Chapter 101-Reunion

Elphie looked like she had been crying and the boys all looked upset.

“What’s wrong?” I asked my heart sinking fast since Finley was still unaccounted for. “What’s happened where’s Finley?” The feeling of dread was already settling over me just from the expressions on their faces.

“She’s fine mom.” Dax said. “She’s with Carter and Vicki.”

“What why and why are you here? Not that I’m not happy to see you but I thought you were in Bridgeport.”

“Was he here yesterday?” Elphie blurted out looking on the verge of tears again. “Is that why you were acting so weird?”

The accusation in her tone was mirrored on the five faces looking at me. Mulo. I thought as I closed my eyes preparing for the onslaught of angry questions. I knew instantly what or rather who was behind her question.

Why? Why did you tell them?

Because I wanted them to know it was my fault.

But it wasn’t your place to do that. I wanted to do it in my own way so they understood.

They understand.

What were you trying to accomplish by telling them instead of letting me. They hate me enough as it is.

I was taking your suggestion and trying to be a good man. Taking responsibility for what I have done.

 “Guys let’s go have a seat please. I’ll tell you everything.” I said letting out a slow exhale. Even when he attempted to be 'helpful' he made things harder for me.

“There’s nothing to tell. Where is he? Where’s our dad?” Dunham asked.

“Will you guys give me a chance to explain? Please.”

All five of them begrudgingly filed into the living room. I could feel the hostility rolling off them. I had no clue what to tell them and I wasn’t even sure they would listen to me any way.

“How long have you known?” Dax asked after taking a seat.

“For a little while now.”

“He’s been here hasn’t he?” Dunham inquired. "He was the strange man that Kylie talked about."

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner? Nevermind Mulo answered that. He doesn’t know us because of him.” Dax sounded hurt when he said that. I understood all too well the pain of that reality. “That doesn’t change the fact that he’s our dad. We are adults, you should have told us.”

“I’m sorry, I really am. I was trying to figure out the best way to tell you all and minimize the damage.”

“I guess some things never change with you huh Mom?” Dax said coolly."Only filling us in on things when you are forced to."

"That's not what, that's not how it is this time."

They all had the same look of anger and distrust. My relationship with the triplets was already rocky and this was only going to make it worse. I was only trying to protect them and still I had to face their anger. Mulo had done this, he was the reason they were robbed in the first place, yet I was the easier target. No matter how hard I tried I always seemed to be on the losing end. I couldn’t keep going through this, there was no way I could complete this crazy task. I headed into the hall to get my phone. I sent Marcus a text letting him know they were ready to see him. He responded almost instantly.

“He’ll be here shortly.” I said walking back into the living room. “I’m going to go fix dinner.”

“We’re not hungry.” Elton replied. It was the first time he’d spoken since they got home.

“Well I’m going to cook anyway.”

I heard the five of them talking, wondering what it was going to be like to see him. The triplets had only seen pictures but Dax and Dunham remembered him. They were telling the triplets about him when the doorbell rang. The talking stopped and I waited to see if one of them would answer but it seemed as if no one was moving. I wiped my hands on the towel, took a deep breath, then went to answer the door.

Marcus 

It seemed like forever before she answered the door. I could tell by the look on her face that the talk hadn’t gone well.

“Are you ok?” I asked softly. She just shook her head as she closed the door.  “Tell me what happened.”

“They’re waiting for you.” She said ignoring my request.

I was nervous as I followed her the short distance into the living room. Knowing I had children was one thing, but getting ready to actually meet them made it very real. The two older boys looked at Amari then at me. They looked like me, but I didn’t feel a ping of recognition. I was speechless and so were they. The triplets stood together. Each of the boys standing protectively on either side of their sister. I was now officially a father of five.

“Um that’s Dax.” Amari said being the first to break the silence. She pointed towards the one in the blue tshirt with dreads. “And that one is Dunham.” She continued pointed towards the young man with the shorter hair. “Elphie is easy since she’s the only girl. On her left is Elton and on her right is Edson.”

“Oh my God, Dad it’s really you.” The one she said was Dunham spoke first. He slowly walked towards me as if he were seeing a ghost before quickly wrapping his arms around me in a hug.

