Prompt- I would love to read a prompt with Alexis and Micah meeting Alexis's father
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"Do you want grapes?" I asked Micah.
He nodded at me. I reached out, grabbing the grapes and putting them into the basket on my arm. I reached down and held Micah's hand as we walked over to the next aisle.
I had brought Micah shopping with me since Jonas was over at Riley's right now. I figured I'd buy us groceries and then make dinner so it'd be ready when he got home.
I lifted Micah into my free arm. He nuzzled against my shoulder comfortably, looking at the food in the aisle.
"Go ahead and pick out a cereal," I said. "It'll be your breakfast in the morning."
Micah carefully eyed the cereal. "That one!" he said, pointing. "Please!"
I reached for the box, setting it into the basket. I turned to grab cereal for me and Jonas, and froze.
"Alexis," dad said, clearing his throat, looking uncomfortable.
"Mr. Beirne," I said.
"Beirne?" Micah said in confusion. He knew that was my last name. He looked between me and dad, registering our similar appearances.
Dad stared at Micah in shock. "How...how old is he?"
"Six," I said. I watched as dad did the mental math. I was 22. Micah was 6. That meant I was 16 when Micah was born.
"Is he yours?" dad asked, face paling.
"Not biologically," I said. I felt myself shutting down, retreating away into the safety of numbness. "His father abandoned him. How awful, right?"
Dad winced. His face hardened, steeling himself against the denial of the decision to disown his son.
"You shouldn't be raising a child," dad said.
Micah looked afraid. He grabbed at my shirt. "Alexis," he whimpered.
I set the basket down and hugged Micah to myself, looking at my dad with a blank stare, no emotion on my face. He had no right to tell me what I should or shouldn't be doing. He had given up that right when he gave up his son.
"I am raising Micah," I said. "My boyfriend and I are raising him together."
Dad's lip curled at the word boyfriend. "You're 22 and with another man. That's not the kind of environment a child should be in."
"An environment he shouldn't be in is one where he's in a home where he's not loved," I said.
"Alexis." Micah reached up, pressing his hand against my cheek, eyes scared. "You don't look like you!"
I knew what he meant. I knew my withdrawal was scaring him. But I couldn't force myself out of it. I felt trapped, cornered.
"You can't afford to raise a child!" dad said.
"We manage," I said. I felt myself drowning faster and faster into a numb state.
"It's wrong!" dad said.
"Stop it!" Micah said, his voice a combination of frantic and terrified. "Stop being mean to Alexis! You're making him sad!" Micah hugged me, arms going around my neck. "Don't be sad, Alexis! You're nice to me!"
I looked down at Micah, focusing on him, trying to forget about my father. I slowly dragged myself back, forcing a smile for Micah.
"I'm not sad," I said. "I have nothing to be sad about."
"Alexis-" dad started.
"Micah and I have to get home. My boyfriend will be home soon," I said.
I picked up the basket of our stuff and turned my back on my dad, carrying Micah out of the aisle. I made sure we were down a few aisles before stopping to hug Micah tightly. He was the reason I didn't drown in that numb state.
"I love you Alexis," Micah said, nuzzling against me.
"I love you too, Micah," I said.
No, he wasn't biologically related to me. But I loved Micah and I'd do anything to raise him right and provide for him. I'd do anything to make sure he never felt threatened or unloved. And I knew Jonas would do the same. We weren't rich or experienced with raising kids, but that didn't mean we couldn't give Micah a good life. I would make sure Micah had the best life possible, feeling as loved as he possibly could.
