Georgia On My Mind-Book Four

Chapter 17 - Let The Chips Fall Where They May

I pull up to my parent's house; Daddy, Momma, and Benny are lounging around the pool. I hop out and lead everyone to the backyard. "Hey, there's the crew! Come join us!" Daddy says as he notices us approaching. Daddy gets up and approaches John Luke first, "Hey Buddy, good to see you, son. You are all grown up." He says as he pats John Luke on the back.

I notice John Luke begin to tense up. "Thank you." He says calmly.

I walk over and grab his arm; Daddy looks at me curiously as I do. Momma approaches John Luke. "Hey, handsome." She says as she pulls him in for an embrace and plants a kiss on his cheek.

I can feel John Luke relax when Momma is near him. He matches her embrace, "How are you, Mimi?"

"I'm great, sweetheart; how are you?" She asks, patting his arm.

"I'm good now. Good to be home."

She smiles at him and reaches up to gently pinch his cheek.

"Look, we have to talk," Brie says with her hands on her hips. Seth stands behind her with his hand placed on her shoulder.

"Okay, come hang out," Daddy says. We all walk over towards the pool. "Where's Papaw's princess?" he asks as he leads us.

"She's with Harper," I respond.

"Why didn't you guys bring your swimsuit?" Momma asks curiously.

After an exchange of awkward glances amongst us, I break the ice, "Daddy, I need to ask you something?" I ask hesitantly.

"Okay, what is it?"

Realizing I'm holding my breath, I exhale audibly, "John Luke said he wrote me letters every week for a year, but I never got them. Why not?"

Daddy's face drops, "s**t, I knew this would come up now that he's home."

John Luke glares at him and crosses his arms in front of his chest. Brie and Seth walk over to stand next to John Luke.

"Look, I made a mistake. I'm sorry, guys, I didn't want Georgia to get distracted from her studies. He was obviously on the wrong path before he left, and I didn't want it to rub off on her any more than it had. I mean, she got pregnant by some random guy at a party, for Christ's sake! That was completely out of character for her to do. She was getting out of control and rebellious and throwing temper tantrums. I was nervous she was going to go down the same path. I had to protect my daughter from the path you were taking, son. I didn't want that for her. I'm sorry." He directs his attention towards Seth and Brie, "Now, Seth, I know you are pissed off about what I did because I had contact information for him on the letters. I'm sorry, man, truly I am. I made a mistake." Daddy says apologetically.

John Luke sneers at him. "Georgia didn't get pregnant by some random guy at a party, Dylan."

"Yes, she did. She told me herself." Daddy insists.

"No, she didn't. She is John Luke's baby, you big asshole!" Brie blurts out.

Daddy looks at me in complete shock. "Is this true?"

I nod. "Yes, Scarlett is John Luke's."

"Oh Christ, Georgia! Why didn't you tell me this?" Daddy yells.

"I knew you'd get mad! I didn't want you to get mad at John Luke! I'm sorry. I did it to protect him." I say tearfully.

Daddy's eyes bore a hole through me; Momma rushes to his side and grabs his arm. "I can't believe this! Do you honestly think that telling me that some random guy knocked you up at a party is better than telling me that John Luke knocked you up? Despite him being on drugs, Scarlett had a f*****g Father this whole time! Have you lost your mind Georgia? f**k!" Daddy cries out, putting his face in his hands. He then walks away and throws his hands up in the air in anger, and stomps back in my direction, his pace quickens. His face is beet red; I can tell he's pissed, so I back away.

Momma grabs his arm again. "Dylan, calm down. Seriously." She warns him.

"I can't do that. I'm so pissed off right now." Daddy barks.

John Luke steps between Daddy and me. "Listen, Dylan; I wasn't on drugs. Sure, I smoked weed a couple of times. That is it! You all make it sound like I was a drug addict or something! I'm sick of it!" John Luke yells. Then glares at Seth, " I blame you, Dad! You gave him all this ammunition to have against me. Now he thought this whole time I was the biggest piece of s**t who wasn't good enough for his daughter! This f*****g blows!" John Luke yells.

Seth lowers his head and nods in agreement. Brie grabs his arm, attempting to comfort him.

"Momma, Daddy, I'm sorry I lied. I never meant to hurt anyone," I say apologetically.

"John Luke, why did you let her lie to me like this? Why couldn't you have just been a man and called to tell me this?" Daddy asks him.

"Oh, is that how it's gonna go? Be a man, huh? Okay, well, because I didn't f*****g know! I had no idea I had a daughter, or I would have moved f*****g mountains to see her! What kind of a twisted son of a b***h do you think I am, Dylan? Do you honestly think I would have let her raise this child on her own? I was ready to move her out to live on base with me and marry her; God Damn it! But you made damn sure that didn't happen, didn't you?!" John Luke yells, getting up in Daddy's face.

Shit! This is getting heated.

Seth steps in between the two of them, "Guys, let's not do this. Dylan, I'm sorry, but this is one fight you are going to lose. These kids wanted to be together, and we all had a hand in keeping them from it without realizing it. We are all at fault here."

Daddy's face drops.

Momma approaches John Luke, placing her hand on his arm, "You were going to ask Georgia to marry you, buddy?"

He looks down at her. "Yes, Mimi, I loved her. I still do!" he says as he grabs her arms gently.

Momma covers her face with her hands. "Dylan, I can't believe you did this again. I just can't handle this!"

Daddy laces his fingers behind his neck and closes his eyes. "I f****d up, guys! I am so incredibly sorry. I wished I would have known about you two. I was honestly trying to protect Georgia, and I went about it the worst way possible. It's f****d up that my daughter had to lie to me like this. I'm so sorry, John Luke. I wish I could take it back. Now it's too late." He says apologetically.