After that chaos erupted with a flurry of hugs and questions and I felt so out of place with it all. Overwhelmed didn’t even begin to describe the feelings and pressure. They wanted answers to questions I didn’t have. I saw the hurt look in the eyes of the older two when they really picked up on the fact I had only vague memories of them. The triplets asked more questions about my current life. They wanted to know what life was like in Italy, what I did if I travelled to other places. It was easier with them since we were meeting each other for the first time. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed before I finally noticed Amari was not in the room.

“Where did your mom go?”

“I dunno.” Dunham said with a shrug. For the first time I picked up on the hostility they all seemed to have towards her.

“She didn’t do anything wrong.” It took them a minute to figure out what I meant and how I knew what they were feeling. “This is just as confusing for her. Everything that has happened has been out of her control so cut her some slack. I may be fuzzy on some things, but I know she loves you guys. She needs you all; you shouldn’t be ganging up against her.”

“But she didn’t tell us.” Edson stated. “And she let us get close to him.”

The truth of the issue came through in that statement, at least for the triplets. They felt conflicted looking to Mulo as a father figure when he was the very person responsible for them not having me around. I remembered sharing those same feelings of anger and if I found it hard to understand as an adult, I could only imagine how hard it was for them. The twins however were just upset for being kept in the dark.

“Try not to be too hard on her.” I understood the frustration they were feeling over her not telling them everything. I had that same frustration.

“But she knew and didn’t say anything. She didn’t even tell us, he did. How can we not be mad at her? Aren’t you?” Elphie asked.

Now I understood why Amari looked so upset when I got here. That man had interfered again and his version was probably to color himself in a better light. I looked at the faces of my children and saw the sadness they had over this. Amari explained why she let him come back into her life, into their lives, but it didn’t make it excusable knowing all he had done.

“She was planning on telling you. When I got here yesterday, she was preparing to explain the situation; he just beat her to it. That was not his place. You have to understand; a few weeks ago I didn’t know any of you existed. She was only doing what she thought best to protect you from being hurt even more. No one blames themselves more about what’s happened than your mother. I’m not mad at her; this isn’t what she wanted for any of you, or herself.”

They all sat quietly digesting what I said to them. It felt odd giving a fatherly speech to children I didn’t really know, but it seemed natural as well.  

“I’ll go look for her.” Dunham said.

Amari

I listened to the chatter in the living room as I finished dinner then slipped upstairs to let them have their time. I was tired, tired of everything always having to be so hard. Days like this really made me consider provoking Marisol to the point of no return. I sat up and started wiping the tears from my face when I heard the light tapping on my door.

“Mom.” Dunham called as he poked his head in.

“What’s up Sweetie, you need something?”

I kept my back to him not wanting them to see me crying. I knew they probably knew I did, but I still tried to not do it in front of them. He closed the door behind him then walked over to take a seat next to me.

“Dinner smells good. Embry is getting better at it, but I do miss your cooking.”

“Well you guys are welcomed to come have dinner anytime.” I looked over and gave him a warm smile.

We sat in an uncomfortable silence. I could tell he had something he wanted to say but I wasn't going to rush him. This was hard for all of them, and they were the ones most affected by what happened to Marcus.

“We just wish you would have told us sooner.”

“I know. But with his lack of memory, I just thought it would be harder on you all. I wasn't trying to hide things, I was simply trying to minimize the damage. I'm sorry.”

“We know, but I guess you've always been the easy target." He glanced down for a moment as his own words sunk in. "We're sorry mom, we know this isn't easy on you either."

"It's ok son. We'll work through it." I replied.

"It is a little odd that he doesn’t really remember us. Do you think he will ever get it all back?”

“I don’t know.”

“What’s going to happen? With you two?”

“Nothing. He lives in Italy, and is getting married. I’m not part of the equation.”

“But don’t you still love him?”

“Honey what’s important is you kids having your father back.” I replied taking hold of his hand and giving it a small squeeze. “I want you guys to enjoy this and not worry about me.”

There was another quick knock at the door before Dax walked in carrying a plate.

“Man mom I’m so tempted to move back in right now.” He said as he shoveled another forkful into his mouth.

I laughed shaking my head recalling now their never ending appetites.  “Well guess we can convert the gym downstairs. No one has used it since you moved out.”

“Sweet someone to cook my meals and do my laundry. There’s no place like home.”

I smiled at my boys. They had been through the worst of it with me and it wasn’t easy but in the end, they were great kids. Life hadn’t been easy, but I loved all of my kids, even when they didn’t like me so much. Being a mother was probably the most thankless yet fulfilling job and I wouldn’t change that for anything.