The Return Of His Ex Wife
Chapter 36: Announcement

Chapter 36: Announcement

"Relax, if it was an emergency, she would have called me too. We exchanged numbers already." She shrugged. The driver, a slender lady and friend to Sofia cut in.

"Um, while I was with both phones, this same Tara called you too. Fifteen times." She announced.

"What! Fifteen times!!! Damn, I think there’s an emergency. Hurry up, Maya!"

I could feel my insides churning now, like fire was burning inside me trying to escape. This kind of anxiety was tormenting. What could have happened? I hoped she was good.

"It’s okay, I’m sure it’s okay." Sofia kept on muttering, but I tried to actually remain calm. I tried so hard until we arrived at the hotel.

In a quick pace, I hurried to the dinning hall where we’d met before. Sofia had been able to call her friend who said everyone were gathered at the hall. Tara had not picked my calls all through the drive back to the hotel, which only terrified me more. Was Richard okay?

As we arrived in the hall, my eyes darted quickly to find Tara and Richard. The two little kids and their mother, Ali were standing by a corner just observing. Same with Sofia’s friend. I turned towards where they were staring at and found Richard resting his head on Ella on a couch. Then Tara standing beside them. As soon as her eyes found me, she rushed towards me with a frightening frown.

Her eyes were teary already as she made her way over to me. "Hey are you okay? I’m sorry I missed your calls—"

"How dare you act like you’re the father of my son?" She hisses out, the depth of her words cutting through me like a bullet fired straight to my heart.

I turned to see that Richard was safe and fine, then grabbed Tara’s hand and took her outside. "Seriously? Right in the presence of everyone?" I spilled out as we walked away from the room but she snatched her hand from me before we walked past a few steps.

"I’m just saying the truth, Arlo. How dare you act like you’re his dad? I don’t want him mixing with Ali and her kids, I just don’t want that at all!"

"Hey, what happened back then? Richard is alright, isn’t he? I’d like you to start talking and not act all rude with me."

"Do I really have to spell it out to you? I don’t like you meddling in my personal affairs." Tara warned in such a cold voice that it frightened me.

"Hi I’m so sorry for the confusion. It’s all my fault." Ali came out to meet us with a sad expression on her face.

"Who cares what you have to say, after you nearly killed my son!" Tara barked out.

"What happened, Ali?" I focused my attention on Ali.

"I wouldn’t have called Richard to join my kids to play if I knew you hadn’t spoken to her yet. I wouldn’t have trespassed, Tara. Tell her, Arlo?"

"You shouldn’t have given her a go ahead! Why didn’t you speak to me first??" Tara yelled at me.

"Tara, I didn’t—it skipped my mind. Honestly—" I tried to explain to her but she kept yelling. This was so out of character from her, and I wondered why she kept hating on me all this while now. Ever since she introduced me to her brother!

Ella and some other people came forward probably as Tara kept yelling and raising her voice. "Hey Tara, it’s all cool. Richard is alright now. Thank goodness you had his allergic reaction antidote. It happens from time to time but he really is all better now." Ella kept on saying.

Even Richard was watching his mother and he didn’t look too happy. His eyes met with mine and I could feel a silent message being passed through to me. He wanted it all to stop. I needed to try and calm Tara down.

Despite feeling all embarrassed, I tried to make her calmer. If only she would come with me to a more private place and rage out her anger on me how she liked.

"Tara, let’s talk privately should we? Come on," I still tried to speak calmly but Tara didn’t seem relaxed at all. "Why wouldn’t you want your own family to get close to Richard!" I regretted the way I had spoken in the presence of everyone but I needed to know.

"It’s none of your business! You really need to stay on your own and leave me to my business. Who do you think you are, really? I wish you would just learn to maintain boundaries and respect me, Arlo. You should learn to respect me!"

"Oh, you mean the same way you respected me by using me to meet your brother? You should have told me the main reason you would be coming to this gathering in the first place so don’t come on here and preach to me about respect." I poured out my mind, wishing that maybe I could have been a bit kinder. But Tara was just so stubborn right now!

She threw her head back and roared out in a hysterical laughter. "I am really disgusted by you right now. So that’s it, you’re still angry at me even how I begged you and apologized!"

"I’m not," I said defensively. "Look, I’m sorry. I really wish we shouldn’t do this in front of Richard. I have been going through a lot, but I always back you up and support you. And still, it’s like you don’t even appreciate me at all."

"We barely know each other, and yet here you are already starting to act like my god? Here’s the thing with you men, always so full of yourselves! You’re all the same."

"I am not like your ex husband. I’ll never be him. I love Richard more than anything, and you know that so there’s no reason for you to paint me all bad right now."

"Here you go again, acting like you are something more. Just stop already."

I frowned, "stop what?"

"Stop acting like you’re his goddamn father because you’ll never be. You even got him a gift this morning, making me seem like a bad mom. Is it a competition to you now? You’re just here in my life on a contract so why are you trying to affect my life on a personal level. You’re not qualified, don’t you understand?"

I hadn’t even noticed but at this point, Ella and the rest had turned to leave, probably they were back in the hall. This was getting too much for Richard to hear. At least I was glad he wasn’t around to see me at my lowest, arguing with his mother. Lord knows I didn’t want any of this to happen!

"Contract? Tara, I really sacrifice my time and attention for you because I care! I really do care, for you, for Richard, but you take me for granted."

"But I never even asked for any of this! So stop being dramatic and just grow up already. You’ll never get that role in Richard’s life, so what’s the point anyway??"

With this, something in me died, or should I say it got awakened. Because instantly, it seemed like this strange entity got a hold of me and possessed me.

"Oh yea? You’re right. I really will never be his father." Then before I knew it, my feet were dragging me back into the hall. "Richard?" I found myself calling. Tara was yelling my name behind, hurrying to see what would happen.

"What are you doing?" I heard her call being me but I didn’t listen.

Everyone was still gathered but I was after Richard. "Oh here you are. Your mother and I have a huge announcement to make!" I said and saw how Richard glared at me fixing such interested look at me.

"Arlo. What are you doing?" Tara called behind me again. "That’s enough, just leave already."

"I actually have an announcement to make to you, so listen carefully Richard." All eyes were fixated on me now, waiting to hear what I would say next.

"Really? What do you want to say to me?" Richard blinked, sitting up to face me better.

"There’s a party coming right up. Probably in a week’s time you see. Mummy will tell you more about it, but here’s the fun part. You’re invited!" I said to him. When I turned to see Tara, she still had this fixed frown shot at me. I decided that I didn’t care anymore. What was the point of it all anyway?

"The second fun part is this." I pronounced carefully. And loudly. "Your real dad will be there, Tara will introduce him to you herself! Isn’t that good news??" A loud roar broke lose as soon as I spoke.

Amidst the roar of murmurs, Tara screamed out, immediately tears began falling from her eyes. "No!" But Richard didn’t seem to have heard. His eyes were still fixated on mine.

"Really? Is that true?" He turned to face his mother. "Is this true mommy?"

By this time, Tara was shivering with fear and crying profusely. I knew I would regret this decision; I already did. But I didn’t think I could take anything back now. If this was what she really thought, then maybe it was right for Richard to meet his dad already!