Serial - Suddenly Daddy Part 38

The next hour of driving consists of a lot more open honest discussion about the kids childhood trauma.  You and Claire wanted to give the twins an opportunity to once and for all get this all out in the open.  You had already heard the worst of Roger's actions but as you keep the kids talking you learn that beyond the sick shit he did with Poppy and the rare occasions of physical abuse on Jeremy it was actually his constant verbal berating and belittling of them that seemed to do the most emotional damage.

It takes a lot for you to keep your temper from flaring up.  You kept wanting to swear and rant and shout and turn the truck around and go find Roger.  But that wouldn't have helped anything right now.  You had to be a pillar of strength for them, your needs were less important right now.  Despite your anger you keep your tone steady and soothing.  You stay calm, you offer your wisdom and some comforting words, and you let them know that you loved them and supported them.  This fatherhood stuff was fucking hard!

Claire was torn up.  She was quiet for long stretches.  Obviously reflecting on some of her life choices.  She'd thrown herself completely into her career and had become a fabulously successful lawyer, but at what cost?  You knew beyond all doubt she loved her kids more than anything.  You knew she never would have knowingly let any of this pass had she known about it.  You knew she must be planning what to do next about her ex-husband.  These were difficult issues to grapple with.  You can't imagine the pain and regret she is feeling after hearing all that.

Thankfully, after many warm sentiments and a few more tears, the mood in the truck begins to lighten up once more.  If anything it had never been better between the four of you.  Poppy even stopped her teasing for a while.  It felt like a fresh new bond had developed between you all, with you now fully a part of it.  As the drive continues the mood becomes downright upbeat.  The kids were giggly.  You and Claire laughing and full of good humor.  And despite their initial protests some old country music is eventually played and singalongs happen.  You discover that Poppy had a hell of a voice.  All in all the drive after the dark secrets and subsequent discussion was just good wholesome family fun.

As you go the roads become smaller and smaller.  What started as a big divided highway makes way to a connected four lane which then becomes your basic two lane road.  You pass through the tiny resort town situated on the lake shore about a half hour from your family cabin.  It was the nearest bit of civilization out here.  As you drive through it so many memories from your childhood come flooding back.  The docks, the beach, the ice cream shop, the cute little houses.  So many good times out here.  To your new family this was all new and exciting.  Jeremy marvels at a perching pelican, amazed at the size of the thing.  They are peering through the windows and craning their necks to see things as you passed them.  You were happy to be sharing this with them.

It was nearing dark now, your headlights the dominant light source as you leave the village and head out into the back country roads.  It was hilly out here and well wooded.  The gravel road was just barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other, though you don't actually meet anyone coming the other way.  Along the road there are occasional driveways leading to other cabins.  With the Autumn colored trees and bushes thick on either side of the road only a few of these were visible from the road and even fewer actually had any lights on.  It would be pretty deserted up here this time of year.  It really felt like you were in the middle of nowhere.  You warn them that cell coverage would be near nonexistent once you got to the cabin and to check or send any messages or anything now.  No one bothers.

As the natural light of evening fully wanes into true darkness you finally see your turn up ahead.  You pull the truck into the driveway and proceed down the thin winding trail.  You make the final turn and your headlights swing to illuminate the humble little cabin.

It sat at the top of a steep slope, a wooden deck-balcony ran around three sides of the building.  The balcony part overhanging the drop.  You couldn't tell in the dark but when it was light out you could just see the lake through the treetops from the balcony.  The cabin itself was a rust red with pine green trim.  The door and window frames were white.  It was squat square building with a gable roof.

“Ah, home sweet home.”  You say as you pull the truck up and put it into park.

In the reflected glow of the headlights you can just make out their faces, the kids had both leaned up between you and Claire to look out the windshield.

“That's it!?”  Poppy exclaims.

“It's...cute.”  Claire says.  Jeremy just smiles.

“Come on.  I'll give you the grand tour.”  You say as you shut off the engine.

You dig a flashlight out from under your seat and click it on.  The four of you get out of the truck and make your way to the cabin.  The fresh night air was cool and damp.

You hear Jeremy gasp behind you.  “Oh!  Look at the stars!”

You look around very quickly just to make sure everything was in good shape.  Looked to be.  You step up onto the deck and pull out the keys to unlock the door.  It swings open slowly with a long creeeeeak.  Reaching in you flick on the light switch.  The kitchen light comes on.

“Hey!  We still have power.  Bonus!”  You chuckle.

“Bonus?”  Claire asks.

