Chapter Thirty Eight
For Chasity, the time Jon was away flew by quicker than any other time he was on the road while she had been pregnant. She wasn't sure if it was because she was too busy caring for Kaleb this time to pay attention to the amount of time he was gone, or if it had to do with the secret she now held. What she did know was she was nervous about his pending return. He would be home shorty – probably in the next thirty minutes – and she knew she wouldn't be able to keep this from him. But how was she supposed to tell him his son truly was biologically his? He'd think she was insane.
She sure did know how to get herself into a mess.
Jon had just touched down in Vegas and was on his way to claim his luggage from the airports baggage claim before he would be heading home. He knew there was something weird going on with Chasity because each time he talked to her on the phone during the week she would do her best to keep the conversations short. Usually by telling him she had to get off the phone because Kaleb was waking up to be fed and she had to get him a bottle ready. He found that especially odd because he'd only actually heard Kaleb crying in the background two out of the six times he had talked to Chasity, and he knew she was capable of making a bottle and feeding Kaleb while she was talking on the phone; that's what speaker phone was invented for, but he never pointed out that he knew she was lying, he just let it slide for the time being. Now that he's home, he was bound and determined to find out what was going on, but he didn't have much time. He had to get to the bottom of this by tomorrow afternoon because he had to head back out on the road again Friday, and he wasn't leaving with the undeniable tension still hanging over their heads.
Arriving home, Jon parked in his usual designated parking spot; right next to the spot that had been housing Chasity's car ever since right after Kaleb was born when she finally told her landlord she was moving out. Shutting off the car, Jon made sure he had his keys before grabbing his suitcase and backpack from the trunk, locking the car doors, and heading toward the entrance of his apartment building.
Entering the building, he said a quick hello to Donna before taking the elevator up to his apartment. He couldn't wait to get inside just to hold Kaleb. If you had told him two years ago he would be coming home to a girlfriend and son who he couldn't wait to see, he would've laughed at you and told you to check yourself into a psych ward. He never pictured himself with a 'steady' girlfriend, let alone a son. But now, he was dying just to hold Kaleb. The five days he had gone without being able to see or hold him was pure torture; torture Jon was going to have to deal with and adjust to because he couldn't bring them on the road with him. Well, he could, but not until Kaleb was older and his immune system had developed better. But he would definitely bring them on the road with him eventually. Until then though, he'd have to adjust to this new routine like all his co-workers had to.
Unlocking the door, Jon pushed it open and entered the apartment to hear Kaleb screaming from what was now his nursery. Alarmed by all the commotion, Jon dropped his bags inside the door and kicked it shut with his foot as he ran toward the nursery. Getting to the door, he saw a frazzled and nearly frantic Chasity pacing back and forth with a screaming Kaleb in her arms, trying to soothe him, but it was clear nothing she was trying to do was working. "Hey, what's wrong with him," Jon asked, stepping into the room. "Why's he screaming like that," Jon questioned as Chasity's head snapped toward the door, unshed tears brimming clearly in her eyes.
"I don't know," she exclaimed, frustration evident in her frantic voice. "I've tried everything. I fed him, I burped him, I changed him, I sat in the rocking chair and rocked him, and when that didn't work, I tried to play with him," she ticked off all the things she'd tried. "But absolutely nothing is working. He just won't calm down, and I have no idea what else to do, Jon. I'm at my wits end," Chasity exclaimed, as the previously unshed tears now began pouring down her face. Stepping closer to her Jon coaxed the screaming infant out of her arms.
"Alright, take a couple deep breaths and go sit down," Jon instructed her. "You getting upset is not going to help the situation any, it's only gonna make it worse," he pointed out as he cradled Kaleb in his arms and began to gently rock him from side to side. This was another thing he never thought he'd end up doing; especially not calmly, or calmer than his significant other. If you had told him to years ago he would be the calm one in these types of situations, he would have told you to skip checking into the psych ward, and go straight to a padded room.
Chasity had done as she was told and sat down in the rocking chair in the corner of Kaleb's nursery, watching her boyfriend attempt to soothe their screaming son. "Hey now, enough of that," Jon gently cooed at the baby as Kaleb started to slowly calm down. "No more tears, champ," Jon cooed at him again as he shifted the baby a bit. The screams had stopped and all that was left in their wake now was tiny, baby hiccups from all the crying he had done. "There we go. See, no need for all the screaming," Jon gently said as Kaleb stared up at him. Chasity shook her head.
"I really don't get it," she spoke up from across the room, drawing Jon's attention to her. He was a bit confused about what it was she was confused about.
"Don't get what, babe?"
"I tried everything you just did and he wouldn't even quiet down to a whimper, let alone stop screaming for one second, yet it took you all of a nano second to calm him down," she explained. "Am I a bad mother or something," she asked, a fresh batch of tears rolling down her face. Jon shook his head.
