Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“Let him stay on the compound. I’ll be there. I’ll watch out for him and when I can’t, Collin will. It’s the safest place, really.”
“I don’t mind that part. It’s the threats. That’s what I don’t like. He acts like I’m his enemy.”
“Well, you’re his mother. A boy needs space from his mother if he is to grow into a man.”
“Why?” She collapses down next to me. “Why does it have to be that way? Because I don’t think it’s fair. He’s twelve, Amon. I should have him to myself for a few more years, if you ask me.”
I put my arm around her and give her a squeeze. “Well, then. It is now my mission to make sure you get those years. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him.”
She lets out a long breath. “Thank you. I know you don’t have to do this, that he isn’t your responsibility—”
“Just stop.”
She looks up at me and smiles. “Are you my one, Amon Parrish? Is that what you’re trying to say?”
“Rosie, you’re like an ironic spring morning when the flowers are popping from the black dirt while the snow falls all around them. It’s a special kind of morning that only happens every now and then. The kind you can’t replicate because it shouldn’t be happening at all. There is no one else on this earth quite like you. And if you’ll have me, I’m here for the duration.”
Her eyes go dreamy, like she’s swoonin’. Then she settles back into my shoulder with a sigh. “Has anyone ever told you that you say all the right things at just the right time?”
“Once or twice, maybe. But they were lawyers and I was sitting in front of a panel of angry congressmen in DC.”
She snickers. “That is probably a story I need to know more about.”
“Eventually,” I say. “But it’s over, Rosie. All that’s over and now that I’m home, and with you, I’m never leaving again.”
Cross is still angry and Rosie is still upset on the ride back to the compound and I feel like I need to say something here. Like I should explain Rosie’s point of view to Cross because I actually agree with her.
Twelve is too young. I mean, if he were some martial arts phenom and had been into it his whole life with some kind of big goal, like the world championships or something, then maybe. If he had put in all that effort it would be criminal not to support him, but a trajectory like that when you’re young carries a whole lot of risks. So even then, the answer would not be an automatic ‘yes.’
But that’s not how this is playing out at all. Cross has big dreams, but all he’s done about it so far is whine and complain about how his mother treats him like a kid.
Which is fair because she does treat him like a kid, but that’s because he is a kid.
I guess, if I was his father, I’d sit him down and give him the hard truth. The whole you-haven’t-earned-this speech. I got that speech from my father right about his age too. I wanted the same thing. That’s why I joined the military practically the moment I turned eighteen.
But my father was gentle with his speech and I think that was the right approach. He was trying to blend encouragement with independence. And when I left Disciple, they were proud of me. They supported me one hundred percent.
I think this is the right way forward with Cross as well and I think I should maybe have a talk with him before bed. It’s no good going to sleep angry because you just wake up the same way.
So after we pull into the Edge compound and I park the truck in front of my house, I tell Rosie, “Go inside. We’ll be there in a minute.”
She wants to ask what this is about, but she must read my face and decide to hold her tongue because she just nods and then does as I ask.
Cross hangs back as the lights inside flick on, perhaps sensing that he and I are gonna have a talk, or maybe he’s just sulking. But either way, we’re gonna get this all out in the open now.
“Have a seat, Cross.” I point to the porch steps.
He lets out a long sigh, but sits.
I sit next to him, propping my elbows on my knees as we both stare out at the compound. There are still plenty of people around even though it’s near midnight. The guys always get the weekends off, so this night will stay alive a little longer than most.
“Well,” Cross says, “are you gonna have a talk with me or what?”
“I am,” I say, leaning back, resting my elbows on the step behind me.