“I suspect you now realize that what I did, however misguided, was done out of love for you, Bobby, but you must have some questions for me by now?”
“I do,” he answered, but the conversation that followed actually renewed many of the feelings he’d had the day before.
Mandy had helped him see his mother’s point of view through the lens of their own relationship, but he gradually came to see that the analogy only went so far when comparing teen love with adult actions that had far more consequential effects over a much longer time period. No one besides Mandy and he had been affected by her rejection of him, and their reunion roughly a year later. In the end, both would agree their lives were enhanced by the ensuing experiences they had, making them appreciate what they had even more.
The effects of his mother’s actions on everyone involved were profound and life-altering. Robert was turned away with unfair accusations from the only woman he truly loved, pushed toward another relationship that failed because it was founded on a lie to begin with. Barbara married a man whose heart she never really had, and try as she might, she couldn’t change that. Cora lived a life of misplaced bitterness, anger, and loneliness, which she infected her son with under the guise of protecting him from the pain she’d inflicted on herself.
But the one true innocent in the whole affair, who played no part in the dramatic life play other than just being there, was Bobby. He was too young to have any say in the decisions that followed, yet he was denied a father figure in his life by his mother’s actions. Not only one who might have loved and nurtured him every day as her husband, but even one who could have had a part-time place in his heart and mind if one accepted the divorce as necessary.
Only one additional fact emerged from the conversation to further support his mother’s fears. Cora, herself an only child, would have had a younger sibling but for her mother’s early pregnancy loss. It was in her early school years, so her memories of it were limited to the happy anticipation of having a sister or brother and the pain of the loss months later. As a young adult, she’d come to hate the word miscarriage, with its implication of mistakes made carrying the baby. She’d always wondered how that loss had affected her mother’s views towards her, her remaining child. When Bobby came along, she was comforted to know he wouldn’t have such memories.
Cora could see her son’s attitude gradually shift back to anger toward her for her overprotective, overreactive response to the whole situation. His pointed questions revealed the overarching conclusion he was coming to: that by her own admission, she had caused the problem to begin with and then blocked any chance he had of a relationship with his father. She didn’t, couldn’t really, blame him. It was true, and she sincerely regretted her decisions, but though it was far too late to change them, she’d hoped that they could pick up the pieces and have a life as a family after all.
“I have one more question,” he said with a subdued voice. “Why now? Why is he suddenly trying to get you, or maybe us, back now? I understand why you are considering taking him back in some way now, but what’s his reason?”
“I’ll try to answer for him, but you should also ask him that question directly. It isn’t sudden at all. Even after the divorce was final, he still tried to change my mind. When I wasn’t budging, he gave up, for a while at least, moved in with Barbara, and a couple of years later, they married. He still wrote to me once or twice, and after a year or two with Barbara, he told me it wasn’t going well. She could tell his heart wasn’t with her. She thought having a baby might help, but for a reason they never identified, they couldn’t conceive.”
“So, he has no children with her?” he asked, for the first time realizing he might have had a half-brother or sister.
“No. He wrote me a long letter when they’d decided to separate, explaining he never really loved her and that I was still the only one he wanted. Once the divorce was final, about three years ago, he started calling as well. I didn’t take his calls, but that’s when I finally started accepting responsibility. I felt stuck between wanting to talk to him and worrying about what you would think about it all. My defenses were already wearing down, but it was seeing you two so happy that eventually swayed my feelings. You made me remember, and miss sorely, the love we once had.”
She finished, and although she saw Mandy’s facial expressions soften, Bobby’s did not. The answer to his ‘one more question’ only solidified how much his father didn’t want his exile and never really gave up trying to end it. When he tried to apply Mandy’s analogy, he found himself wanting. He had given up, even when they were still in high school and the summer before college. He now chided himself for it and wondered what would have happened had he tried to get her back instead of leaving it to chance.
“I think I’ve heard enough for now,” he said finally after sitting silent for a couple of minutes.
“He’d very much like to talk to you, Bobby,” she replied, choked up on the tears that would soon give way to openly crying. Her worst fear seemed to be coming true; she might actually lose the son she’d given up so much for.
