Chapter 70: Chapter 70

TOBY

My mother insisted on having a christening for the baby, the last time I checked we weren't catholic or religious. It was just an excuse for her to throw a party not like she needed one. It was my child but I got an invite to the party with a strict note to send his name asap.

Ruby and I have had a running argument since he was born. It didn't occur to us to take the name discussion seriously throughout her pregnancy only for us to find out we both had different ideas about what we wanted to name our son at the hospital.

"So what's his name?" The nurse asked.

"Harry," Ruby said at the same time I said, "Toby."

"Which is the first name and which is the middle? The last name is Daniel right?"

"Hold on, my son's name is not Toby."

"What's wrong with naming him Toby, that's his father's name."

"Exactly my point. Having one of you is enough, we don't need to reproduce your ego."

"That's too late and my son's name can't be Harry," I said, using an exaggerated British accent.

"Well then I'll just leave the forms here for you to fill when you decide," the nurse said, leaving the form on the table and exiting the room quickly. Escaping our argument and boy did we argue, Ruby was so damn maddening. She wouldn't let go, she turned down every suggestion I threw at her and all her ideas sucked. It seemed like we would never come to a concession on a name when we finally agreed on Jeremiah Philipe Daniel. I fought the name Philipe but she held on so I let it go. I missed the timid Ruby but there was no sign of her making an appearance anytime soon.

I took a card out and penned out my son's name as a reply to my mother's message. I could have just shot her a text but I felt like matching her dramatics. There was something about writing my son's name out that made fatherhood feel real. My mind went to the child I got rid of and I felt a strange mix of grief and guilt then relief that the situation was taken care of. My relief only helped in heightening my guilt. I didn't dwell on it for too long. I found an envelope, tucked the card into it and had it delivered to my mother.

I looked up from my laptop and watched Ruby trudge into the room looking battle weary. She had Jeremy clutched to her chest and his baby bag slung on her shoulders.

"I need a nap," she said, placing him on the couch beside me and plucking his bag down on the floor.

"Okay," I answered with my attention on my work.

"If I don't sleep, I'll be a mess later at the party so take care of him. His milk is in the bag."

"Okay."

"I'm serious, watch him, I don't want to wake up and hear that he rolled off the couch and knocked his head. You know I was reading that knocks to the head could be fatal or lead to impairments where the child survived," she went on. She was doing it again, I had noticed that she had this habit of talking non-stop when she was sleep-deprived instead of actually

sleeping.

"Go to bed, I've got him, I've got this," I said picking him up from the chair.

About an hour later Ruby rushed down all dolled up in a flair lacy black dress that hit her mid-tight. Her purse and her heels were in her hands.

"Hand him over, let me get him ready while you do get dressed," she said, stretching her hands to receive the baby.

"What's the rush?" I asked handing him over.

"Our son is the celebrant so we should be there on time."

"Says who?"

"Etiquette and common sense, now go," she said, settling on the couch to change Jeremy. It looked like everything she needed was in the bag she brought down earlier.

We looked so cute together as we stepped into the venue way ahead of time little Jeremy and I dressed alike in light blue button-up shirts and brown corduroy pants. I watched Ruby as she walked around the room in awe. The decoration was done in a blue colour scheme and the theme was teddy bears. There were balloons everywhere and each table had a teddy centrepiece with Jeremy's full name on the belly.

The party was in full swing when a call came through on my phone. I stepped aside from our table where dinner was about to be served and answered it.

"Hello."

"Hey Toby, come to the parking lot, I have a surprise for you."

"Yasmin?"

"Yeah baby it's me, now come on outside for your surprise."

"What game are you playing, I'm in the middle of an event," I said, looking around to see if anyone noticed me slip away.

"I know where you are. Are you on your way out or should I send your surprise in?"

"I'm on my way," I said glancing at the table I had been seating on to see that Ruby and our parents were still conversing. So I slipped into the parking lot, oblivious of what I was searching for. My phone rang again, I noticed that it was the same number before I picked it up.

"Turn around, your surprise is right behind you," she said and I did. I watched as Yasmin stepped out of a red car looking sexy as always. She walked toward me, then did a little twirl in front of me before embracing me in a hug. Was it just me or did she get thicker? "I've missed you," she whispered into my ear before pulling away.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming back to the states?"

"I can see you've been too busy playing Daddy to miss me," she said.

"I can explain," I started lamely.

"No need for that," she interrupted." The mistress' baby would bring a huge scandal but somehow the unfaithful wife's baby is something that can be cleaned up right? Are you even sure that baby is yours?"

"He is my son," I answered. I couldn't deny Jeremy, not even to score points with Yasmin.

"What a naughty boy you've been then, fucking Ruby and fucking me at the same damn time without any protection."

"It was just once," I defended.

"It was just once, damn you, it wasn't supposed to happen. You promised me."

"I'm sorry."

"I don't need your apology, I'll need something from you pretty soon but until then, bye-bye Toby.".