Simon's Choice
Chapter 5/?
A 7th Heaven Fan Fic by Lucky Star
Chapter 5: Dad
The next few weeks passed quickly, between work and school and sleep and Mykaela. Mykaela proved to be a good natured baby, except when hungry or in need of a diaper change. Most nights I could gently rock her bouncy seat with one foot while doing my homework at the kitchen table. And of course the family helped too, though the ultimate responsibility lay in my hands.
Lucy and Ruthie loved having a baby around, now that the twins were too old to be held and cuddled. Sometimes I caught Lucy with a longing look in her eyes, and I wondered if she thought about having a baby of her own. She would make a great mom, I think.
I missed my freedom, but I only had to look at Mykaela to know I had made the right choice. She was a beautiful baby, and my daughter in all the ways that really counted. So what if people thought I had knocked some girl up, at least they also realised I was trying to do the right thing for the child. And, at least they didn't call me "Virgin Camden" in the halls of school anymore.
"Simon, your math teacher called me today." Mom sat down across from me at the kitchen table. I shifted Mykaela and stared at her to avoid looking at Mom. I knew exactly why Mr. Jackson had called her.
"He's concerned about your grades slipping."
"I'm fine, Mom. I blew one pop quiz."
Mom sighed and reached a hand out to catch Mykaela's fingers. "Simon, your school work is suffering."
"Then I'll drop out of school."
"That is not an option, Simon."
I shrugged and looked up at my mother. "But this is what is important, Mom. My daughter."
"I agree, she is very important. But your education is important too."
"I know."
"Then get your grades back up where they belong."
I nodded. "I will." I sighed and stood and took Mykaela up to my room. I would drop out of school, if I had to. I would run away if I had to. I would do whatever I had to do to take care of my baby.
I closed his bedroom door, determined to enjoy the half hour I had to spend with Mykaela before I had to go to work. During the week I work the dinner shift at Pete's Pizza, enough to make a few dollars to pay for Mykaela's food and diapers.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I let myself in the back door and trudged up the stairs to my room. Ruthie sat in the rocker with Mykaela.
"Rough night?" she asked.
I shrugged. "Just busy. How's Mykaela?"
"Perfect. She's asleep but I like holding her so I don't mind."
"Thanks." I sighed. I need to find more time for sleep. "Do you mind if I take a quick shower?"
Ruthie shook her head. "Take your time."
I closed his eyes and leaned into the steady stream of warm water. The heat felt good on my aching muscles, the rhythmic pitter patter of the water hitting the tub lulled my mind into forgetting all my troubles.
I stepped out of the shower after the water turned cold. Ruthie had put Mykaela down in the crib, but she stood at the window overlooking the back yard. Something about her standing there sent warning bells off in my head. Dear God, if Mom and Dad have changed their minds, I will run. I swear I will run away with Mykaela and I will never look back.
"Dad has to have double bypass surgery Monday." She didn't even turn to look at me, and her voice was thick, like she'd been crying.
I dropped his dirty clothes in my hamper. "What?"
"Dad..."
"I heard you. I just...I...Wow." I sat on the edge of my bed. Ruthie turned to face me then, resting her back against the window. "Double bypass?"
"The doctor says it's routine, Dad should be fine. But...but he's pretty upset about it. Mom too."
I nodded and pushed a hand through my hair. I felt guilty now for all the times I avoided Dad, sneaking up the back stairs or even out the back door to miss meeting up with him. So hard to live up to the expectations of being the preacher's kid.
"Do you think he's going to be okay?" My voice cracked like it used to when I was twelve.
Ruthie closed her eyes. She looked so old all of a sudden. "I don't know, Simon. I really don't know."
I stood over Mykaela's crib and reached down to stroke her head. Ruthie moved around to stand next to me, and put hand on my arm.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
My dad had a heart attack last year. Maybe two years ago. I can't remember. I didn't ever want to remember. He had a heart attack, and that should have been the end of it.
I found him in his office, probably working on his Sunday sermon. I couldn't imagine why God would afflict one of his loyal leaders with a weak heart. I wondered if the pressures of keeping the church fresh and exciting contributed to his problems.
I coughed to let him know I was there. He looked up and smiled as he pulled his glasses off and set them on his paper.
"Ruthie told me."
He nodded. "It's going to be okay, Simon."
"Is it?"
"Yes." He said the word, but I saw fear in his eyes.
I didn't even know why I was there. To see him, I guess. I just wanted to see him. Needed to see him.
"I just wanted to say good night."
"Good night, Simon."
I started to walk away, but turned back with my hand on the door. "I love you, Dad."
"I know. I love you too, Son."
Ruthie was still in my room when I went back upstairs.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
End part five. Thank you for bearing with me as I revise. I hope you like this version. Please R/R and let me know! Thanks! Lucky Star (JjsLuckyStar@aol.com)
Chapter 5/?