“I need to think about it all some more before I agree to that,” he said firmly and stood up, signaling the end to the conversation.
Mandy stood as well, assuming he’d be taking her home now. She looked at Cora with sad eyes, and when she said goodbye with a kiss on the cheek, Cora looked back with pleading eyes, hoping Mandy would help her.
Bobby was silent for the short drive to Mandy’s, only speaking when he was parked in their driveway.
“I know you agree with my mom, but I can’t see it that way, at least not yet,” he said with an angry tone she’d not heard from him before.
“Please don’t be angry with me. I don’t entirely agree with your mom, but I don’t think you should discount the fact that what she did was because of her love for you. That it was misguided and an over-the-top reaction only makes that point even more strongly. She lost her one true love in the process, too.”
“You should have heard the things she said about him! And now she claims she’s really loved him all along?”
“I know. That does seem a little hard to believe, but you did tell me before all this happened that she never even dated, let alone got close to anyone, all this time. I think you’re right that you need to think about it for a while before making any decisions or doing anything. And I think that should be without my opinions affecting your judgment. I hope you’ll tell me what you want to do before you do it, but you need some time to sort out your feelings on this on your own.”
“Okay. Thank you, Mandy. For being here for me!”
“Always, Love! Good night. I love you!”
“I love you too. Sleep tight, Angel!” he said, offering a short but loving kiss.
“Oh, Bobby?” she started as she was about to open the door, “My parents are going to be concerned about you. How much should I share with them?”
“They already know it involves my father. I don’t see why they shouldn’t know what’s happened, without going into the damning details. Tell them I appreciate their concern? They’re wonderful people, Mandy, your parents!” he replied with a touch of envy.
“I know,” she replied sadly, understanding the emotion behind the compliment. “Good night!” she repeated with a short kiss on the cheek.
“Night!”
After they’d left, Cora went to bed, but broke down in a flood of tears once lying there quietly. She’d kept the details from Bobby since coming to terms with her role, fearing how he’d take it, likely blaming her, and possibly shutting her out. That seemed a distinct possibility now, and she almost wished she could go back in time and keep things as they were, but that was no longer possible. Even if she shunned Rob – again – that wouldn’t make Bobby feel any better. She couldn’t imagine him not wanting to meet his father now that he knew he was nearly blameless, and her stories were mostly half-truths and lies. Would he go with his father now? Leave her behind? How would Rob react to that? Would he still want her?
She eventually fell asleep, accepting there were no answers to her questions – yet.
In the days that followed, Bobby took Mandy’s advice and didn’t discuss it further with her. He didn’t even see her for a couple of days, but when she invited him to spend New Year’s Eve with her family, he accepted without caring what his mom was doing that night, though he had warned Mandy that he might not be very good company. She told him they’d all understand. She’d given her parents the salient facts about his situation, and they were concerned about him and very sympathetic.
“My mom said New Year’s should be a hopeful look to the future, and, under the circumstances, it might be difficult for you to do that alone. So, you’ll come?” she asked hopefully on the phone call.
“Yes. Thank your mom for the invitation for me? I’ll try not to be too much of a downer,” he replied before they hung up.
Losing himself in his work wasn’t very effective; the whole situation was ever-present in his mind, regardless of attempts to forget it for a while. Despite Mandy’s comment about not having her opinions affect his judgment, he often thought about her statement that his mother’s love for him was at the root of it all. He tried hard to find flaws in that argument to justify the anger he still felt toward her, but he always came up empty. He tried to invent a motive for her that would prove his point; some self-serving reason for her pushing the only man she claimed to have ‘so much love’ for, into the arms of another. He couldn’t do it.
The parallels to his reunion with Mandy returned to his thoughts, even though he’d dismissed them as similar but not in the same league. He tried to imagine how his father must have felt all those years, and it reminded him of when he’d half-heartedly pursued Mia. He’d concluded when that relationship ultimately failed, their lack of common interests was the reason, and though Mia had essentially broken up with him, he now knew that Mandy was the reason that he didn’t care about losing Mia. That line of reasoning still left him annoyed with himself for not trying harder to get Mandy back, especially knowing as he did now, that she would have taken him back in a heartbeat. He tried to imagine how his father must have felt when his mom finally took his call and agreed to meet him. It would have to have been the way he felt about finding Mandy on campus to the power of ten.