"Hey, none of that," he exclaimed as he took two steps over to her and squatted down in front of her so they were eye level. "You're a great mother, your parenting skills have nothing to do with this. Sometimes babies just get tired of the same routine and a little change up is never a bad thing. That's all this was. He just wanted something a little different. It doesn't make you a bad mother," Jon explained, using the thumb on his free hand to swipe away some of the fallen tears that had run down Chasity's face.
"Well I'm glad you're so sure because I'm not," Chasity hiccupped. "First, he's born early. Then we have a fight and he wouldn't even let me touch him until we had made up. Now this," Chasity recalled. "I have to be some type of bad mother for him to love you more than he does me." Jon shook his head and grabbed her hand with the one he wasn't using to cradle Kaleb's head.
"That's not true and you know it," Jon exclaimed. "Doctor Mitchel told you him being born early had nothing to do with you, or what you did. It just happened. You're not the first person it's happened to, it just happens sometimes for no explained reason," Jon tried to explain again. "As for the day we had the fight, he didn't like your demeanor, and I told you that and proved it to you that same day," Jon reminded her. "This, this was just him being bored of seeing and hearing the same thing he's heard for the last few days. It's perfectly normal," Jon tried to explain once again. "Read the book I have on my nightstand. It'll tell you all you need to know. I promise," Jon said, trying to fix this situation the best he could. "You have to remember, he might be a baby, but he's just as human as you and I, and just like we tend to get sick of seeing and hearing the same things and the same people, so does he. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you, it just means he needed a little bit of a change."
Chasity understood what he was saying, but she was having a real hard time believing him. "I'm just not so sure," Chasity said again, shaking her head. Jon didn't know how else to convince her, so for now he'd have to give up. He couldn't continue to keep beating a dead horse.
"Alright, I'll tell you what, you need to relax, so I'll take over handling Kaleb while you go soak in the tub. You need a stress reliever, so go ahead," Jon said, standing up and stepping back away from her. "Go on, go relieve the stress and soak in the tub. You'll feel much better afterward," he said, knowing she loved just being able to sit in the tub soaking and relaxing for a little bit.
Chasity, deciding Jon was right, got up and left the nursery. Means Jon had everything under control and she clearly couldn't control anything, she had no problem leaving him to his own devices while she soaked in the tub. After all, she had handled Kaleb for the last five days, now he could have his turn at it.
While Chasity was enjoying a bath, Jon took Kaleb into the living room and placed him in his swing. He watched him swing for a few moments, making sure he wasn't going to start screaming again, before he went back over to the door and grabbed his suitcases, taking them into his bedroom. He placed them inside the closet until he had a chance to unpack and repack them before heading back to the living room. Looking at his son, whose blue eyes were locked on his, Jon sat in the chair facing Kaleb. "Mommy's having a rough time, buddy. I'm not sure what to do with her, but she's clearly having a rough time," Jon acknowledged. "And you did not help today, either," Jon playfully scolded him. His only response from the infant was a big yawn. Jon laughed. "Oh, so that's what you think, huh? Well fine, you take a nap while I try to figure out how to help mommy," Jon said, laughing as Kaleb began to doze off, the motion of the swing doing as it was supposed to and putting him to sleep.
Once Jon was sure Kaleb was sleeping, he left him swinging in his swing and headed for the bathroom. There was more to today's insecurities than Chasity had been willing to let on; Jon could tell. Whatever had been bothering her to cause her to keep their phone conversations short was still bothering her now, and now he was going to find out what it was that was going on. Knocking on the door, he waited a minuet, but when Chasity didn't respond he sighed and tried the knob, hoping she hadn't locked it. Feeling it turn in the palm of his hand, Jon smiled and pushed the door open. "Kaleb is asleep in his swing. So, now do you want to tell me what's really going on," he asked as Chasity sat up a little bit higher in the tub full off soapy water; suggesting that she must have decided to take a bubble bath, but the bubbles had long since dissolved and now she was just left with a tub full of soapy water.
"Not really, but I know I have to. I'm just not sure how to," Chasity admitted. She knew if she tried to hide this from him any longer it would just end up badly later, so she had to tell him. But how?
"Well, let's start with, does this secret have anything to do with your odd behavior in every one of our phone conversations this week," Jon asked. Chasity just nodded, closing her eyes and resting her head back against the tub. "Does it involve Kaleb in some way?" Again, his only response was a silent nod. "Is he sick?" This time Chasity shook her head, but still remained silent. "Alright, you need to start being verbal. Just start telling me whatever this story is from the beginning," Jon suggested. Chasity sighed.
"You already know the beginning part of the story. It's the end you don't know," Chasity admitted, confusing Jon completely.
"You have to be more specific than that," he said, taking a seat on the top of the closed toilet seat.
"It revolves around the night Kaleb was conceived," Chasity confessed. She was almost so quiet Jon didn't hear her, but he had heard her and now he was totally confused.
"Okay, so that means the 'beginning' of the story is how your boss forced you into the three-some and you were violated, and along came Kaleb. If that's not the full story, then what's the 'ending' of that story," Jon questioned.
Chasity took a deep breath. It was now or never.
