Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
I look down at the sleeping beauty next to me, whose feet are awfully close to places I’d rather them not be. I cross my leg, giving myself some protection.
“We’ll talk about it later,” I tell him. “I’m proud of you, son. So damn proud.”
“Thanks, Dad. I love you.”
“Love you too, bud.”
“Should I call Mom and tell her?”
I nod, even though I want to be selfish. “Yeah, I’d call her. But wait until you get up for school. She’s probably sleeping.” Or doing things she doesn’t want her son to interrupt.
“All right. Talk to you tomorrow.”
After he hangs up, I sit there, with nothing but the TV for lighting. We muted the sound hours ago, neither of us caring because Mack was playing. Resigned, I scoop Amelie up and carry her to bed. She wakes, just as I lay her down.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, baby girl.”
“How come Noah calls you Dad?”
I brush her hair away from her face. “Because a long time ago, when he was younger than you, I was his dad.”
“What about Uncle Liam?”
I sit on the side of her bed and tell her the story, the kid friendly one where we’re all one big happy family.
“That’s sad.”
“It is, but then I met your mom and we had you and Mack, and I was happy.”
“Are you happy now?”
I nod, even though I’m far from it. “I am. Now go to sleep. I love you.”
“Love you, night.”
“Love you more than you’ll ever know.” I leave her door cracked a smidge and then head into the shower where I let the tears I’ve held back all night flow freely.
12
Spring morphs into summer and right before my eyes, Amelie’s almost done with school. She splits her time between my apartment and her mother’s house, and one night during the week, either I go over there for dinner or Aubrey comes over here for family dinner. I think it’s important to show Amelie that her parents are still there for her, regardless of our marital situation.
Aubrey and I are cordial. I don’t ask about her day, and she doesn’t ask about mine. We don’t really talk unless it’s about the kids because there isn’t anything to talk about. She still hasn’t told the kids she’s getting married, not that she’s told me either, but at some point, she may want to drop the bomb.
I’ve asked to meet the new boyfriend a few times, but Aubrey never commits to anything. Deep down, I worry. As a father, I want to know who is going to be around my kids. Raising them when I’m not around. Now I know how Liam felt when he came back and saw I was raising Noah. We weren’t exactly friends in high school, and it must have been a kick in the gut to see his rival playing father figure. I get it now. I don’t want a stranger raising my kids either, simply because they’re not me. Honestly, I’d like to sit down, see where he stands on some important issues, and go from there. I don’t expect us to like each other. Hell, I don’t hate him like I should mostly because I have a feeling Aubrey didn’t tell him she’s married. Every time I think about what’s happened, it makes me wonder what else she’s hidden from me.
It's sad to think my marriage ended on lies. Lies upon lies. I can’t trust a damn thing that comes out of her mouth. Shortly after our first meeting with the mediator, she told me the house needed a new dishwasher, dishes, towels, really trivial things. Aubrey said because Amelie used them, I needed to buy them. At first, I thought I was going to be on the hook, because yes, Amelie does use those things, but my attorney said no. The landlord could cover the cost of the new dishwasher, if they chose, but Aubrey had to fork over her share as well.
For a while I expected things to get messy, but thankfully they haven’t. When Amelie’s here, we have a great routine. Talisa has started coming over during the week. She cleans, does the laundry, and makes sure the refrigerator is stocked. At times, she cooks, which I fully appreciate. Her food alone is worth what I pay her.
Each day, I go to work, treat my patients with a smile, and count the days until I head back to Beaumont. Mack insists that I stay here for Amelie, but I’m not sure. Besides the fact that my son is living with friends, I miss my practice, my friends, the life I had in Beaumont. Amelie knows I want to leave, but when she’s here, we don’t talk about it. When all of this started, I said I’d come and get them settled. Somehow Aubrey weaseled more time out of me. I could’ve told her no, but I wasn’t staying for her.