After a couple of days, he realized he was actually sorting it out on his own, but for one problem. He was still angry with his mother. ‘How could she be so stupid!’ and ‘Why did she keep my father from me?’ were questions that kept his indignation alive. The relatively simple answer to the first question eventually came to him. He knew love could make anyone do very stupid things, but that wasn’t the answer to the second question; his mom would have to answer that one.
Mandy jumped into his arms when he arrived on New Year’s Eve, and he shed a few happy tears at being together again, only realizing at this moment how much he missed the warmth of her love and her body.
“Mandy! I’ve missed you and love you so much!” he declared through his tears.
“Bobby! Don’t cry!” she said, holding his face in her hands and kissing away the tears. “It’s gonna be all right,” she comforted, assuming the tears were for his situation.
“These are happy tears, Angel! Because I have you in my arms again!”
“Oh, Bobby! I love you too!” she cried before they shared a long, loving kiss to make up for the days apart.
“Thank you for the advice and time to sort things out. I’m not quite there yet, but I’m getting close,” he shared, proud of what he’d accomplished on his own.
“That’s great! We don’t have to talk about it tonight if you don’t want to?” she suggested.
“I’d prefer not to, but can’t promise anything,” he admitted.
Amanda watched the whole scene at the front door unfold from the kitchen. She was so proud of them both. Mandy, for having the wisdom to step back and let him figure it out on his own; Bobby, for the strength and courage to do so; and both of them, for their mutual love and support for each other. Seeing them in such a loving embrace, she decided that after midnight, she and Brad would give them the privacy she was sure they needed, knowing full well what that would entail.
“Bobby! It’s good to see you smiling!” Amanda said, greeting him once Mandy had released her stranglehold on him.
“Thank you, Ma’am. It feels good to be here smiling!” he said, accepting a hug.
To keep everyone involved and minds off unpleasantness, they’d decided to spend the evening playing games. With drinks and snacks aplenty, they started with card games, with everyone enjoying the play, and no one being too competitive. They kept one of the TV shows on for background noise, occasional music, and the eventual ball dropping in Times Square.
Amanda asked if everyone was willing to play her favorite game, Scrabble. Mandy and her father shared a look, knowing the suggestion was inevitable. Bobby had never played, but the rules were fairly simple, and he got the hang of it quickly enough. Amanda couldn’t help showing off her skill with strategic uses of the letter ‘S’ to get credit for two words or placing a single letter in a tight spot to score on several words.
Occasionally funny and some provocative words were played. Mandy smiled broadly and gave Bobby a loving kiss when she placed ‘LOVE’ on the board. Brad and Amanda tried to hide a smile when he used ‘SPANK’ as a means to use the high value ‘K’ on a triple letter space, but were confused by the look on Mandy’s and Bobby’s faces. Near the end of the game, when trying to use up her letters so they wouldn’t count against her, Mandy looked at her parents sheepishly and smiled at Bobby, when she found a use for ‘X’ on a tight board with the word ‘SEX’. Amanda smiled, and Brad shook his head, having to accept once again that his little girl had grown up.
Seconds from midnight, they all joined in with the exuberant 10-9-8 countdown, and hugs, kisses, and sincere wishes for a happy new year.
Mandy and Bobby monopolized each other for several minutes, not the least bit shy about showing their love as they shared a more poignant wish for better times. Mandy went to her dad next, while Amanda hugged Bobby telling him that everything was going to be all right in a way only a mother could say convincingly. Brad said nothing, but offered a confident face and hearty handshake when he addressed Bobby.
After a celebratory champagne toast, Amanda and Brad said good night, with her whispering in her daughter’s ear before they disappeared into their bedroom. Brad had agreed reluctantly to Amanda’s idea to leave them alone, only convinced when his wife told him they’d make the kids look like amateurs once they’d gotten in bed.
Mandy led Bobby into the den and closed the door.
“Would you like to talk about your mom now? Or do something else?” she asked with a suggestive smile.
“I’d love to do something else, but your parents …”
“Did you see my Mom whisper to me? She told me we could have total privacy here in the den!”
