Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Where are they? While she doesn’t have him most days, when it comes to bedtime, she’s been firm on his routine. A routine that has him in his bed by seven and asleep by eight.
Immediately, I pick up my phone and call her.
She doesn’t answer.
I call again.
Another set of rings ignored and voicemail picking up.
When she first asked me to share location with her, I didn’t want to. Not because I want to keep my location from her, but because I didn’t feel like it was necessary. Why do we need to track each other? I’m not going to do anything to risk our marriage, and I know she won’t either.
Right now, I’m thankful for her suggestion we do it.
I look at the little green and blue map on my phone trying to study it narrowing down where she is. If someone had been in the house with me right this moment, they would see me with my mouth literally hanging open. This is not my reality.
My wife who is the most unsocial person I’ve ever met is at a local bar. One right up the road. Not thinking clearly and wanting to get to Hollis, I grab her car keys watching the dot on the map unmoving. There is no way I’m going to leave my son in a bar. And I don’t want him being taken all over town with God knows who driving them since Anna clearly didn’t take herself out of here.
While I prefer my bike, if Hollis is with her, I need the car seat to get him home. My son will not spend his evenings at a bar. What she does for herself, while I don’t think a married woman should frequent a bar in the middle of the night, alone, I won’t argue with her. What she won’t do though is have my son out with her on these escapades. My thoughts are racing as I get in her car and adjust the seat to take off.
I don’t think as I drive. There is only one focus for me and it’s my son.
Pulling into the dive bar, there are three cars in the parking lot. It’s a small building made out of cement blocks that have been painted Caribbean blue with a mural of the sea on the outside wall. It’s not a popular hangout like some of the bars for tourists, but rather a local spot. I walk in on a mission. My eyes focused on the bar, I see my target and nothing else. As I approach, she pats the man beside her on the lap.
“Anna,” I greet fighting back a growl.
“Scott, meet my husband, Dillon,” she introduces me to her new friend. “Apparently, he cares to find me after all,” she laughs, “I guess my bet was wrong. Next round on me, pal.”
It’s clear she is fucking wasted. I don’t like fighting with sober Anna, drunk Anna is a whole different beast.
“Anna,” I repeat.
She looks to me and her eyes are void of anything. “That’s the name my mother gave me, Dillon.”
“Where is Hollis?”
She turns to the man beside her, “ahhh, there it is Scott. He wants to know where his son is. I don’t know why he’s even asking me. He’s replaced me with his gang and all their women. It’s a like a harem of barflies waiting for any of the guys to give them a second glance.” She glares at me, “Where else should I put the spawn of the biker but at the biker bitch’s house.”
She’s drunk and I know better than to engage her in this state. There is no doubt she will escalate this and soon she will put her hands on me. It’s happened before and I learned, don’t engage her when she’s been drinking. It doesn’t go well. Turning to walk away, she jumps off the stool, grabbing me. I spin around to look at her, but don’t speak.
She glares at me with her lips pursed together tightly. “Running off to get him, are ya?”
“Yeah, I am. It’s not Vida’s place to have our son overnight.”
She laughs, “oh now you want to be an upstanding citizen. Hollis isn’t with Vida. He’s with the daughter. He went happily to his Zizi.” Her voice is laced in disdain.
How can she be hateful to the women who have stepped up for her? I don’t understand any of her thoughts or actions since having Hollis.
“It’s not her place, Anna. You’re his mother, you should try being that for him.”
I watch in slow motion as she pulls her hand back and swings slapping me in the left cheek. I take the hit and don’t bunch. Gritting my teeth, I remain in place not giving into her physical attack.
“You fucking bastard. You think you’re fit to be a dad. You’re in a fucking gang. She’s part of that life. Go ahead, tell me how any court is going to give him to you.”