Chapter 3

Wilson answered right in front of the teachers. "I'll go with Leonard to tomorrow's class."

Tammy slowly let go of his shirt.

"You promised Tammy you will teach her to make a kite during the visit," I said.

"There will be other chances," he said calmly. "Leonard's classmates have just started talking about him because he calls me Dad. If I don't go, it will embarrass him even more."

"So you're going to embarrass your own daughter instead?" I asked.

Wilson glanced around before saying, "Don't argue here at school. You'll make us look bad."

Vivian's eyes were red as she explained, "Nora, I can ask Wilson not to go, but Leonard's therapist said he can't handle being abandoned again right now."

I stared at her. "My daughter had three nightmares last night."

"Tammy has you." Then, Vivian quickly softened her voice after seemingly realizing how that sounded. "What I'm trying to say is that she's luckier than Leonard."

Tammy suddenly looked up. "I can let Leonard borrow Dad for one day, but he has already borrowed it for lots of days."

She then counted on her fingers. "Birthdays, the sports carnival, going to the doctor, Take Family to School Day, and now the Dad and Me Class too. When will he give Dad back?"

No one answered.

-

After we got home, Tammy took a kite from the cabinet. She and Wilson had pasted it together. It was shaped like a swallow, with crooked wings and all three of our names written on it.

She carried it into the living room and said, "Dad, can you try it with me once tonight? Then I can make one by myself tomorrow."

Wilson was just starting to build the model Leonard needed for class and did not look up. "I'm busy. Ask Mom."

"But the teacher said you have to teach me," Tammy said.

"Do you have to do everything your teacher says?" Wilson said, annoyed by her questions.

As he reached for the glue, he accidentally knocked the kite onto the floor. Leonard stepped on it with his shoes on, and the wooden frame immediately snapped.

Tammy screamed and shoved him after that.

Leonard fell to the floor and started crying.

Vivian immediately rushed over and held her son in her arms. "Leonard, did you get hurt in any way?"

Meanwhile, Wilson grabbed Tammy by the arm. "Who told you that you can push others like that?!"

Tammy pointed at the kite, still sobbing. "He stepped on it and broke it."

Wilson asked again. "Is a kite more important than a person?"

Tammy sobbed. "You and I made it."

Wilson frowned and said, "If it's broken, we'll just make another one."

"You won't make another one with me anymore," Tammy said, very softly.

Wilson looked stunned for a moment.

I picked Tammy up. "She shouldn't have pushed him, and I'll talk to her about it. But Leonard broke her kite. He should apologize too."

After checking her son over, Vivian said gently, "Leonard didn't mean to. Tammy was the one who pushed him first. Why doesn't she apologize first?"

Wilson nodded. "Did you hear that?"

Tammy leaned on my shoulder, staying quiet.

Wilson reached for her and took her from my arms. "Apologize. Don't make me say it again."

Tammy went rigid, tears rolling down onto her clothes. "I'm sorry."

Leonard wiped his tears and hid in Vivian's arms. "I won't forgive you unless you give me the kite."

Wilson picked up the broken kite. "Take it. It's broken anyway."

Suddenly, Tammy began fighting to get free from his arms. "No, that's mine!"

Worried she would fall, I had to set her down. Once she was on the floor, she immediately lunged for the kite. A broken piece of wood sliced her palm open.

I immediately grabbed her hand.

Wilson instinctively reached out with his hand too, but Leonard suddenly clutched his stomach and started crying.

Vivian cried out to him anxiously, "Wilson, come check on Leonard!"

Wilson's hand stopped in midair as he turned to Leonard instead.

I bandaged Tammy's cut before pulling out my phone. Then, I forwarded Wilson the printable copy of the divorce agreement my lawyer had sent.

"Wilson, look at this when you get a chance."

He glanced at the title and turned off his screen.

"Are you trying to scare me with divorce?"

He really sounded confident of it.

"You can't stand the thought of Tammy without a father, nor can you let go of this family. You can throw a tantrum for two days at most if you want, but don't teach our daughter to behave like this."

He picked up a pair of scissors and, right in front of Tammy, cut off the corner of the kite with her name on it.