“Are you sure? Oh! I guess you are!” he said as she started taking her blouse off, and her bra quickly followed.
“You want these?” she asked, cupping her tits from below.
“I do!”
She knelt on the sofa with his legs between hers and pushed them into his face. He gratefully accepted one into his mouth, while his hand entertained the other.
“Mmm! That feels good! We should probably not make too much noise,” she whispered as his mouth and hands switched sides. “Oh, God!” she added when she felt his hand between her legs. She let him stroke her for a few moments before declaring, “You first!”
She made quick work of his shirt and sat closer so she could lay her chest against his. They kissed passionately as their nipples played with each other, Mandy rubbing her tits against his bare chest. She smiled dreamily when the kiss ended and slid off his lap to kneel on the floor before him, her hands on the lump in his pants.
“Someone wants to come out and play!” she said as she stroked him through his slacks. She looked up at him and when she had his attention, said, “I want to suck your cock, Bobby!”
“Mandy!” he cried with surprise as she opened his pants. He usually liked it when she talked dirty, but with all he’d been through lately, this time he absolutely loved it. “Yeah? Are you gonna make me cum?”
“Oh, yeah! I’m gonna lick and suck your big, hard cock until you shoot your cum in my mouth!” she replied, both finding that whispering such things to each other somehow made it more exciting.
He watched for a while, her mouth alternately inhaling and exhaling his cock, while her silky hair brushed around it, but finally closed his eyes to concentrate on the sensations afforded by her fingers, lips, and tongue. She moved at a slow, almost graceful pace with her mouth, while her tongue set its own quicker tempo, and soon he was on the cusp of a climax. He could tell she knew as her hand took over the stroking while the tip remained just within her lips, getting the full attention of her tongue.
“Oh, Mandy! That’s so good! I’m gonna – I’m gonna – I’m cumming!”
“Mmm,” she hummed as she pushed him over the edge, loving the feeling of it splashing inside her mouth. She swallowed quickly and climbed back into his lap just as his eyes opened. He smiled as though seeing her face had made everything right with the world. She mashed her lips into his, telling him she was ready for more. “Eat me, Bobby?” she begged, kissed him again, and added, “Eat my pussy! Please?”
“I’d love to,” he replied in a less-than-enthusiastic voice that she didn’t pick up on being distracted with getting her jeans and panties off as quickly as possible.
“I’d really like to sit on your face, but this sofa …”
“I can fix that. Get up,” he said, patting her bottom. She stood to the side. struggling to get her pants off, while he slid off the sofa to sit on the floor with his back against it. “Come stand over me with your back to me. That’s it, now sit,” he said when he lay his head back on the cushion.
“Oh! Ohh, my God! I’m really sitting on you!” she said after squatting and having to put more pressure on his face than in other face-sitting positions. “Oh fuck, Bobby!” she cried a bit louder than she intended. “Can you breathe?”
“Ymph!”
“Bobby! I can’t do this!” she cried, afraid she was smothering him. She stood up and turned to face him.
“Okay, kneel on the cushion facing me instead.”
“Oh yeah! This is better! Ooo! Eat me up, Bobby!” she purred as she found the right place and began rocking her hips, his mouth and nose passing through her slit at a steady pace. It didn’t take long before, “Oh Bobby! Bobby, I’m gonna cum! I’m gonna! Ohhh Goooddd!”
She lifted up, still afraid he couldn’t breathe, and he enjoyed watching her sweet syrup drip from her pussy into his mouth. She was still panting when he grabbed her hips and pulled her down onto his face again, this time with her holding still, at first.
“Oh fuck, Bobby! I love doing this!” she whispered with a squeaky voice as her hips started rocking again.
With more of the same, she lasted a bit longer, but the result was the same: gasping and shaking when it overtook her. Bobby hoped she’d had enough because he had. His mood was getting darker again, but he tried not to let it show. When Mandy slid off the sofa to sit in his lap, he accepted and tried to return her passionate kiss, thinking she had to notice.
“Would you like me to ride you?” she asked, usually certain of his answer, but not now.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” he replied unconvincingly, and then a tear ran down his cheek.
