The Long Waits Were Over

Ryan replied to my text quickly.

[I can have the agreement drafted tonight. You should also start preparing for Tammy's custody. First, gather your messages from the past few years.]

I had just finished saving the screenshots when Wilson came through the door. He was still wearing the light blue shirt from the broadcast, with a smear of cream on his sleeve.

Vivian came in behind him, holding Leonard's hand. "Is there anything to eat? Leonard's been saying he's hungry since the event ended."

Wilson put his coat over the back of a chair and ordered me as usual. "Make him some pasta. Less green onions. He doesn't eat them."

I did not move.

Tammy peeked out from behind me, clutching the drawing she had torn in half. "Dad, why didn't you come to watch me dance?"

Wilson finally noticed that Tammy was still wearing her costume. He paused for two seconds, then bent down to pat her head. "Something came up. I'll come next time."

Tammy dodged his hand. "My teacher said today was the last performance."

"I can watch the video later. It's the same thing," Wilson said faintly before pulling out a gold medal from his pocket. "See? I brought you a present."

Tammy's eyes lit up. But when she took the medal, her smile faded almost at once. A name had been engraved on the back.

Leonard.

Vivian immediately covered her mouth.

"Oh, Wilson, you took the wrong one. That's the medal Leonard won at the competition at Take Your Family to School Day."

Wilson frowned and took the medal back from Tammy. "Since this one belongs to Leonard, we should give it back to him. Behave, Tammy. I'll buy you a new one next time."

Tammy's hands were still open, as if the medals were still there. After a long moment, she finally pulled them back. "But you said medals only count if you win them. Not if you buy them."

Wilson's expression stiffened slightly.

However, Leonard had already snatched the medal and hung it around his neck. He looked up and made a face at Tammy. "Daddy Wilson ran the race with me today and we won first place."

Tammy lowered her head, gripping the shredded drawing so tightly that the paper crumpled even more.

I stepped in front of her and said, "We're out of pasta. Go eat somewhere else."

Wilson's face darkened as he said, "Nora, the kids are right here. Do you have to act like this?"

Vivian quickly grabbed hold of him. "Don't worry about it. Nora's still angry. Leonard and I will go home. There's water disruption tonight, but we can manage for one night."

"How are you supposed to stay there without water?" Wilson massaged his brow. "The guest room is empty. You two can stay here tonight."

I looked up at him. "That's inconvenient for us."

"Why not? We have plenty of room," Wilson said as he glanced at Tammy, his voice softening a little. "I know I shouldn't have missed her performance. I'll play with her in a little while. Vivian's only staying here for one night. Don't make things difficult for her."

Tammy suddenly tugged at my shirt. "Mom, I want to go to bed."

I took her hand and led her to her room.

Behind us, Leonard spotted the little crown on her nightstand. He pulled free of Vivian's hand, and ran into the room. "That's pretty. I want to wear it!"

The crown was the keepsake each child would have received from the teacher after the performance.

Tammy grew upset and reached for it. "That's mine!"

Leonard hid the crown behind his back. "Daddy Wilson says we have to share the good things!"

As the two children fought over it, the crown split right down the middle.

Tammy froze.

Wilson came over and pulled Leonard behind him before doing anything else. "It's just something cheap. We can always buy another one."

Tammy looked up, tears welling in her eyes. "Dad, that's the second time today you gave him something that was mine to you."

Wilson opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Tammy lowered her head and held the torn drawing to her chest, as if the drawing was the only thing left that proved her father had once belonged to the two of us.