I frown at him as we walk to our table and sit down. “Don’t talk to me about media fiascos, Leo, you know too much about them. We’d be talking for weeks.”
“Ha-ha, at least I’ve solved my problems. Can’t say the same about you.”
“My shit can’t be easily solved,” I say, taking a sip. “Fuck, that’s hot.”
The barista glares at me when I swear, but I don’t give a crap. They can look all they want, and I’ma swear as much as I want. I’m not changing for them, and if they want me as a customer, then they’d better not speak a word to me about it.
“Not used to the heat, huh?” my brother jokes while drinking his coffee.
“Fuck you; you know I hate this shit.”
“Well, Mom likes ‘this shit,’ so too bad for you.”
Before I can reply, the door opens again and in steps a curvy redhead with a coat that looks like she just killed a fucking rabbit. Samantha King, aka, his ex-secretary.
“Samantha, you’re here, too?” I say.
“Hey,” she says, giving us both a kiss. “God, I almost didn’t make it in time. Steph just wouldn’t shut up.” She giggles.
She gives Leo an extra peck on the cheeks, and they share a moment, which I just don’t want to see. Like at all. Fuck, it’s so awkward.
“You came here voluntarily? Do you have a death wish?” I ask.
She looks at me as if she doesn’t know what I’m talking about. “No, I just thought it’d be nice to chat with your mother. You know, a little family get-together.”
“Oh, boy …” I say, sighing and laughing at the same time. It’s not actually a laugh of enjoyment but more of pity and misery.
“What?” she says, as she sits down.
Leo slides her the extra coffee he bought. “He doesn’t like our mother.”
“Who does?” I inquire.
“Well, she doesn’t seem that bad to me,” Sam says, taking a sip.
“That’s because she doesn’t show her evil side to you. She likes to keep that hidden until after … it’s become official that you’re part of the family.” I look at her finger, which has Leo’s ring on it, and let my eyes glide down to her stomach. That same moment she covers her belly with her hands and blushes.
“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” she says, clearing her throat.
“Oh, it’s bad, all right,” I say.
“Chris … do we really have to do this now?” Leo says.
“What? Tell Sam what she’s really getting into?” I pick up my coffee and sit back in my chair. “I think she has a right to know.”
Leo frowns at me disapprovingly, almost telling me not to go there. Oh, but I am going there. I’m definitely taking it there now.
Chapter 7
Chris
Age 16
“What!?” I scream as my mother swallows away her pride. “Is this a joke?”
“No, it’s not …” She sighs. “I’m sorry, I know how you must feel.”
“No, you don’t¸” I snap. “This isn’t funny, Mother.”
“I know it isn’t, but this is real and it is happening.”
“You’re really doing this, aren’t you?” Leo says, grabbing my hand to support me, as I’m about to explode in anger.
“Yes.” She rubs her lips together. “I’m sorry, boys.”
“No, don’t say you’re sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “You don’t get to say that word.”
“I have to follow my heart,” she says, blinking away a tear.
“What about us? What about father?”
“He and I … well, you know, we’ve been growing apart.”
“No, he said you were working on it,” I say. “Together.”
“Hmm …” She nods absently. “Did he say that?”
“Don’t tell me this is happening. You, out of all people … you’re the one to call it quits?”
She looks up at me with sorrowful eyes that split my heart in two. “I’m sorry, Christopher. What your father and I have … had … it’s not what I want anymore.”
“So you’re just going to leave?” I say, making a face. “How could you do that?”
“I don’t have another choice. I can’t stay here when there is no…”
“What?” I growl. “Say it. Say it out loud.”
“No,” she says in such a resolute way that it makes me sit back and look at her in disgust. “I will not discuss my private relationships with you. What happens between your father and me is our business.”
“Oh, so breaking his heart and ours is not my concern?” I grind my teeth.
I’m so close to bursting, Leo physically has to hold me back.
“I’m sorry …” she says again.
“That doesn’t change a thing,” I growl. “Whatever I say won’t stop you, will it? You’ve already made up your mind. You already knew what you were going to do the moment you stepped into the house. No wonder you were gone for all those days. Thinking about how to rip out our hearts and crush them with your bare hands?” I yell. “Did you spend all those nights in a hotel? Or is there some other reason you suddenly want to leave us motherless? Because there must be a good reason for this. Have you met someone new you like better, huh?”
“Enough, Chris,” Leo says with a calm tone, gazing at me with a stern but understanding look.
He’s the only one who understands what I’m going through right now, but I don’t get why he’s just sitting there without responding. How can he listen to this and not react?
“You don’t agree with this, do you?” I say.
“No, of course not,” he says, looking back at his mother. “But if you were unhappy, I think you would do anything to be happy again.”
“Thank you,” my mother says, wiping away a tear.
“Don’t you fucking cry,” I say.
“Watch your language, Christopher,” she says. “I might be bringing bad news, but I am still your mother.”
“You’re not my mother if you’re running off with some other guy!” I yell, getting up from the couch.
Nothing can stop me now. I’m a loose cannon, ready to fire. Leo gets up too, trying to hold me back as I lean forward to shout at her. My blood is boiling, and it feels like everything is turning red in front of me.
“You want to be with your lover so badly?” I scream. “Go on then.”
She looks shocked as she holds her hand in front of her mouth.
“What? You didn’t think I’d notice if you ran off with him? I saw you at that restaurant, mother; you can’t hide the truth from me. You know I always find out.”
“You … you knew all along?” she whispers.
“Yes, I know what you’ve been up to behind my father’s back. Behind everyone’s back.” I spit on the floor. “Disgusting.”
More tears spill from her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She shakes her head. “It’s not what you think.”
“Yes, it is. Stop covering it up and own up to your behavior. What kind of example do you want to set? Because, right now, all I see is a mother who doesn’t love her kids enough to stay with them.”
“Stop,” Leo says. “Stop before you say something you’ll regret.”
“Too late,” I growl. “She already did that for all of us.”
She gets up from her seat and walks out of the room.
“Yeah, you run from us, like you always do!” I yell.
Leo grabs my arm, but I jerk free as I walk after her.
“I’m sorry. I can’t do this anymore,” she says, grabbing her bag.
“You’re going now? Running off to him?”
She suddenly stops in her tracks, spins on her heels, and glares at me, screaming, “My happiness means something!”
I swallow away the pain that fills my throat, but it doesn’t help one bit. When she takes a deep breath and starts walking again, I yell, “Go! Get the fuck out of here!”
Leo’s behind me, grabbing me and holding on to me so I don’t go after her.
A part of me wants to follow her to the place of the man she’s going to for comfort and beat the living shit out of him, but Leo won’t let me. I know he’s right, even if I don’t want him to be right.
I didn’t ask for any of this and neither did he, but now we’re stuck with a father who won’t stop his wife from running into the arms of another man.