“What’s wrong, Love? Your mother?” she asked with evident concern.
“I’m sorry. My heart’s just not in it tonight, Angel,” he said with a sad face.
“Talk to me!” she said, sitting comfortably in his lap with a hand gently stroking his cheek. She felt horrible, like she’d forced sex on him for her pleasure alone. “You said you were close to – to something,” she said, not sure now what that meant.
“I know you said not to, but I considered what you said, that everything she did was because of her love for me. I tried to find fault with that argument, but I couldn’t. I still think what she did was really stupid, but it had to be me she was doing it for. Except for one thing that became magnified tonight, being with your family.”
“What was it?” she asked, not finding a connection to her family.
“It was seeing you and your father, your dad! You’re so close; it’s obvious! But I’ve never had that! Why did she deny me that? Even if they were divorced, he could still have been a part of my life! Why? How was that a result of loving me?”
“Oh, Love, I wish I could answer that, but only your mother can. You know, since this whole thing began a few days ago, I’ve looked at my dad with so much gratitude. I can’t imagine being without him, and I’m so sorry you didn’t have your dad,” she said, holding him close now that he was openly crying.
A few minutes later, she moved off his lap, stood, and pulled him up with her. She handed him his underwear and pants, then put her own back on. It didn’t feel right being naked in their current state of mind. When they sat on the sofa again, they were at least partially dressed, with her in his lap as always.
“I know this will sound easier said than done, but you have an opportunity now to have a dad. A week ago, that wasn’t an option, but now it is. Is it possible to forget the past, or at least not let it consume you, and enjoy having one now?”
“I hope so. I mean, that’s really the only way to move forward, right? But I don’t know him, Mandy. All I know is he’s a real estate agent, and he loves my mom. I don’t even know what he looks like! It’ll take time to learn more, but what if I don’t like him? You’ve grown up with your dad; you’re a part of each other. You’re who you are partly because of him. Mine could be a real bastard for all I know,” he said, feeling defeated.
“I can’t answer that either, but I doubt a man who has never stopped loving your mother, and who your mother loves as well, is going to be a bastard. You’re still a product of them both, even if his influence wasn’t the same as your mom’s.”
The discussion ended there, but Mandy continued to hold him with tender, comforting kisses here and there.
It was well past 1:00 when Amanda got up to see if Mandy was in bed yet. Seeing her bed empty, she was about to return to hers when she heard them talking. The tone told her it wasn’t love talk, so she listened until it stopped and went back to bed with a mixture of pride and sorrow.
“What are you going to do now?” she asked when they were standing at the front door, Bobby about to leave.
“I’m going to ask her why, but regardless of her answer, I suppose the next step is to meet him.”
She agreed, and they walked out to his truck, where they wished each other a happy New Year again. He waited until she was safely back inside before driving home. He thought mostly of Mandy as he considered his next steps. She helped him put things in perspective, and he wasn’t sure he was angry at his mom any longer, but that could change depending on how she answered his question.
When he got home, she wasn’t there, and he knew where she was, wondering if her New Year’s was offering her hope for the future, or just more questions. It was just as well that she wasn’t home, as he didn’t really want to face her yet, let alone get into any sort of discussion.
Mandy stumbled out of her room, the smell of breakfast cooking drawing her to the kitchen. Her mom had heard her come out of her room and waited for her. She held her arms out and hugged her daughter tightly.
“I love you, Mandy,” she whispered in her ear.
“I love you, too, Mom!” Mandy replied, not quite sure what brought this on, and pulled back, looking at her mother with questioning eyes.
“Last night, after one, I went to check if you were in bed yet. You weren’t, but I heard you two talking. I was about to go back to bed to give you your privacy, but I could tell you were talking about Bobby’s situation. I only listened for a minute or two, but I was so proud of how you helped him, what you told him, and especially what you said about your dad. You two are so lucky to have each other, but we are also so grateful to have such a loving daughter!”
“Oh, Mom! He’s hurting so much, and I can’t help because I can’t even imagine what it’s like for him!”
“You listened to him, offered help when you could, but most importantly, you were there for him!” she said, just as Brad walked in from the garage.
