out in front of my parents’ house for the last ten minutes trying to cool off, but it’s of no use. My hands grip the steering wheel as I think about my dad interfering in mine and Blossom’s relationship all those years ago.

Giving up, I exit my truck, stride up the walkway and barge inside. Knowing Mom is at the grocery store, I don’t bother easing my way into it. I need this time alone to confront my dad.

"We need to talk."

He’s sitting in his chair, newspaper in hand, barely giving me a glance as I come in. “Hello, son. How are you?”

“We need to talk about Blossom.”

That gets his attention. He folds the paper up and looks at me, assessing me. But he knows what I’m about to say.

"She told me everything. About what you said to her when we were eighteen. About the baby." I swallow hard. “Our baby.”

He sits up straighter in the chair, no remorse in his expression as he says, "I did what I thought was best for you. "

"No," I snap. "You did what you thought was best for you .” My voice rises with that last word.

“Don’t raise your voice to me, son.”

“She was eighteen and alone ! And you looked her in the eye and told her to keep it from me?”

“ I told her she needed to think about your future. About what that baby would mean for you.”

I’m so furious right now. “It would have meant everything!”

He exhales slowly. "She was just a kid. Scared.”

“Exactly! And you were like a father to her when she lost her own. You should have helped her through it, not make her feel bad about it.”

He looks away from me now, no doubt remembering that he and her father were great friends. “I saw the way she looked at you, like you were her ticket out of here. That’s not love, son. That’s desperation."

"You didn’t know how we felt about each other."

He stands now, jaw tight. "You were going places, Bennett. She was–"

"She was pregnant. With my child. And you made her feel like it was a mistake." I step closer. "All these years, she pushed me away thinking if I had stayed, she would have ruined my life."

His expression falters. "You would’ve stayed and missed out on what you have now."

"Maybe or maybe not, but it would have been my choice to make! You didn’t protect me from anything. You stole it all.”

Silence stretches between us until I fall onto the couch. "I loved her," I say quietly, "and you made her think she wasn’t good enough for me. She pushed me away for years. And it was awful.”

He runs a hand through his graying hair. "You were young. I thought I was helping."

"You didn’t."

There’s silence before he asks, "Do you still love her?"

"More than ever before."

The front door opens and Mom walks in carrying two bags of groceries. “Bennett! I saw your truck out front. Are you hungry? I'll make us lun–” She stalls as she takes in the scene in front of her. “What’s going on?”

“We need to talk.” It comes out harsher than I want and when I look at my dad, he’s staring at me with regret. And this moment, I realize Mom didn’t know a thing.

“Of course, let me just put these down.” She hurries into the kitchen, and I stand again. Dad sits back down, letting out a breath as he does, and Mom comes back in, taking a seat on the couch. “What’s wrong?”

“I have some news.” They both stare back at me. “Blossom is pregnant. We’re having a baby.” I know she’s going to be mad I told them without her, but I needed to do this alone.

Mom looks at me and tears well up in her eyes instantly. “Oh, Bennett!” She jumps from the couch and wraps herself around me. I hug her but remain standing, never taking my eyes off of my dad.

“ Congratulations! Oh, this is such great news! Henry, isn’t this great?” Dad clears his throat and only nods. “How is she feeling?”

“She’s okay. We have a doctor’s appointment at the end of the week. After what happened when we were younger, we want to make sure everything goes alright.”

Mom pulls back slightly to meet my eyes. “What do you mean? What happened?” Mom looks back and forth between me and my dad. “What’s going on?”

“When we were eighteen, right after I left for college, Blossom had a miscarriage.”

“Oh!” Mom gasps and covers her mouth.

“I didn’t know until a week ago. She was afraid to tell me back then.

She was afraid it would change things between us.

Afraid she’d be a burden. It’s why she changed her mind about coming with me to Seattle but still pushed hard for me to go away.

Just like you did, Dad.” I let out a humorless laugh.

“But I guess it all makes sense now, after the conversation you two had.”

My mom steps back, taking her seat on the couch again. “Henry?”

He leans forward in his chair. “I thought I was saving him from getting stuck. You deserved to see what was outside of Bluemoon! I did what I thought was best, for both of you.”

“It was wrong.”

“I know,” he relents.

“What do you mean? What conversation?” my mom asks, clearly confused.

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter now. Blossom knows I would have done anything to be there if I had known.”

My mom urges me to sit with her on the couch. I do and she says, “Did something happen to cause…”

Her words drift and I shake my head. “I don’t know. We didn't go over details, but we’ll be sure to cover everything with the doctor.”

My dad clears his throat. “If I could take it back, son, I would. You know, kids don’t realize that their parents are growing up while they are too. It’s not an excuse, but you were so young. And so were we. I just…I didn’t know what to think. I reacted.” He swallows hard. “And I’m sorry.”

I fold my arms across my chest and don’t say a word. I can’t. My throat is closing, and when I see Mom brush tears away, it makes me ache that much more. “I need you to do the right thing now, Dad.”

He nods.

“I need you to welcome her in, like you did when her dad died. I need you to know she’s not going anywhere. No more comments about me and her. She’s been our family since we were kids, I don't know why that changed then, but it’s certainly not changing now.”

My mom takes my hand. “It doesn’t change, Bennett. I’ve always considered her like a daughter to me.”

“I know, Mom.”

Dad just nods again. He’s rigid in his seat. I’m sure he was not prepared for this. He has to see everything I do is with Blossom in mind first. “I’m going to be better. I'll do better this time around. I promise.”

“You need to tell her that. And then actually do it. She won’t ever be made to feel less than again.”