Serial - Suddenly Daddy Part 59

It isn't long before the girls come up to join you.  Poppy cuddles in behind you while Claire sandwiches Jeremy with you.  The four of you all snuggling happily for a long and glorious bonding time.

There is no rush but eventually you all have to let go.  You and Claire share a shower while the kids clean up at the sink.  You all get dressed up properly.  You and Poppy wear jeans and collared cotton shirts.  You share a laugh at the near matching look of the pair of you.  Claire wears casual slacks and a thick white knitted sweater while Jeremy opts for a long elegant floral dress with a fine pink short sleeved blouse.  He proudly wears his scarf as well.  You inform him that he'd have to get changed if you went fishing or out for a hike or anything like that.  He nods his understanding.

The group of you clean the place up.  The main room had a post orgy funk to it but after some tidying a little hand washing the place was soon back to normal.  Better than normal, because your new family was here with you now.  Looking around at the oh so familiar cabin you realized that after last night and this morning you would never look at it the same again.  New memories had been etched into this well worn scene as indelibly as when your father taught you how to tie a fly at the small kitchen table over there or so many other unforgettable moments you had experienced here.

Whatever happened going forward with Claire and her kids this place would never be the same.  You would never be the same.

There is a joyful buoyant energy between you as you chat and start to wonder what else the group of you might do up here besides fuck each other.  You tell them that you'd take everyone to the ice cream shop in the village later that day but that you wanted to get outside for a bit too.  All of them are on board with whatever you wanted to do.

As happy as you all were there was a single cloud darkening the otherwise bright sunny time.  Poppy had put it off as long as she could but Claire would not be denied any longer.

Taking her daughter by the upper arms she stares into her eyes like only a mother can.  “Poppy, tell me what's going on.”

You step in behind your new daughter and rest a hand on her shoulder for support.  Jeremy falls quiet and takes a seat nearby.

Poppy slowly nods.  Reaching up she holds onto your hand for strength as she hesitantly tells her mother the truth.  The humiliating truth.  Every bit of it.  Even things she had left out to you the night before.

By the time she is done there are tears in her eyes and she is looking down at the floor from shame.  “I'm sorry Mom.  I really let ya down.  Didn't I?  I'm not the person...you thought I was.  I'm just another stupid teen girl getting knocked up.  Drinkin...doin drugs.  Sleepin around like a fuckin slut.”

“You're not a slut.”  Claire whispers.

Poppy keeps going as if she hadn't heard that.  “Like a nasty worthless fuckin slut!  I'm sorry Mom.  I'm so sorry!  I let you down!  Roger was right, all along.  I'm just no good.  You must be so disappointed!”

Fat tears fall from her eyes as she sobs.

Claire to her credit has nothing but love in her own tear filled eyes.  She takes her daughter's cheeks in her hands and gently brings Poppy's face up so they may look eye to eye.  Claire is smiling.  “Oh Poppy.  Don't you know?  You could never disappoint me.  Never.”

“Mom!”  Poppy cries out and throws her arms around Claire.  Burying her face in her mother's neck she lets lose her emotions once more.  Last night with you was bad, but nothing compared to now.  A flood of so many feeling being released at once wracks the poor girl's body as she clings to her mother and weeps.  

Claire hugs her.  She strokes Poppy's long blonde hair and starts to very subtly rock her side to side.  “Shhhh, it's okay my girl.  It's okay.”

“No it's not!”  Poppy moans.

“Sure it is.”  Claire assures her.  “You have a family that loves you.  That will be here for you, no matter what.  That will...make time for you.”  Claire swallows and nods, as if to herself, with a powerful determination.  “We are here for you my dear girl.  Whenever and however you need us.”

You step closer and take the two women into your arms.  Kissing Poppy's head you say softly.  “That's right Poppy.  You are not alone.  Not in this.  Not in anything.”

Jeremy had risen from his seat and now also joins the embrace.  He strokes his sister's back and whispers.  “We love you Poppy.  We love you.”

The three of you surround and embrace the crying teen.  Claire had said 'You could never disappoint me.'  It echoed exactly what your mother used to say to you even at your lowest times.  Until this very moment you never really understood.  You never believed just how true those words had been.  And how true they were now.  Now you did.  Now you knew what it truly meant to be a parent.

You and Jeremy give the girls one last big hug and a few more soothing words.  Then Claire leads her sobbing daughter to the next room so they could talk.  One on one, woman to woman, mother to daughter.  You suspect about the pregnancy, the partying, Claire's work schedule, and so much more.  They would probably be a while.

Jeremy sidles up next to you and wraps his arms around your waist.  His eyes follow his sister with gut wrenching worry in them.  Taking him around the shoulder you kiss the top of his head.

“She'll be okay sweetie.  We'll help her through it.”  You assure him.

He nods and says quietly.  “I know.  She's...she's tough.  She's a survivor.”

He rests his head on your shoulder as the pair of you watch the door to closest the bedroom close behind the two women.