"After the three-some concluded and I put myself back together the best I could, I went out to another all-night club because I wanted to get drunk and take my mind off of everything. And boy did it work," Chasity sighed. "Not only did it take my mind off all my current problems, but I got so wasted I barely remembered the night at all. All I remembered was waking up in a strange apartment, grabbing my clothes and hightailing it out of there before the guy that owned the place woke up," Chasity admitted.
"So you're saying it's possible someone else, other than the two 'clients', could be Kaleb's father," Jon asked, still totally confused. Chasity nodded.
"Yeah, that's basically what I'm saying. But when I tell you who the other person is you're not going to believe me, so what's the point," Chasity asked, sighing.
"So I know this person," Jon asked, putting two and two together. Chasity nodded.
"You more than know him, but that…" Jon cut her off.
"Stop, Chas. Just tell me who it is," he nearly begged. Chasity shook her head.
"Why, so you can call me a liar? I don't want to fight about this, Jon." Jon ran his hand over his face, rubbing the heels of his palms against his eyes. This whole situation was really beginning to agitate him. He just wanted to know what was going on, and all she wanted to do was beat around the bush.
"I'm not going to fight with you. I just want to know the truth and understand what's going on, so will you please just tell me," he asked.
Chasity got up out of the tub and pulled the plug on the drain, releasing the now cold water. Wrapping a towel around her she headed for the door, but Jon blocked it. "No, you're not getting of here until you tell me what the fuck is going on. You're driving me insane, Chas," Jon admitted. "All week our conversations were kept short because of whatever this secret is and now you tell me half of it, but won't tell me the rest of it? No, we're not playing this game. You're going to tell me what's going on right now," Jon demanded.
Chasity didn't want to finish the story. She didn't want to see the look on his face when he decided she was lying. She'd rather just live in the little bubble they'd been living in since they reunited. "Why, Jon? It's not going to make any difference. So why do you have to know," she asked, trying to get him to back off. But she could tell by the look in his eyes that wasn't going to happen.
"Because whatever this secret is, is affecting our relationship and I want to fix it before it destroys us." Chasity couldn't argue with that, and she knew she was out of options. Sighing she decided to reason with him.
"Okay fine, you win. I'll tell you the rest, but can we do this in the bed room, once I put some clothes on, please," Chasity all but begged. Jon opened the door and ushered her out, following close behind her as they walked toward their bedroom.
"I'm going to go check on Kaleb while you get dressed. I'll be right back, and when I get back I expect us to finish this discussion," Jon told her, leaving the room to check on Kaleb.
Chasity had just finished getting dressed when Jon came back from making sure Kaleb was still sleeping. She sat on the bed and leaned back against her pillows. "Alright, remember the day we brought Kaleb home and I was staring at you guys after I had dropped Kaleb's hat on the ground, and you asked if I was okay, and I told you I was fine?" Jon nodded. "I wasn't really fine because in that moment I had realized just how much Kaleb looks like you," Chasity pointed out. "But now I'm sure you're saying 'that's not possible, we're not blood related', right?" Again, Jon nodded. "Well, you'd likely be wrong," Chasity stated. "Look at him, Jon. He has your eyes, your lips, and your nose. The only thing he has that resembles me is his chin and cheeks. And maybe his hair, but there's still a possibility that'll end up changing colors, too," Chasity said. Jon shook his head.
"How can he possibly be related to me," Jon asked, confusion clear on his face. "We didn't see each other again until you were three months pregnant, and we didn't have sex again until you were six months." Chasity shook her head.
"The night I conceived, we met up at a club. I had a 'dream', but I know it was more than a dream, it was a memory," Chasity admitted. "I know I sound insane right now, but we were definitely together the night I conceived Kaleb, and we did not use protection," Chasity revealed. "I know I was with the other two guys on the same night, so if you want to have a DNA test done for proof we can do that. But I know he's yours just from looking at him and seeing more and more of your features in him every day."
Jon didn't say anything. He stood up and walked out to the living room, where Kaleb now sat wide awake, quietly watching the mobile spin above his swing. Jon approached the swing and eyed the baby closely, looking for the things Chasity claimed were 'all him'. Eyes, nose, chin… Was it possible? Could Kaleb actually be his? Jon didn't know for two reasons, he had no idea what Chasity's conception date was and because Chasity had admittedly been with the other two guys on the same night, but he did know the DNA test would confirm it. And he was going to find out. Not that it would change a damn thing. Kalbe was his, with or without shared blood, but at least then he'd know whether they were legitimately related or not.
Chasity had followed him out to the living room and watched him stare at their son, as if he was trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. When he turned toward her she wasn't surprised or offended by the words that came out of his mouth.
"What was your conception date," he questioned. Chasity could tell the wheels were turning in his head.
"Doctor told me it was June 5th, 2013," Chasity informed him.
"I want the DNA test." Chasity nodded. If that's what he wanted to ease his mind, that's what they would do.
Author's Note: So there we go, secret is revealed. Did he react the way you all thought he would, or do you think I made him too calm?