5: New Year’s Threesome

LILY-ROSE'S POV

Before I knew it, Christmas Eve had arrived.

The kids and I were seated at the breakfast table, quietly waiting for Jimmy to join us. His mother sat at the far end, occupying the seat that should have been mine. She was dressed in one of her stiff, tailored power suits, looking more like she was campaigning for mayor than sitting down for a family holiday breakfast.

"Is Dad coming down yet?" J.R. asked, poking at his eggs with his fork. "I'm hungry."

"Yeah! We can't wait any longer or else we'll weather and die," Tommy added dramatically, throwing his hands in the air.

"It's wither and die, honey, not weather," I corrected, though my thoughts were far away from grammar.

"Eat your breakfast, boys," Bernice snapped sharply as she spread a napkin over her lap. Then she glanced at me from the corner of her eye. "Your father is locked in his room talking on the phone to his special associate."

She stressed the word associate deliberately. I clenched my fists beneath the table until my nails bit into my palms.

"J.R., keep an eye on your brothers and make sure they eat," I said, pushing back my chair. "I'm just going to check on Dad."

Penny had already been fed and burped. Bernice had hired a nanny to help out since I'd been a complete mental wreck lately, and for once, I hadn't argued. I needed the help more than I wanted to admit.

I headed toward the stairs, but before I could climb them, Jimmy appeared at the top and began coming down. He was dressed in a full suit, looking polished and expensive, smelling of cologne that probably cost more than our groceries for the week.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, barely slowing his steps.

"You're dressed for work, Jimmy," I said. "It's Christmas Eve. We always go shopping for the kids’ Christmas presents today. Your mom is supposed to take them back to her place while we wrap their gifts."

"I can't," he replied, checking his watch. "I've got a big deal to close. If I get this done before the New Year's Ball, I'll get a massive bonus." He paused, then added casually, "Which reminds me, my new bosses, the Belafonte brothers, insisted I bring my wife to the ball. So don't get too fat before then. You'll need to fit into the dress they're sending over for you."

I ignored the comment about my weight, even though it stung. What hurt more was thinking about the boys sitting in the other room, waiting for a father who was already halfway gone.

I reached out and grabbed him by the tie, yanking him toward me until our faces were inches apart.

"Listen to me, you asshole," I hissed. "You can neglect me and you can cheat on me all you want, but you will not do this to our children. They love you. Don't let them down today. Please. I'm begging you."

I was waiting until after the holiday was over to show him the photos I had acquired of his cheating. I didn’t want to ruin the children’s Christmas.

For a brief moment, his expression softened. He sighed deeply, and for half a second, I thought I had reached him.

Then his phone buzzed.

He pulled it out immediately and glanced at the screen. "Shit. It's the Belafontes. They need me at the office right now."

Without another word, he shoved me aside and rushed for the door. I stood frozen at the bottom of the staircase as tears finally spilled over. I pressed my face into my blouse, sobbing silently, desperate not to let the kids hear me.

Chairs scraped against the dining room floor. Seconds later, three small figures came running into the waiting area just as Jimmy grabbed his coat.

"Are you leaving, Dad?" Dustin asked, staring up at him with wide green eyes.

"Yeah, champ," Jimmy said. "Dad has something important to do."

"Like lawyer work and shit," Tommy added confidently.

I let out a broken chuckle despite the pain. I didn't know where that child got his mouth from, but at least he was brave.

"We understand, Dad," Tommy added.

"That's my big boy," Jimmy said, ruffling his hair.

"At least eat something, Dad," J.R. said, pulling a banana from his pocket. "Here. You can take mine."

"You're a thoughtful kid," Jimmy replied. "Dad's going to get you all something really nice for Christmas."

"Yeahhh!" all three boys shouted.

Jimmy bent down and kissed each of their foreheads before walking over to the nanny, who was holding Penny. He kissed her chubby cheeks, and Penny immediately grabbed his tie with a surprisingly strong grip.

"You've gotta let Daddy go, pumpkin," he said, trying to pry her fingers loose.

The nanny looked panicked, so I wiped my face and stepped forward. The second Penny saw me, she released his tie and burst into tears, reaching for me.

She knew. Somehow, she already knew her daddy was full of shit.

Jimmy adjusted his tie, visibly relieved.

"Dad, aren't you forgetting something?" J.R. asked.

"What's that, bud?"

"You didn't kiss Mommy," Dustin said quietly.

Jimmy didn't even look at me. "Oh, Mommy and I already did that upstairs. I've gotta go."

Then he rushed out the door.

"I told you," Tommy muttered, his expression far too serious for a six-year-old. "Mommy and Dad are getting a divorce."

Bernice laughed loudly, startling even the nanny.

"Forgive me," she said, dabbing at the corner of her mouth. "That's just too funny."

I ignored her. "What on earth gave you that idea?" I asked Tommy gently.

"Dad sleeps in another room."

"And he talks to the pretty lady on the phone all the time," J.R. added.

"He even tells her he loves her," Dustin whispered.

My throat tightened.

"Paula," I said to the nanny, "please put the baby down and make sure the boys take a bath."

"Yes, ma'am," she replied, ushering the children away.

"I told you," Bernice said calmly, "you need to make your demands."

"I don't have time for games," I said. "I want a divorce, but no lawyer will touch my case."

"Then find one who doesn't know James. There are lawyers in other cities."

I nodded slowly. "I can call someone I went to university with. She lives in Atlanta. She owes me."

"There you go," Bernice said. "And in the meantime, I would be getting even."

"Even?" I repeated.

"You're a beautiful woman," she said bluntly. "You're only thirty-five. You're still young, and you could easily pass for twenty-eight. Go out. Have fun. Give my son a taste of his own medicine."

I stared at her. "Why are you giving me this advice? He's your son. I'm the daughter-in-law you hate."

"I don't hate you," she said. "I just wanted him to marry someone who brought money or status to the Fowler name. But as a person, I like you. If I'm honest, you're too good for my son."

"You talk like you don't even like him."

"I love James," she replied, "but I don't like him. He's just like his father. The only reason I come here is for my grandchildren. They are my entire world."

She stood and straightened her jacket.

"Have a nice Christmas," she added. "I'll see you on New Year's Eve. I'm taking the kids to see the fireworks in town."

"Ok. See you."

She paused to look at me before she left. "I hope you know that this doesn't mean we're friends."

"I know, Bernice."

And for the first time in ten years, I finally saw my mother-in-law as a human being.