I searched up and down the isles for the food that Dylan, Jennifer, and myself would need with Dylan joyfully riding along. I caught notice of a familiar face and she had noticed me as well and began pushing her cart full of groceries towards me.
"Sandra dear, it's so good to see you again," the woman announced.
"It's good to see you too Mrs. Hartnett," I replied. "And who would this little guy be?" She tickled Dylan's stomach.
"His name's Dylan," I informed.
"Dylan what?" She pondered.
"Dylan Joshua," I replied.
"Well it's nice to meet you Dylan," She shook his tiny palm and brought her gaze up to meet mine, "So what would his last name be?"
A wave of panic came over me as I noticed she had taken notice of the fact that I didn't have a wedding ring.
"Um...his last name is...uh..." I stuttered.
Just say it! I screamed in my head.
"His last name's Hartnett," I blurted out.
Mrs. Hartnett's smile dispersed and confusion and shock becam apparent on her face.
"Is he Josh's?" She whispered.
I nodded my head to show her that Dylan's other half comes from Josh and swallowed a lump in my throat to keep from releasing the tears building up behind my eyes. She quickly brought her hands to meet her mouth and dropped the box of cereal she was holding.
"So I'm a grandma," She said in amazement, "Does Josh know about him?"
"No, I didn't even know I was pregnant until three months after we broke up and then it became impossible to contact him because of his career," I explained.
"You could have given me a call," She commented.
"I lost your number and then you moved and became unlisted," I added.
"Oh sweetie," She embraced me in a hug and pulled away to look at me, tears lightly streaming down her face.
"He knows Josh is his dad too," I blurted out.
"How?" She questioned.
"About an hour ago we were watching T.V. and a preview for Pearl Harbor came on and he pointed and screamed 'Dadda!' when Josh came on the screen," I explained.
"I've got an idea," Mrs. Hartnett stated, "Why don't you come with Mr. Hartnett and myself to the Pearl Harbor premiere?"
"I don't know," I said unsure, "How would I get in?"
"We have some passes since Josh's siblings are busy with school and stuff and can't afford to miss anything to go down to Hawaii," She informed.
"I can't afford to go to Hawaii!" I exclaimed.
"We have all expense paid trip," She informed once again.
"Just let me think aobut it k?" I replied.
"Okay just give me a call in a few days and let me know," She handed me a card with her number on it and continued her shopping.
I shoved the card in my back pocket and headed for the check stand. All the way home I thought of reasons why I should and shouldn't go. I reached the four bedroom house I shared with Jennifer and unpacked everything into the kitchen. I froze when I was about to put a box of Lucky Charms in the cabinet. I thought back to the day Josh and I said our goodbyes to our relationship. My thoughts raced forward to the present and the decision I had to make.
Chapter 2
Chapter 4
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