Chapter 15 - Now You Know II

Lidia

While I was still being held by Joe, I went for my phone and began to quickly dial Clara's number. She answered the phone in a curiously high-pitched voice after the second ring, confirming what I already knew based on my experience as her mother: that something was, in fact, happening.

"Hey, Mom! Are you with Dad?" Clara asked. She attempted to clear her throat before continuing, "What's up?"

"Dad is with me, hun." I replied. “Is it a good time to talk?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's fine, Mom. Hey Dad." She greeted her dad, knowing he was sharing the conversation with me.

"Hey," was all Joe said as a greeting.

"You know you can call me anytime. Everything all right?" Clara said, her voice worried.

"Oh, everything is fine. We are actually worried about you," was the response I gave. "How are you, hun? And don’t lie."

Clara's response came after a brief pause, which clearly suggested that perhaps I was correct in assuming that something was, in fact, going on with her that we knew nothing about.

"Nothing much, actually." After a while, she finally answered.

"Oh, really." I replied skeptically, and at that moment I heard her heave a sigh of exasperation.

This time, Joe took me to the table on the kitchen island and, without uttering a word, helped me up onto the marble surface of the table. Joe, who is six feet and two inches tall, had absolutely no trouble carrying me, who is only five feet and two inches tall. He moved his body so that he was standing between my knees and said, "Put her on speaker phone."

She started by saying, "I'm staying at Danas'. I'll be here for a little while, just until I get back on my feet again."

Our daughter's tone of voice gave the impression that she was uncertain about what she was saying. She always filters her words before she speaks, taking into consideration the people that she is speaking to.

There is something else that she is keeping from us, but Joe and I both know our daughter well enough to know that she won't tell us anything even if we force her to, so we need to be patient and let her share her story when she is ready to do so on her own terms.

"My Darling, how are you doing? Everything alright?" When Joe asked the question, his tone was soothing and calm, and the only time he ever uses this tone is when he needs to talk calmly to Clara when she is having a tantrum as a toddler or when he is attempting to pacify me in one of our endless disagreements, which, by the way, generally works brilliantly.

"Yeah, Dad…" She was hesitant and took a pause, and I can already see Clara in my mind chewing her bottom lip while pondering and picking her words carefully for what she is about to say. This is a very distinct mental image for me. "You two are fully aware that Jake and I have ended our relationship, correct?"

"You're right, sweetie. You contacted us regarding the cancellation of the wedding." I turned to Joe and asked, "Did the two of you get back together?" I inquired with some trepidation. We don't want to tell our dear Clara that Jake is not a good choice for her because it's evident that she was in love with that man, even though he doesn't deserve her at all. However, we also know it’s not our place to tell our daughter that her choice of a man is poor, though we tried to do so indirectly on so many occasions.

"No! I didn't.. I can't…" She struggled to get her words out before heaving a sigh and continuing. "I’ll never get back with Jake, just so we're clear. You were right about him. The past is where Jake belongs, and that's it."

"Thank the good Lord, you finally had some sense in you!" Joe uttered those words without reserve.

"Dad!"

"Joe!"

Clara and I let out an exclamation at the same time, and I reprimanded Joe for having such an unfiltered tongue about the matter. Even before Clara brought Jake over to our house to meet all of us, it was obvious that Joe did not like Jake at all, and he had no trouble showing his dislike for the man.

"What?" Joe remarked on it with a wide-eyed expression, as if he thought we were being absurd. "It is a well-known truth that he is a scumbag and that he hurt my little girl. I was right about that fucking son of a bitch the entire time, and I am very relieved that he is no longer a part of your life, sweetie. I couldn't be more thrilled when you told us the news that you two are breaking up for good."

Have I ever mentioned that my husband also has a mouth that, aside from being unfiltered, does not mince his words that much when it comes to using swear words?

It doesn't bother me one bit that Joe is completely straightforward. I think that is one of his best qualities, but the vast majority of people find him offensive when he becomes unfiltered and speaks his mind. When he's talking to me, though, he'll tone it down a bit, and he has always been gentle, but when the situation calls for it, he doesn’t hesitate, especially when someone he cares about is involved.

Clara is mature enough to handle cuss words, and I suppose she also likes the fact that her father is a guy of few words who says what's on his mind without sugarcoating it. Joe might even have influenced this trait in Clara, and while it was something that I needed to work on with her while she was growing up, I wouldn't change any other aspect of her personality since it is so integral to who she is today. Clara developed her abilities to speak her mind without being as harsh as Joe; you might as well call her fine-tuned and refined when she speaks, though she always makes her point across without any doubt.

On the other end of the telephone, Clara could be heard laughing, and both Joe and I did as well. It's the sort of laugh that we both badly miss—the kind where we know she is truly laughing because she is honestly amused—the sound of her laughter that we haven’t heard in a very long time. It's the kind of laugh that we both sorely miss.

"Straight to the point as usual, old man." I said something teasing as Joe kissed the top of my head.

"You guys…" On the other line, Clara could be heard saying, "Thank you. I kind of needed that." She said it with a sigh, and I can clearly picture Clara giving us a smile.

Joe stared at me with a worried expression on his face. Something is going on with Clara, and both of us are itching to find out what it is, though we do not want to pry.

"So tell us about it, darling. What the heck is going on?" I asked

"Mom…"

"Baby, you're talking to your old folks; you know that, right?" Joe began by letting Clara know that they were in a secure and safe space and that she could talk about anything that was bothering her back in New York. "I want you to know that no matter what happens, we will always be here for you, darling girl. But you need to let Daddy and Mommy know what's going on so that we can figure out what we should do or how we can help. Do you understand?"

"Geez, Dad. I feel like I'm thirteen again." On the other end of the line, Clara let out a sigh, but her voice was lighter and even playful as she spoke.

"Well, regardless of what happens, you will never stop being our baby girl." I remarked, glancing at Joe and smiling. "I know you're all grown up and independent and all, but it doesn't hurt to share, you know."

"The company fired me."

"Oh," I said.

Needless to say, she then dropped the most explosive bombshell of news on us.

"And I'm pregnant."