Craig finally spoke up, "I think you should sit him down and tell him"
"What?" I practically screeched
"Look, I guess I just feel for the guy. If I had a kid out there I'd want to know about it, I wouldn't want my kids kept from me. I just think what if it was Shep or Maggie, I'd want to know"
I sighed "You're right. I have no right to keep Derry from him. But I'm not telling him here and now, that would just cause problems"
"So don't," said Jax "Wait till tomorrow and pull him aside and tell him privately"
"This means I also have to tell Derry" I whispered
"Derry will be ok" Craig comforted
"Will he? I mean he always thought that Baz was his father and now here I am going to tell him otherwise. My kid's going to have an identity crisis as 11 freaking years old" I said in a panic
"Sass, relax. I will be there when you tell him and it'll all be ok. I promise"
"No. I'll call Baz. He and I need to do this together"
"Ok"
"Let's go back to the party"
The rest of the dinner party went off without a hitch. Craig blended in well with the guys and my mother and I started talking like we used to before I left. I was able to keep Derry away from Opie for the rest of the night but I couldn't do anything to stop Opie from staring at us from across the yard. I was glad it had gone so well and hoped that this meant I was being welcomed back into the family fold, but with that only time would tell.
The next day I called Baz and asked him to come up to help me talk to Derry since I felt that the news would be best coming from us instead of Craig and I or worse from Opie. With the kids at school and Shep about to go down for his nap, I tried to practice and prepare what I was going to say to Opie that afternoon. I thought about easing him into it and I also thought about just blurting it out and getting it over with. But my best plan was to explain my decision before I tell him the truth. A hard knock at the door broke me out of my thoughts and I put Shep down in his playpen and went to open the door, thinking that it was Baz and that he'd forgotten his key.
"What did you forget your-" I began
Opie was on the other side looking like he hadn't slept and really upset
"Opie. What are you doing here?" I asked
"Is he my son?" he questioned, barging past me into the house
"What?"
"Is Derry my son? Because he sure as hell isn't your husbands"
"Oh my God. Who told you?"
"So it's true! Were you going to even tell me or were you going to try and keep this charade going?"
"Opie calm down. I was going to tell you today after I talked to Derry"
He was fuming "What he thinks that bastard husband of yours is his father?"
"Watch your mouth. Craig is an amazing father to my kids. But no he thinks Baz is his father"
"Baz? That douchebag from prom?"
"You better watch it, man" came Baz's voice
"Or what?"
"Or you don't wanna know bro"
Opie got in Baz's face and pushed him "What're you gonna do?"
Not liking being pushed Baz swung at Opie and hit him in the mouth and from there the two started a brawl in my living room. I grabbed the baby and retreated into the kitchen calling my brother and Craig to come and help me break them up. It took a little while but finally, Jax and Craig got to the house and pulled Baz and Opie apart respectively. The baby was screaming and making everything more chaotic.
"Are you two fucking done?" I shouted
They both looked at me and panted, blood all over their faces
I turned to Jax "Did you tell him?"
"No, Sav. I waited until you wanted to" he answered
"Jesus Christ, you knew?" Opie yelled
"I found out the day she got here. I put the pieces together and came up with Baz. She told me the rest" Jax told him
"So how did you find out?" I inquired
"I've been thinking since yesterday. Was up all night putting the pieces together. He's 11 so you were pregnant before prom and I know you never cheated on me so I knew that the only explanation was that he's mine" he explained
"I wanted Baz and I to tell him before I told you. I really was going to tell you today"
"So what now?" asked Craig
"Baz and I are going to talk to Derry and from there" I exhaled deeply "I don't know"
"I want to be there when you tell him" Opie stated
"No, Ope. I'm not having all of us there to gang up on him. I am his mother and he thinks Baz is his father. It'll be best coming from us. We'll call you after"
"Call me for what? I want visitation and I'll take you to court if I have to"
"Go ahead. Because one of two things will happen either A: they'll see how well he's done without you and give me full custody or B: They'll ask him and do what he decides because he's old enough to make this choice on his own"
"That's bullshit"
"So is this conversation"
"Maybe you guys should go," Craig said to Jax
"Yeah, we should. Come on Ope" Jax said, pulling Opie with him
"This isn't over," he said almost threateningly
I looked at him and held the baby tighter to me. I knew Opie wasn't dangerous but the way he sounded scared me.
After they left I made Baz help me clean up the mess in the living room while Craig put the baby back down in our bedroom.
"When does the kid get home?" he asked
"Half hour" I replied "Go clean yourself up"
He left to take a shower and I finished cleaning up the living room, sweeping up broken glass and throwing out shattered picture frames. By the time I was done Derry was walking in the door with his sister in tow.