A 7th Heaven Fan Fic by Lucky Star
Chapter 5: Dad
The next few weeks passed quickly, between work and school and sleep and Mykaela. Mykaela proved to be a good natured baby, except when hungry or in need of a diaper change. Most nights I could gently rock her bouncy seat with one foot while doing my homework at the kitchen table. And of course the family helped too, though the ultimate responsibility lay in my hands.
Lucy and Ruthie loved having a baby around, now that the twins were too old to be held and cuddled. Sometimes I caught Lucy with a longing look in her eyes, and I wondered if she thought about having a baby of her own. She would make a great mom, I think.
I missed my freedom, but I only had to look at Mykaela to know I had made the right choice. She was a beautiful baby, and my daughter in all the ways that really counted. So what if people thought I had knocked some girl up, at least they also realised I was trying to do the right thing for the child. And, at least they didn't call me "Virgin Camden" in the halls of school anymore.
"Simon, your math teacher called me today." Mom sat down across from me at the kitchen table. I shifted Mykaela and stared at her to avoid looking at Mom. I knew exactly why Mr. Jackson had called her.
"He's concerned about your grades slipping."
"I'm fine, Mom. I blew one pop quiz."
Mom sighed and reached a hand out to catch Mykaela's fingers. "Simon, your school work is suffering."
"Then I'll drop out of school."
"That is not an option, Simon."
I shrugged and looked up at my mother. "But this is what is important, Mom. My daughter."
"I agree, she is very important. But your education is important too."
"I know."
"Then get your grades back up where they belong."
I nodded. "I will." I sighed and stood and took Mykaela up to my room. I would drop out of school, if I had to. I would run away if I had to. I would do whatever I had to do to take care of my baby.
I closed his bedroom door, determined to enjoy the half hour I had to spend with Mykaela before I had to go to work. During the week I work the dinner shift at Pete's Pizza, enough to make a few dollars to pay for Mykaela's food and diapers.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I let myself in the back door and trudged up the stairs to my room. Ruthie sat in the rocker with Mykaela.
"Rough night?" she asked.
I shrugged. "Just busy. How's Mykaela?"
"Perfect. She's asleep but I like holding her so I don't mind."
"Thanks." I sighed. I need to find more time for sleep. "Do you mind if I take a quick shower?"
Ruthie shook her head. "Take your time."
I closed his eyes and leaned into the steady stream of warm water. The heat felt good on my aching muscles, the rhythmic pitter patter of the water hitting the tub lulled my mind into forgetting all my troubles.
I stepped out of the shower after the water turned cold. Ruthie had put Mykaela down in the crib, but she stood at the window overlooking the back yard. Something about her standing there sent warning bells off in my head. Dear God, if Mom and Dad have changed their minds, I will run. I swear I will run away with Mykaela and I will never look back.
"Dad has to have double bypass surgery Monday." She didn't even turn to look at me, and her voice was thick, like she'd been crying.
I dropped his dirty clothes in my hamper. "What?"
"Dad..."
"I heard you. I just...I...Wow." I sat on the edge of my bed. Ruthie turned to face me then, resting her back against the window. "Double bypass?"
"The doctor says it's routine, Dad should be fine. But...but he's pretty upset about it. Mom too."
I nodded and pushed a hand through my hair. I felt guilty now for all the times I avoided Dad, sneaking up the back stairs or even out the back door to miss meeting up with him. So hard to live up to the expectations of being the preacher's kid.
"Do you think he's going to be okay?" My voice cracked like it used to when I was twelve.
Ruthie closed her eyes. She looked so old all of a sudden. "I don't know, Simon. I really don't know."
I stood over Mykaela's crib and reached down to stroke her head. Ruthie moved around to stand next to me, and put hand on my arm.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
My dad had a heart attack last year. Maybe two years ago. I can't remember. I didn't ever want to remember. He had a heart attack, and that should have been the end of it.
I found him in his office, probably working on his Sunday sermon. I couldn't imagine why God would afflict one of his loyal leaders with a weak heart. I wondered if the pressures of keeping the church fresh and exciting contributed to his problems.
I coughed to let him know I was there. He looked up and smiled as he pulled his glasses off and set them on his paper.
"Ruthie told me."
He nodded. "It's going to be okay, Simon."
"Is it?"
"Yes." He said the word, but I saw fear in his eyes.
I didn't even know why I was there. To see him, I guess. I just wanted to see him. Needed to see him.
"I just wanted to say good night."
"Good night, Simon."
I started to walk away, but turned back with my hand on the door. "I love you, Dad."
"I know. I love you too, Son."
Ruthie was still in my room when I went back upstairs.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
End part five. Thank you for bearing with me as I revise. I hope you like this version. Please R/R and let me know! Thanks! Lucky Star (JjsLuckyStar@aol.com)