We Aren't So Different, You and Me

My phone went off, bringing me out of my deep sleep. I rubbed my eyes and groaned, kissing my wife's bare shoulder as she rolled away from me. I rolled over towards the bedside table and looked at my phone. Why in the hell was my mom calling me at 4 am?

"Mom?" I mumbled tiredly.
"Gerard..." she sobbed on the other line.
"Mom, what's wrong?" My tone had changed completely as I stood up, ready to get on the next flight out to Jersey if that was necessary.
"Gerard.. It's Adrienne.. She passed away yesterday.."
"Wait, what? Who?"
"Adrienne DeTanotla, the girl you dated in college..." she sniffled, letting out another sob.
"Jesus... What happened?" I walked towards the door, walking down the stairs in to the kitchen.
"She took her life, baby... Her parents just called me."
"God... When's the funeral?"
"Next week sometime.. But there's something you need to know, sweetheart."
"What's that, Ma?" I walked over towards the coffee maker and started up a new batch, grabbing a mug from the dishwasher. I was already up so I might as well stay up.

"She has a daughter now."
"Jesus, that's awful! How is she taking it?"
"Gerard, I don't think you understand me... She has a daughter.."
"No, I heard you, Mom. I just said that was aw--"
"Your daughter."

I almost shit my pants when she said that. I swear to God. I was silent for a few moments before responding to my mom on the other line.

"I gotta go, Mom," I choked out. "I'll call you when I land in Trenton, okay?" And I hung up.

The next morning, I looked down at my sleeping daughter in her pink and purple bed and sighed, rubbing my face tiredly. It was only 7:30 in the morning but I needed someone to curl up with. Lindsey had only returned from Europe the night before and I thought I'd let her get some sleep so I gathered my little girl in my arms and carried her downstairs with me.

"Daddy...?" she mumbled.
"Yeah?" I whispered.
"Why am I up so early?"
"I just need someone to talk to. Is that okay with you?"
She yawned as if wagering the idea. "Can we draw?"
"Of course.."
"Then yes."

Bandit and I spent the morning coloring and painting before Lindsey got up for the day, around noon. I kissed her forehead and put Bandit down for her nap. Now might be the time to tell Lindsey I might have another daughter.

"Babe?"
"Hmmm?"
"We have to talk..."
She looked up at me and raised her eyebrows. "What's wrong?"
"It's kind of hard to explain. I mean, I haven't seen her in almost 17 years..."
"Gerard," her voice cracked as her bottom lip quivered. "What are you trying to say?"
"Oh, God, no! Nothing like that, baby, I promise you!" I frantically explained, hugging her.
"Then what is it?"

I pulled away before taking a deep breath and started to explain. After I had finished, she just stared at me.

"You never told me?"
"I didn't know either, Linds, I swear to God."
"How long were you two together?"
"We weren't. I mean, we hooked up a couple of times, but that was it."
"Clearly it wasn't... What are you going to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what are you going to do? Are you even sure that she's yours?"
"I haven't really thought about it, Lindsey, but no. I'm not. But my mom--"
"Your mom? She knew?"
"Adrienne's parents called her and clued her in, I guess. I don't really know."
"So when are we leaving?"
"What?"
"When are we leaving? She was your best friend, babe. Even if you two lost contact with each other, you should still go. All of us should."

I contemplated this thought before kissing her softly and heading upstairs to pack.

Notes

Long ass chapter, I apologize.