He lie awake at night thoughts buzzing through his head. Did the lawyer know? He didn't think Marco had any idea. What would he tell Marco? Would telling him break them up? He hoped not.
"Daddy?" Eloise walked into the bedroom.
"Yes sweetie?"
"Can you come sleep in my room? I'm scared."
"Sure." Dylan grabbed a pillow and blanket and put them on the floor of Eloise's room. He'd think of something by the time Marco got home from work tomorrow. He had to. When Marco went to work the next morning Dylan treated Eloise extra special. Around 3pm, befor Marco was expected, he brought her over to Miss Calloway's.
"Hey." Marco said when he came home.
"Hey."
"What's up, Eloise napping?"
"Nope, she's at Grace's. I have to talk to you."
Marco walked over to Dylan and put his arm around his shoulder.
"What's up?" Marco asked.
"I know who Eloise's father is."
Marco gasped.
"Who."
"Me." A tear rolled down Dylan cheek as he got up and walked out to the porch.
Marco was flabbergasted. He ran out to Dylan and embraced him.
"What-how-you're-" Marco was at a loss for words.
"It was a drunken night, and I, I'm sorry." Dylan cried.
"Is that why you stopped drinking?"
Dylan nodded.
"THAT'S WHY!" Marco had a realization. "That's why Eloise was left to me, because Ellie knew we would be together, and she wanted Eloise to be with her father."
Dylan couldn't speak. Tears kept rolling down his cheeks.
"I understand why you kept it from me, I just...you know I hate secrets." Marco sighed.
"Okay. I'm sorry." Dylan finally said.
"Should we tell her?" Marco asked.
"No secrets right?"
"Yea, let's just wait until tomorrow." Marco said as he went to get Eloise.
Dylan sighed. He took that suprisingly well. Usually when Marco's upset, he gets all flustered and in a rage. Dylan glanced upwards.
"Thanks, Ellie." He spoke to the sky.
-
Marco couldn't move. He tried to act all fine with it for Dylan's sake, but... how was he supposed to be fine with a situation like THIS? Would Dylan be fine with it if Marco went off and had sex with Dylan's best friend and then blamed it on being drunk? "No." Marco said out loud.
He sat in the hall for a very long time contemplating whether or not to break up with Dylan. He finally decided no to, because of Eloise. He had to do what was best for her, even if she wasn't HIS child. He was in love with her father, and if he was going to make it work, he had to thin kof Eloise first and foremost.