Say It Ain't So

moved close to Violet.

"There is a baby, a child? We have a child? Oh Violet, tell me that's not true. Tell me that all these years you have not kept this from me? Tell me that when I sent letters, letters I BEGGED you to respond to, you didn't at least try to respond, try to tell me about ...him? Is it a him or her? God, in heaven, after my own father....you knew how I felt being left by someone...you knew how I swore I'd never abandon a soul and now this?"

His head began to spin. He leaned on the bar and focused on breathing. As tears fell to the wood below his hands he realized he was crying.

"Tell me, Violet," he said, his voice now barely a whisper....