“Dad! I’m so glad I have you and Mom!” she said, hugging him.
“We’re glad to have you too, little girl,” he replied with an arm around her back and the other holding her head to his chest. “Mom told me about the things you said last night. You know you’ll always be my little girl, but what you said to him showed wisdom beyond your years, and I’m very proud of you!”
“Thank you, Dad! Did you hear the part where he told me that seeing you and me together last night is what got him upset about not having a dad all these years?”
“No, but that’s understandable,” her mom replied. “His whole family life is up in the air right now, and it must hurt a lot to see how close the three of us are, thinking he might have had the same.”
“He’s got one more question to ask his mom, and then he’s going to have her arrange a meeting with his father. He may be having that discussion right now.”
Bobby walked into the kitchen looking rather ragged from emotions and lack of sleep. He said hello to his mom in almost a whisper. He knew he needed to ask her the question, but he wasn’t sure he could trust himself to deal with it in his present state of mind. On the other hand, waiting wouldn’t make it any easier.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hello, Bobby,” she replied, thankful that he was at least speaking to her. “Would you like some bacon and eggs?” she asked, knowing it was his breakfast of choice.
“Yeah. That’d be great,” he answered, lacking any enthusiasm.
She had it made like an expert short-order cook and placed it before him minutes later. He toyed with his food and ate slowly, another indication of his mood, as normally he’d wolf it down in a couple of minutes. He looked up when she sat opposite him at the table.
“Is there anything I can say to make it better?” she asked, suspecting that repeating what she’d already said would only aggravate him again.
“I’ve been trying,” he started after just staring at her for a minute or so, “to figure out why you handled it all the way you did. I thought there had to be some other reason for handling it so badly.” He could see in her face how that comment stung the way he intended. “Why would you send the man you loved away, yet do absolutely nothing to find another. No dating, not the slightest interest in any other men, and dedicating your life to raising me. I’ve concluded that the only reason that makes any sense is the one you’ve given. I still find it an extreme overreaction to the situation, but your love for him and me is the only way to account for it.”
“Oh, Bobby! That makes me feel …” she started with relief.
“Hold on,” he interrupted. “There’s still one thing I don’t understand. Why did you keep him from me? Cutoff any possibility of his involvement in my life?”
“I told you, I thought it would only confuse …”
“No! That doesn’t work. There are so many divorced fathers, good and bad, who stay involved in their children’s lives, and from what you’ve admitted about him, my guess is that he would have been a good father figure, even if it were just on alternate weekends.”
Her prior relief disappeared, and it was her turn to stare at him, trying to decide how to answer.
“It was because of my love for you,” she started, and when he tried to cut her off, she added, “No! Let me finish! It was selfish of me, but I was afraid that if you spent so much time with him, that you …” She stopped as though trying to decide whether to continue. “… that you might find out the truth, and when you were old enough to understand, hold it against me. You might even want to …” She started crying. “… want to leave me and live with him! I’d already lost your father, thinking he didn’t love me. I couldn’t bear the thought of you not loving me either!” she finally finished, sobbing uncontrollably. “I’m sorry, Bobby! I am SO sorry, you can’t possibly know how much!”
With a rollercoaster of emotions, his brain told him he ought to take some time to digest what she’d said, but in this moment, his heart decided he did still love her, and he went to comfort her with tears in his eyes as well.
“I still love you, Mom!” he said with a hand on her shoulder.
She looked up at him, with ‘You do!?’ written on her face.
“Yes, I do. You’ve made some serious mistakes, but who hasn’t? And you’ve been a good mom to me under the circumstances.”
“Oh, Bobby! I love you more than you’ll ever know!” she cried as she rose to hug him, relief washing over her. She knew this wasn’t the end of the matter, but she could put her worst fear behind her now. The boy, a man now, that she’d given up so much for, however mistaken that was, still loved her and maybe, just maybe, they could become a family again.
–===<<<O>>>===-
It looks like Bobby’s nearing the end of this painful new chapter in his life but meeting his father after more than a dozen years is still to come. I hope you enjoyed this development enough to show your appreciation with ‘Likes,’ ‘Favorites,’ and comments and … THANKS FOR READING!!
