William opened the car door and climbed in. “Hi.”“Hey, kid, how was school?” I asked him.“It was okay,” he said.“What do you know about Kevin?” I asked.William frowned and looked at me. “He’s in trouble a lot, he always sits alone and nobody really likes him.”“Maybe you should try to make an effort,” I said as we drove away from the school.“Make friends with him?” William asked me, like it was the worst idea.“Sometimes people do things to get attention and other times it’s their way of asking for help,” I said.“But what if the other kids stop liking me because I’m friends with him?” he asked me.“Then they weren’t really your friends to start off with. It’s not always easy doing the right thing, but you should do it anyway,” I said.“Why?” he asked me with a frown.“Because when you do the right thing it makes you a better person and ultimately it will give you peace of mind. Kevin might just need a good friend to become a better person.”“Oh,” William said.We drove the rest
I had to smile as I walked back to my car. I was about to start the car when I saw the man and Kevin walk outside to his car. He had Kevin by the arm and he was pulling him along as he walked. I watched him through narrowed eyes as they neared the car and he hit Kevin behind his head so hard that the boy fell forward onto the tarred parking lot.I was out of my car and walking toward him before I even realized it. I helped Kevin to his feet and walked up to his father. I pushed him against his car and looked deep into his eyes as I pressed my arm across his chest.“Do you want to know what it feels like to be slapped that hard?” I asked him.“Don’t tell me how to treat my kid,” he said. I pressed harder against his chest and I knew I was hurting him.“If you lay one finger on him, I’ll know and I’ll hurt you,” I said and let go of him.I started walking back to my car and he followed behind me. “Who the hell do you think you are to threaten me?”I turned around and I must have had tha
I woke up to find the bed empty and I sat upright and listened. Charlotte was in the kitchen. I went downstairs and stood looking at her from the doorway. She jumped when she saw me and I started laughing as her hand went to her chest.“Don’t do that!” she said as she put the kettle on.“Sorry,” I said. “Breaking in the kitchen?”“You can’t possibly know how happy I am at this moment,” she said.“I guess being married to me would do that,” I said and she slapped me on the arm.“Being in our own house again,” she said and I laughed.“I felt that way last night already as I listened to you snore,” I said and she turned around abruptly.“I do not snore!” she said.“No, of course you don’t,” I said and laughed.“You should go get William. I’m sure he’s also eager to come home,” she said.“Can I have coffee first?” I asked her just as the kettle stopped boiling.“I hope you didn’t plan a vacation or honeymoon of sorts,” she said as she started to make coffee.“Why?”“We have fourteen weeks
“Do you feel better now?” Malachi asked me and I chuckled.“Maybe she won’t yell at me as much,” I said and he smiled.“Don’t count on it. Jessica still threatens me on a weekly basis,” he said.“Nicely done, badass,” Jessica said and sat down on Malachi’s lap and kissed him.“Why badass?” I asked her once she’d stopped making me feel uncomfortable.“Dude, seriously, you’re a badass, it’s a compliment,” she said and stood up. She joined Adara and Charlotte at another table and Malachi shifted to cover his arousal.“Don’t even say anything,” Malachi said and we laughed.“I wasn’t going to,” I said.His face turned serious. “Have you given any thought to our discussion? It’s been a month.”“I can’t leave Charlotte now. Maybe after the baby’s born. She’ll kill me if I tell her I’m traveling now,” I said.“I can wait,” Malachi said. “Are you really moving out tonight?”“I’ve already moved out, Charlotte just doesn’t know it yet,” I said.“What would you have done if she had said no to you
Four weeks later“We just need to stop at the house, Adara forgot the wet wipes,” Jessica said to Charlotte as they bumped down the dirt road.She parked in front of the garage and opened her door. Charlotte was wearing a silver-gray evening dress designed to slightly hide her bump while Jessica wore a tight-fitting green dress that was almost too revealing.They had spent the day together doing baby shopping and getting their hair done for Kiran and Adara’s wedding anniversary. They were having the party at the hotel that evening.“You should go pee while we’re here,” Jessica said and Charlotte opened her door as well.“Good idea. Lately it feels like that’s all I’m doing,” Charlotte said. She ventured up the stairs to the bathroom.I waited as they went downstairs and I heard the bedroom door close. Jessica came back down the stairs and smiled at me. “Showtime, badass.”She walked out to the patio and took Malachi’s arm where he waited for her. I smiled as I put everything in place
We walked inside the hotel and headed to the restaurant. We sat down at a table and I looked at the menu as Malachi’s phone rang. He smiled. It could only be Jessica.“I’m at the hotel with Levi,” he said in answer to her question of where he was.“Nice going out to lunch without me,” she said but her voice was friendly.“I’ll make it up to you tonight,” he said and I shook my head.“Like you had a choice?” she said. “I want pizza.”“Only pizza?” Malachi asked and I started to laugh as Kiran walked toward us.“Hey,” Kiran said as he slapped my back and sat down next to me and looked at Malachi.“Dude, seriously, is Levi listening to us right now? I’m not even answering that one,” she said and ended the call. Malachi laughed as he put his phone back in his jacket pocket.“Dad,” Kiran said as he nodded to a waiter to come over to our table.“I told you,” Malachi said and I smiled.“The special, three of them and bring the bottle of Scotch,” Kiran said to the waiter.“Yes, Mr. Sinclair,”