Delia could barely speak, she was so angry and shocked, "W-why did Ephram leave?" she held up the letter in her hand.
Andy was shocked, at first he thought it was the letter that he had left Ephram on his bed, but then he looked closer and saw that it was in Ephram's handwriting. He must have come by yesterday.
"Let me see that" Andy said with worry in his expression. He wanted to know what Ephram had told her, that way he would know what to say. He read the letter over quickly and then looked down at the crying Delia.
He squatted down to her level, "Delia, sweetheart...I know you must be upset right now" he sighed, "You probably want some sort of explanation..."
Delia just nodded. She had no idea what to think. What would be a good enough reason for Ephram to leave town?
Andy stood up, "Why don't we go sit down..."
They walked over to the couch and sat down.
"Uh...Delia, do you remember last year when Ephram and Madison were together?" Andy had no idea what he was going to say, he just let his mouth do the talking.
Delia wiped away some tears, "yeah...but what does that have to do with Ephram moving away? Did he run away with Madison?!?"
Andy leaned back, "no-well yes...well...not really, you see...Ephram and Madison were really serious...and they uh...well after they broke up, Madison came to me and told me...well she told me that she was pregnant" Andy had no idea what he was doing, he was trying to be honest, but he didn't know what to leave out.
Delia's eyes widened, "PREGNANT?! Like with a baby?!? And diapers?!?"
Andy sighed, "yeah...and then well she told me that...that Ephram was the father..."
"WHAT?!?!" Delia practically screamed. "B-but how could Ephram be the father?!? That means that they...ewww!"
"Now sweetheart, I know this must be really hard for you...but it's even harder for them...Ephram had to go to Boulder to take care of his daughter...with Madison"
Delia was shocked. This was too much for an 11 year old to take in all at once. She didn't know if she should be angry at Ephram and Madison, or her dad, or everyone. She didn't know how to react at all. It was all out of the blue, she hadn't expected this in a million years. She just sat there in silence.
Andy waited for a response, but didn't get one. He just sat there with her and let her think.
Ephram, Madison and Julia were sitting on the couch. Madison was nursing Julia and Ephram was watching TV. He heard his phone ring and reached into his pocket. The caller ID said "home"
He handed the phone to Madison, "Can you answer it? I really don't want to talk to my dad right now..."
"Even after that letter?" She asked as she took the phone.
Ephram nodded, "I-it's just...I'm not ready for that...yet"
"Fine" she said as she flipped it open and held it up to her ear, "hello?"
Delia was kind of surprised to hear Madison's voice, she hadn't talked to Madison in almost a year, "Hello? Uh...is Ephram there?" she wasn't sure if she wanted Madison to know it was her, Madison probably didn't even remember her.
Madison's face brightened up when she heard Delia's voice, "Delia? Hey sweetie! It's me...Madison" She looked at Ephram and then realized what she had just done. What if Delia didn't know yet? "Hold on" she said into the phone. She covered end with her hand. "Ephram I'm so sorry...I totally forgot...I mean what if she didn't' know-"
Ephram shook his head, "No-no I'm sure she knows...it's ok...talk to her"
Madison didn't really understand but went back to the phone anyway, "Ok I'm back...It's been a while"
"yeah...uh Madison...are you and Ephram...are you married?" Delia asked, still not understanding the situation. Her dad told her to call Ephram and talk to him about it, but why couldn't he just explain it himself?
Madison chuckled, "uh no sweetie...we're not uh married..."
Ephram laughed when he heard this.
"But you have a baby..." Delia continued.
"Yeah...yeah we have a daughter...but that doesn't mean we have to get married..." Madison sighed, "I know this is probably really confusing...it's kind of a different situation than you're used to..."
"yeah...so how old is she?"
"She's almost 2 weeks old..." Madison replied.
"wow...that's young"
Madison smiled, "yeah...it is"
Andy walked by, he was trying to listen, Delia noticed and walked into the other room. She had decided to be mad at him.
"So what's her name?"
"Her name is Julia...like your mom..."
"Really?! Wow...that's really cool" Delia really wanted to meet this new member of the family.
"Yeah...alright well I'm gonna give you the Ephram now...the baby just finished eating...I hope I get to talk to you again soon ok?"
"Yeah" Replied Delia, "me too"
Madison handed the phone to Ephram, then leaned Julia over her shoulder and started patting her back.
"Hey Dels!"
"Hi..." Delia didn't want to be mad at Ephram, but she couldn't help it.
Ephram sighed, "I know you're mad...and that's ok, you have a right to be"
"I know" she replied in monotone.
"Maybe soon you can come visit or something?" Ephram asked, trying to cheer her up.
"Yeah...but I thought you didn't want to see dad?"
"Well I don't...but it's a small price to pay" Ephram smiled.
Delia giggled, she was no longer mad at her brother.
They talked for a while and then Ephram hung up.
SORRY BUT I HAVE MAJOR WRITER'S BLOCK...MIGHT BE A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THE NEXT CHAPTER. I HOPE TO HAVE IT UP BY FRIDAY BUT THERE ARE NO GARAUNTEES...