Chapter 1: The Seat Near the Back
My son asked me not to come to his graduation — then his girlfriend called and said, "Please come.
He doesn't know I found out."
I had been looking forward to Daniel's graduation for four years.
So when he called me a week before the ceremony, I thought he wanted to talk about our plans.
Instead, he said, "Mom, I don't think you should come."
I laughed because I thought he was joking.
"I'm serious."
"Why?"
"It's complicated."
"Daniel, I'm your mother."
"I know.
Just trust me."
That hurt more than I wanted to admit.
I raised Daniel mostly on my own after his father, Richard, left when he was nine.
And now I wasn't welcome at his graduation.
I asked him one last time.
"Are you embarrassed by me?"
"God, no."
"Then give me one reason."
"I can't."
I was hurt, but I still hoped he'd change his mind.
The night before the ceremony, Daniel's girlfriend, Sophie, called me.
"Please come tomorrow."
I was confused.
"Daniel specifically asked me not to."
"I know."
"Then why are you asking me to come?"
She went quiet.
"He doesn't know I found out."
"Found out what?"
"Just come.
Please."
So I did.
I sat near the back where Daniel wouldn't notice me.
Then I spotted a man three rows ahead.
Richard.
My ex-husband.
I hadn't seen him in years.
My first thought was that Sophie had invited him too.
But when I looked at Daniel, I noticed he kept glancing in Richard's direction.
Then the ceremony ended.
Daniel walked straight toward his father.
And hugged him.
I just stood there.
Daniel had barely spoken to Richard for years.
At least, that's what I'd believed.
Suddenly, I understood why he hadn't wanted me there.
He hadn't wanted his parents in the same room.
Richard noticed me.
"Well," he said, almost smiling.
"Didn't expect to see you here."
"Apparently, I could say the same."
Sophie appeared and asked me to step aside for a moment.
"I'm glad you came," she said.
"Is Richard what you found out about?"
"Partly.
I saw a message from him on Daniel's phone last night."
"Partly?"
She glanced at Daniel.
"There's something else.
But not here."
"So what happens now?"
Sophie looked at Daniel and Richard.
"We wait until tonight.
Daniel made dinner reservations for all of us."
After the ceremony, everyone went to a restaurant.
I didn't want to go, but I needed to understand what was happening.
During dinner, I noticed something else.
Sophie suddenly excused herself and hurried to the restroom.
When she returned, she was pale.
Daniel immediately placed his hand on her back.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine.
Probably something I ate."
A few minutes later, Sophie got up again.
This time, I followed her.
"How far along are you?"
She froze.
"What?"
"You haven't touched your champagne, you've been sick all evening, and my son hasn't taken his eyes off you."
Her face changed.
"Eight weeks."
I stared at her.
"Does Daniel know?"
"Yes."
Suddenly, I understood.
A baby.
Daniel had invited his father back into his life, Sophie was pregnant, and somehow I was the one person they hadn't wanted here.
"So that's why Daniel didn't want me here."
Sophie shook her head.
"No."
"Then why?"
She hesitated.
"The baby is why Daniel reached out to his father."
I frowned.
"I don't understand."
"Remember when I told you Daniel didn't know I found out?"
"You meant Richard was coming."
"That's what I thought at first."
She reached into her purse and pulled out several folded pages.
"Then I found these."
---
May you like
What is on those pages — and why did Sophie need Daniel's mother there to see them?
Comment **"NEXT"** if you want Part 2.