"Too late? It's not too late. Scarlett already knows I'm her Daddy, and she had no problem with it. We all f****d up in some way. The only one that matters now is Scarlett. You and I have to work out our differences and get things squared away right now. Just so you are aware, Georgia and I are together, so you will have to learn to accept this. Can you do that, Dylan?" John Luke asks Daddy.

Daddy looks up at him in shock. "What?! Are you serious?"

"Yes, dead f*****g serious, Dylan! Is that an issue with you? Please explain why it's an issue that I want to be with the Mother of my child. I'm dying to hear it." John Luke demands.

"Yes, it is an issue because she is currently dating the f*****g senator of Mississipi's son, for Christ Sake!" Daddy barks.

John Luke looks at me in shock. "Is that the gay boyfriend, Georgia?"

Daddy looks over at me, confused, "Gay?! What the f**k are you talking about, gay?!"

"Listen, we don't know that he's gay," I say, defensively holding up my hands.

"Yes, he is. He's for sure gay. Shall I elaborate on why I think he is?" John Luke asks Daddy.

"Oh, please do!" Daddy asks, crossing his arms, waiting for an explanation.

"Nope, we are not going to elaborate on anything. Come on, guys. Let's not do this." I plead, stepping between the two of them.

John Luke sneers at Daddy. "It's because he doesn't even touch her. They have been together for six months, and he hasn't laid a finger on her. Do you mind explaining to me how any straight man can look at his gorgeous woman, who's nothing less than a Goddess over here, and not touch her?"

Momma busts out laughing. Daddy starts fuming and glares at her; she stops and bites her lip to keep the laughter from escaping. Daddy turns his attention back to John Luke. "Maybe it's because he is a gentleman who respects her." He chokes out.

I place my head in my hands. "Oh God, we are going there, aren't we?"

John Luke begins laughing hysterically. Seth and Brie cover their mouths to try to keep from laughing. "Did you realize your gorgeous daughter has only had s*x one time, and that was with me? Just one f*****g time! Not anymore! Not since I came into town. Do you get what I'm saying, Dylan? We had no problem picking up right where we left off. I couldn't wait a f*****g day to get my hands on her. There was no way I could resist that woman. That's because I am a straight, red-blooded male who's head over heels in love with your daughter! What can I say?" John Luke says with a snarky undertone.

Brie and Seth are bent over laughing hysterically. Seth cheers, "That's my boy! Woo!" Momma bites her lip to keep from laughing.

Daddy looks at me in shock. "I umm... I don't want to continue this conversation any longer. I can't have that mental picture in my brain right now without falling apart." He stutters.

"Great! I think that's a great idea." I respond uncomfortably and approach him, patting him on the shoulder.

"She is twenty-three years old, man! She isn't doing anything wrong. She's with me now, so you and I will have to try to work out our differences, man. I mean, fast!" John Luke demands.

"Well, what are you going to do about Mitch?" Daddy asks me.

I shrug. "I'm going to break up with him."

"God, I hope that doesn't come back to bite you in the ass. You know he has had a hand in getting your business where it is." Daddy reminds me.

"I know, Daddy, but I love John Luke; I always have. Mitch isn't right for me; John Luke is." I respond.

He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose while Momma places her hand over her heart and smiles warmly at me. John Luke pulls me into him and kisses the top of my head. I look over and notice Benny has his phone up recording us. "Benny, what are you doing?"

"Oh, this is great stuff. Please don't mind me!" he snickers.

Daddy walks over and jerks the phone out of his hand and whacks him upside his head playfully with a rolled-up newspaper. "Awww, come on, Dad!" he yells.

"No!" Daddy yells back at him, fighting back his laughter, and shoves Benny's phone into the pocket of his swim trunks. "Well, all I have to say is think about what you are doing. Mitch just called me and asked me for your hand in marriage. He's on his way home. He picked up a ring and everything to surprise you. So if he's gay, that is a pretty f****d up thing to do." Daddy says quietly.

"What??!!! You are f*****g joking?! Right? " I ask Daddy.

He shakes his head.

John Luke looks at me. "We will tell him together, Georgia. You aren't going to have to do this alone." He says with his grip tightened around my waist.

I loosen from John Luke's hold. "I just need a minute," I say, walking away from everyone. s**t! He was going to propose! Poor Mitch! This is out of nowhere. What do I do now? I don't want to hurt him. He's been so good to me, but I don't love him, not in that way. I love John Luke. I shake my head and begin pacing.

John Luke approaches me. "Georgia, are you having second thoughts about me? I need to know where you stand because I won't come between you two if he makes you happy." He insists.

"He is great. I mean, he's good to me and good to Scarlett, but you are right. There's something off between us. I don't love him in the way that I love you. I need to find out why he's proposing, and I think with you being there, it will only make things more difficult. Can you understand where I'm coming from?" I ask as I reach out and grab his hand.

He audibly sighs. "Sure. I get it. Just call me when it's over."

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. "I love you, John Luke."

"I love you, baby," He says as he pulls me into him.

"Okay, I'm going to pick Scarlett up at your parent's house and head to my apartment. Mitch will meet me there when he comes into town, and I'll find out what is going on. I'll tell him everything and call you and let you know what happened." I tell him reassuringly.

I walk over to everyone and let them know the plan; they all pile in my SUV.

Daddy pulls me aside before I hop in the SUV. "Do what you think is best, princess. I got your back either way." He says.

I wrap my arms around his neck, "What is best is being with my child's Father. It's all I ever wanted anyway."

"Well, so be it." He says as he tightens his embrace.

"See you later, Daddy."

"Bye, princess. Again, I'm sorry for everything,"

"Me too." I nod, then climb into the SUV driver side and drive everyone back to Seth's house. I pick up Scarlett and return to my apartment to wait for Mitch's arrival.