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)
Her face softens only slightly, “what are you saying, Dillon?”
I look her straight in the eye without wavering, “I want a divorce.”
“What about Hollis?” she whispers.
“We can split custody for now. As long as you aren’t drinking around him. If you do that, then no, I can’t let him stay with you.”
“Fuck you, Dillon,” she spits out on to my shirt. “You will not take him from me. No court will let you, a fuckin’ gang member get that boy. Say what you want about how I parent, I’m not a thug!”
I shake my head fighting back the anger. “You don’t see it. You have your head so far up your ass, you can’t see it. I’m not in a fucking gang and I’m damn sure not a thug. I’m not a criminal. What I am is a motherfuckin’ Hellion through and through. When my world shattered, they picked me up. They have given me more opportunities to better my life, our lives than anyone. I won’t turn my back on the club, not for you, not for anyone. As for how a court will see things, I’m sure any judge would see the Hellions are my extended family. They are family to Hollis and always will be.”
“I guess we will soon find out. Since you’re leaving me and all.”
“Says the woman who asked for a contract marriage.” I throw back at her. Normally, I don’t engage the bullshit. For years, she has been the person pushing to get a rise from me. “Anna, I fucking tried. I loved you like I never loved anyone. Nothing I can do will make you happy. You don’t want a husband; you want a puppet. You pull the strings. Not anymore. I’m done.”
She stands in front of me staring unable to speak.
“We can co-parent like adults and find a way to navigate our new normal. That’s what I want, Anna. I want to find a steady space to be in with you for our son.”
“You’re a Hellion, blah, blah, blah. You have family, yada, yada, yada. You don’t understand commitment. Shit got hard a long fucking time ago, baby, and your ass wasn’t here. I told you what we need to do. You can get on board with the contract, or you can force my hand to do what I have to for my son.”
“I’ve wasted enough time sharing air with you today. This is it. Tomorrow, I’m out.”
I don’t get to say another word as she stomps past me and out the front door.
The moment the door clicks closed I find myself filled with relief I have never had before.
Yes, I’m done. I’ll find a new way of life for me and for my son and it won’t be on her terms.
SEVEN
MARITZA
“H is for Hollis,” I chant sitting with him at the small table I have set up in the office for my little buddy. “I is for ice cream,” we sing together. He knows the alphabet, but this song is something we have done for so long now, I don’t really want to see it stop until he’s ready.
It’s amazing to watch him grow and learn. He’s writing some now, learning how to put the letters we sing to paper. Sight words are hung throughout my office and my home as a way to build early reading skills. I don’t have him much at bedtime so I don’t get to read stories to him like I would like, but I know Dillon does if he’s home and Anna isn’t. I know Anna reads to him some at night, just not consistently. Although, to be frank, she isn’t big on anything being consistent.
While childcare has never been on my radar as far as a career or even a job to get by, I enjoy the time I have with this little man. Hollis is my sidekick. If I am honest with myself, I don’t know if I could have a day without seeing him. In the beginning, it was a thing to help Dillon and Anna. It has evolved as time passes. We have a special bond. I genuinely love him like family. Now, he is a part of my world.
He has puked on me, pooped on me, pulled my hair, cried on my shoulder, and kept me up at night. It’s not all the hard stuff. He has brought me more joy than I ever imagined. My happiness comes in everything he does now. Even though he’s not mine biologically, he is a very special piece of my heart. Watching him grow from this baby needing bottles, diapers, and constant attention, to a toddler walking, talking, jumping, and playing I have loved every second of it. Now we are in this milestone of looking ahead to school and I have tried to become immersive in educating him along the way. My parents did this with us as little ones, everything can be an opportunity to teach if you try. Currently, it’s finding ways to teach him the alphabet. Every season of his growth only amazes me more.