"Hey mom" he greeted
"Hi mommy" Maggie cheered
"Hi, babies. Are you hungry? How was school?" I asked
"I'm not hungry and school was fine" Derry answered
"School was so much fun, mommy. I colored a picture for you" said Maggie
"You did? Well you'll have to show me"
"I show you later"
"Ok baby"
Baz then came down the stairs and spotted Derry
"Hey, pop. Did you get in a fight?" Derry inquired
"Uh, yeah but it's all good," Baz told him
"What're you doing here? You never come up here"
"I don't never come up here. I'm here because your mom and I need to talk to you about something"
"OK. What?"
"It's serious so we're going to sit down and talk"
Derry looked nervous and I sent Maggie to Craig so that Baz and I could break the news to Derry. We went into the kitchen and sat down, Baz and I on opposite sides of the table and Derry in the middle.
"What's going on?" he asked us
"Sweetie, I have to tell you something and you might not want to hear it," I told him
"Just tell me"
"You know how you call Baz 'pop' right?"
"Yeah because he's my real dad"
"That's the thing Slim. I'm not" Baz stated
"Not what?"
"I'm not your real dad"
"What? Mom?"
"It's true baby"
"Then if you're not really my dad, who is?"
"Do you remember Opie? The man you met last night?"
"Yeah, the big biker guy with a beard"
"He and I dated when I was 17. When I got pregnant with you"
"He's my father?"
I nodded my head
"Did you know?" he asked Baz
"Yeah I knew"
"Then why?"
"Because I love your mom and she was in a tough spot. Your old man was cheating on her with another woman and she didn't want to take care of you all alone. I promised her I'd always be here for you both"
Derry began to take deep breaths and started to cry "I don't want another dad. I want you" he said, launching himself into Baz's chest and sobbing
"Then you'll always have me. I'm not going anywhere" he swore
"Baby, Opie wants to see you. You don't have to if you don't want to but whatever you decide I need you to tell him yourself"
He still clung to Baz but turned his head so that I could hear him clearly
"See me how? Like visitations?" he sniffed
"Something like that yeah"
"I don't know. Wouldn't that be betraying you?"
"No baby you wouldn't be betraying anyone if you go there and want to spend time with your dad"
"What do you think I should do?" he asked Baz
"I don't know Slim. My dad never wanted anything to do with me. You're pretty lucky to have three dads that want you around"
"I guess I can give him a chance. I can stop if I don't like it, right?"
"You can stop anytime you want"
"You can go on and do your homework while I make dinner"
He got up and left, wiping his eyes. Leaving Baz and I alone in the kitchen
"That could've gone worse," said Baz
"Yeah. Maybe you should stick around for a little while" I told him
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Let me go give Cath a call and let her know what's going on"
"Ok"
I then turned my attention to making dinner, trying to distract myself from the thought that I was an awful mother for what had just taken place.
After dinner, Craig, Baz, Derry and I made up a schedule for his visits with Opie and I decided to give him a call.
"Hello?"
"It's me"
"How'd it go?"
"As well as can be expected. But the good news for you is that he wants to give visits a try"
"That's great. When do you want them to start?"
"Next week. You'll get him for half the week, including weekends, except for two weekends a month when he goes to visit Baz"
"Baz? He's still involved with that prick?"
"Yes, Opie because as far as Derry is concerned Baz will always be his pop. That's what he said, not me."
I could hear him scoff "Fine. Whatever. What days do I get him?"
"You can have him Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. After school obviously"
"That's fine. So we start Monday?"
"Yup. Monday after school he'll be coming straight to you and I'll pick him up around 9"
"I'll pick him up at the shop and drop him there too"
"Works for me. Bye"
I hung up the phone and sighed. I then opened it again and dialed Pope because I needed to hear some reason.
"Am I a shitty mom?" I asked as soon as he picked up
"Nice to hear from you too. What are you talking about?"
"Am I a shitty mom for lying to my son about his father all this time? For basically having three baby daddies?"
"Savannah what are you talking about? You're a great mom, you've done everything for your kids"
"Yeah, like lie to them. I never told Derry the truth and now he's caught in the blowback"
"His father found out about him?"
"He's not an idiot Pope, he would've figured it out eventually"
"What did he want?"
"He wants to see Derry, what else?"
"Well, what did you do?"
"Baz and I talked to Derry and explained things to him. He got upset and said he wanted Baz to be his dad. Then he agreed to visit for half the week after school and Friday into Saturday"
"Is it really a bad thing?"
"I don't know. I was hoping to get your take on all of this"
"Well for starters I think you're an amazing mom. You do the best you can to protect them and keep them safe. Even if you make some mistakes along the way, you always have their best interest in your heart. And as for Derry, I say just let him go a couple times and see what he says"
"Thanks, Pope. I can always count on you to set my head straight"
"Anytime little sister. Love you"
"Love you too"
I hung up the phone and went to get ready for bed. Trying to find a way to prepare myself for the hell that would be Monday.