“I know this must be a terrible shock to you,” Jason said. “It must be such a big surprise.
I promise you, I was going to tell you all about it and introduce you in good time. I—” he waved a hand at Skylar, “we just needed some time to come to terms with this ourselves.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Jessica,” Skylar said gently.
“Jason has told me so much about you already, and I feel like I know you.”
“I don’t know you, Skylar,” Jessica said.
“This is unbelievable. Why did you never tell me you have a daughter?”
Jason’s face twisted in pain. “I never knew,” he said, “I, I—” he broke off again.
“I’m so ashamed.” He hung his head and couldn’t say more.
“Skylar, how old are you?” Jessica asked.
“I’m twenty-one,” she replied.
Jessica did the math in her head instantly.
“Twenty-one,” she repeated, “that means—” she broke off and looked at Jason. “That means we were already married when she was born,” she said.
Jason looked up, shaking his head.
“Jess, I am so, so sorry you had to find out like this.”
“Who is your mother, Skylar?” Jessica asked, ignoring Jason.
“Her name is Muriel,” she replied. “We live in the next state.
I insisted that she reveal to me one day who my father was, and I tracked him down.
That day is finally here. Jason has let me intern at his work so we can spend time together and see if we can make this work. I want to get to know my father and have him in my life.”
“It was at that national work conference, Jess,” Jason explained.
“Twenty-one years ago.
I am so sorry you had to find out like this. It was a one-night stand with a woman I met there.
I swear, just that one night.”
Jessica said nothing as she processed this information. “How many times have you cheated on me?” she asked Jason.
“I swear on my life, it was just that one time.
I’ve been so ashamed of myself ever since, but now I must face it.
And make it up to both of you. Skylar, I am not ashamed of you. You are my flesh and blood; I will do right by you.
Jessica, I’ll do whatever you want me to do to make this right.”
Jessica shook her head.
“This is too much for me to take in right now,” she said. “I don’t know what happens now.
I just don’t know.”
Dmitri came over to the table, topped up the empty wine glasses in front of Jason and Skylar, and placed one for Jessica. “Ma’am?” he offered, showing her the bottle of red wine in his hand.
“No, thank you,” Jessica said distractedly, deep in thought.
“Would you like to place your dinner order now, ma’am?” Dmitri asked.
“I’ll have what he’s having,” Jessica said, pointing at Jason’s plate.
“Certainly, ma’am,” Dmitri said and started walking away.
“Dmitri,” Jessica clarified, “I meant that literally; please bring it to me in a take-away box.”
“Ah, okay, I see, sure,” Dmitri said and removed the barely touched plate in front of Jason.
“I’ll see to it right away.”
“We’ll talk about it when you get home, Jason.
But I can’t be here right now. You can sleep in the spare room tonight,” Jessica said. “Skylar,” she continued, “I’m sorry we had to meet under these circumstances.
I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other, but please excuse me right now.”
“Of course,” Skylar said.
“I’m sorry, too. I hope we can be friends.”
Jessica nodded and stood up.
She met Dmitri halfway across the floor with the takeaway box. “Dmitri, I will be back to discuss what happened with my friend you didn’t find a seat for.
I’d hate to think that this restaurant discriminates against anyone for any reason,” she said.
Dimitri hung his head in shame.
“Madam, you have my word. From now on, I will make space for everyone and anyone,” he said.
Jessica nodded. “Good,” she said.
Climbing back into the cab, Jessica reached over the seat and handed Musa the takeaway box.
“I promised you dinner, Musa,” she said.
“Sorry about the presentation, but here it is. And if you ever go back to that restaurant, they will give you the best seat in the house.”
“Thank you, madam,” Musa said.
“Back home then?”
“Back home,” Jessica confirmed.
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