“It goes out a lot, takes forever for them to fix the lines too.”  You reply.  You then step in and quickly turn to face your family as they enter.  They enter in, looking left and right, checking the place out like they were the first astronauts setting foot on Mars.

The place was cozy.  The main area had a small functional kitchen and a connected larger common area with a futon and two chairs around a sturdy wooden coffee table.  A brick fireplace sat near the furniture.  You remembered well helping to put that in.  Off of this area was two small bedrooms, each with two basic cots, and a basic bathroom with sink, toilet, and a cramped stand up shower.  The decor was something out of the 80's.  Wood paneling walls and a white patterned linoleum floor.  Their reactions were a mixture of reluctance and curiosity.

“Welcome to the Chateau Ted.  Make yourselves at home, I'll go grab our stuff.”

Before you leave you turn on the faucet in the sink.  It groans in protest before sputtering to life.  Poppy and Claire give each other an uncertain look.  Eventually a steady stream of water starts to flow and you just leave it to run for a while.  You say over your shoulder as you head out the door.  “Don't worry, we brought drinking water.  That's just for showering and cleaning up and stuff.  It's actually fine, though I'd boil it first if you did want to drink it.”  Claire and Poppy again share a worried look.  With that you leave them to take in their rustic surroundings.

As you pull some of the bags from the back of the truck you are surprised to hear approaching footsteps.  It is the twins, they had come out to help.

“I coulda gotten this.”  You say.

They just shake their heads and grab some bags to carry back in.  After two trips you had everything in the cabin.  You notice Claire still had her jacket on and was holding her arms to her.  It was cool in here.  “I'll grab some wood.”  You state.

You see Jeremy get a worried look on his face as he looks down at his pretty dress and fine blue scarf.  Those weren't clothes for carrying wood.  You just smile at him.  “Don't worry my boy.  Poppy and I have this.”

Poppy nods and follows you out toward the woodshed.  You unlock it then get her to hold the flashlight as you put together a couple good armloads of wood.

“Daddy.”  Poppy says.

“Yes Poppy?”

She giggles.  “I love how you already respond to that.  So natural.”  She is quiet a moment.  You couldn't see her behind the glare of the flashlight.  “I'm...I'm glad we met you Ted.  It's nice...it's nice to have a real Daddy, ya know?”

You smile.  “Thanks kid.  I'll do my best for ya.”

“I know you will.”  She replies.  “Um...that shit about...you know.”

“I know.”

“Don't let that weird things out between us, okay?  That man was never my Daddy.  Jeremy and I used to call him Roger even back then.  I just...I just didn't want things to get weird if we...”  She giggles again.  “...do it again.”

You shake your head with a chuckle.  “Jesus you guys.  Always comes back to the sex, doesn't it?”

She lets out a loud laugh.  “Not ALWAYS...ha ha ha....but usually!  Ha ha ha!”

You and Poppy each take a load of wood and head back to the cabin, shoulder to shoulder and laughing along the way.  You enter to see Jeremy already unpacking the food supplies into the kitchen and Claire peering out the main room window that looked out onto the deck.  Wouldn't be much to see this time of night.  You notice there was a bottle of wine already open to breath on the kitchen counter.  You swing the door closed behind you with your foot and you and Poppy deposit the cut wood and kindling beside the fire place.  You then go to turn off the water now that it had run some to clear out the lines.

Jeremy looks over his shoulder and asks.  “Hey, there are two rooms.  I think we should split up boys and girls.”

Poppy grins a wicked little smile.  “Sounds good to me.  We can pull the cots together and snuggle to keep each other warm Mommy.”  She teases, her tone dripping with forbidden insinuation.  She slinks playfully toward her mother, coming in from behind she slides her hands around the older woman's waist and kisses the back of her neck.  You were starting to wonder if Poppy had agreed to this trip partly to get some quiet time with her Mom.  It was fucking weird but you wouldn't put it past her.

Claire spins, blushes again, and waves her daughter away.  “Stop that Poppy!  Oh my god!”

Poppy giggles and prances lightly away toward the kitchen.  “Okay, okay.  Hey.  Let me pour you a glass of wine Mom.”

Claire shakes her head at her daughter's brash come on then turns back to you and says.  “I just assumed we'd split up parents and kids.  But if you want to sleep with Jeremy tonight that would be fine with me.”  Her crooked grin toward you tells a story in itself.  Poppy wasn't the only one thinking with her pussy right now.  “What do you think Ted?”

You look around to see them all awaiting your answer.