page71 (1/1)

“It’s beautiful I love all the Magnolia trees” I gazed up at the waxy leaves and huge white flowers

“They’re a bitch to clean up in the fall, though” Kyle took a sip of his beer He was silent for a fewyour help this evening with Katie It felt like what a fahtful I didn’t rush to speak; it sees he wanted to say “When Josie told nant, I freaked out”

“That’s an understandable reaction,” I told him

He continued to look out at the trees and flowers “We hadn’t been together for months We had sex one time after we broke up It was that one time that led to Katie” He drew in a deep breath “I didn’t want to be a dad I’et an abortion We weren’t together, and it was obvious Josie hoped having a kid wouldused as a reason to stay together”

“Do you think she got pregnant to trap you?” I felt o stiff Not because I didn’t believe Josie was capable of it, but I re accused of that er still resonated inside me after all this time

“I think Josie hoped I’d want to play happy family with her I think it was an accident, but one she illing to capitalize on” His lips pulled down, and his face darkened “When Ito happen, she didn’t take it well, but after a while, she seemed to accept it, and we tried to at least reether”

“That was very mature of the two of you,” I conceded

“I stupidly had her nancy By that point, I had invested in being a dad and wanted to be around my kid all the time Not just weekends and holidays Josie understood that She wanted me involved in every way possible We were a team”

“What changed?” I asked hiet this off his chest It appeared to weigh heavily on him

“After Katie was born, Josie was diagnosed with postpartuet out of bed Katie would cry in her crib, and Josie wouldn’t do anything It got to a point where I couldn’t leave her alone with Katie because I didn’t trust her not to do so in my absence”

I gasped “That’s awful, Kyle I can’t ih”

“I tried to get her help, but she was resistant This went on forBut I didn’t want to push Josie My mom tried to help her out as much as she could because Josie’s mom was in Florida, and they had a shitty relationship anyway” He took another long drink frolass-topped table “Then, one day I caone All her clothes, everything I tried calling her, but her phone was off It stayed off for teeks, and then she finally called one to Florida to stay with her mother She said she wasn’t cut out to be a mom That ere better off without her here”

“Jesus,” I breathed, not knohat to say

“I tried to talk her into coether if she caain But even that didn’t work She hated the idea of being Katie’s mother much more than she wanted to be my partner” His hands balled into fists in his lap “And now she decides she wants Katie after all Like she’s a fucking couch or a pair of boots that she was iffy on, but now thinks will look great I hate her, Whit I really, really hate her And I shouldn’t Because she’s Katie’s ative feelings for the person who gave hter But God, it’s hard not to be consumed by it”

He looked so destroyed So tired and overwhelmed I wanted to put my arms around him I wanted to kiss and hold him and make this better for him But I wasn’t sure I should So, I offered hi I could Empathy

“I understand that kind of hatred It ly, too, if you let it” Speaking the words aloud was difficult, but needed