Several hours later, a bit after dinner which Ephram missed, he decided to go visit Madison to see if he couldnt figure things out. His thoughts were interrupted by his father who called him from downstairs, "Ephram, come down here please!"
Oblivious, Ephram went downstairs lazily and greeted his father in the kitchen. This was actually the first time in weeks that they came face to face and for some reason Ephram could feel this wasnt going to be a happy encounter.
"Amy Abbott came into the office today in tears!" he said loudly
"Oh great, here we go" Ephram said under his breath. He decided he didnt want to argue with his father so he got his jacket from the closet and headed towards the door. He opened the front door as his father yelled and blurted out the only thing he could think of, "How in the hell did you find out, Ephram!" he sounded very angry, but then again his son just found out the worst mistake he had ever made.
Ephram slammed the door just as quick as he opened it. What his father said set him off and he turned around towards his father, "How in the hell could you keep this from me, dad! Who in the hell do you think you are!"
A shouting match ensued between the Brown men, it was inevitable afterall.
"I was protecting you, you're just a child!"
"I am 17 years old, I can make my own decisions! And you trying to keep this from me is the biggest mistake you've ever made!" By now Ephram's bottom lip was quivering as he tried to hold it together, "EVERYTHING YOU AND I EVER HAD, OR TRIED TO HAVE, YOU RUINED IT THE DAY YOU TOLD MADISON NOT TO TELL ME AND WHEN YOU DECIDED YOU WERE GOING TO KEEP IT FROM ME! YOU HAD NO RIGHT!"
"YOU'RE TOO YOUNG TO TAKE CARE OF A CHILD! I WAS LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR BEST INTEREST, YOU HAVE YOUR WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF YOU!"
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW ANYWAY! UNLIKE YOU, DAD, I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO BE IN MY CHILD'S LIFE AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT! I AM GOING TO BE A BETTER FATHER THAN YOU EVER WERE! LET'S FACE IT DAD, YOU WERE SCARED AND HID BEHIND YOUR WORK AND NOW YOU THINK I'LL MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE! YOU'RE WRONG!" and with that, Ephram turned again towards the front door and put his hand on it with every intention of opening it and walking out, but then he stopped and looked back at his father, he still wasnt done yelling at him for what he did, "AND CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, DAD, SENDING MONEY EVERY MONTH DOES NOT REPLACE A FATHER. HOW DARE YOU MAKE THAT DECISION! IT WAS ALL MY DOING AND I HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT COMES, NOT YOU!" before his father could scream against that, Ephram was out the door and in his car and on his way to Madison's before he realized what just happened. Ephram practically slammed the door off it's hinges.
Andy couldnt help but scream to get out his frustration, "NOOOOO!!!!" just then there was a knock on the door, it was Nina.
"Andy, what's going on! I heard you two screaming at each other then I heard Ephram's car screech out like a mad man, what's going on!"
Trying to calm himself, he started pacing and deeply breathing.
Nina decided to make some tea, it would help calm Andy down to tell her what just happened. Nobody spoke for about 10 minutes, Andy didn't stop pacing until much later, though.
"I just made the worst mistake in father history, Nina. I just ruined everything I worked for with my son, our relationship is no longer. It's gone, kaput, dead."
"You're not making any sense, Andy, what do you mean?"
"I'll give you the short version..." he breathed heavily, "Ephram just found out that Madison is pregnant with his child and he hates me because I knew about it but kept it from him for almost four months now."
Alarmed, Nina replied, "Andy you didnt! How could you!"
Andy threw his hands over his face, "I dont know, I dont know! He was so happy and there was no way I could take that from him. I thought I was doing the right thing."
"Stupid thinking Andy" replied Nina simply, "so what are you going to do now?"
"there's nothing I can do." he said sounding defeated.
Ephram finally made his way to Madison's apartment, he called her ahead of time to let her know he was on his way.
She opened the door when he arrived, and he quickly started telling her about the fight with his dad. He entered the apartment, raising his arms, and looked at her before brushing passed her, "well it's over, my life that is! I told Amy today and she ended up telling her father who told my father who came home to scream at me making me feel as if I was in the wrong for what I have done!"
he wasnt making any sense, Madison put up her hand and interrupted him, "What are you talking about, slow down, Ephram, take it easy."
"The shit hit the fan, Madison. My dad found out that I know about you and instead of just confronting me about it he blew up in my face and started screaming at me." he blinked several times to try to hold back the tears, "all I could do was scream back." Ephram sat down and just looked straight ahead, "he had no right to do that. How could he do that?" the more he seemed to think about it, the angrier he became and the quicker his eyes filled with tears. Madison embraced him tightly, she definitely knew how he felt since she was put in a similar situation not too long ago.
A few hours later it was as if Ephram forgot all his worries. The two were sitting around the table laughing and joking, eating ice cream.
"So the other day Delia asked me if she could be the aunt."
Madison laughed, "no way! She's such a character."
For the next few days Ephram was able to slip in and out of his house without seeing much of his father. When they did see each other it was mainly just to say hello or goodbye or to give each other hard glares. Ephram was able to talk to Amy about some things and she said that she didnt know where they stood anymore. Sometimes days were good and sometimes days were bad. It definitely seemed like the relationship, if that's what you want to call it, was going downhill. Between work and school and spending time with Madison, picking out baby furniture and all, he and Amy didnt spend too many days together.
