“What is it, buddy?” I finish tucking the blanket around him and hand over his stuffed teddy.
“Is Grandma mad at me?”
***
“Justin,” Karen greets me at her front door. “Was I supposed to be watching Owen today?”
They live close to us, but the houses here are larger and definitely scream ‘money’. Karen is dressed like she’s about to attend a business meeting. Her tone doesn’t indicate any bit of remorse or desire to explain yesterday.
There is so much I want to say —to yell— at her. That she should have never excluded my soninher house, that it was a mistake to move here so they could see their grandson in person.
The plan to tuck Owen in and get some Little time was derailed when Owen opened up about all the things he isn’t allowed to do when he’s with his grandparents. They feed him, but he has to ask and can’t just grab anything out of the fridge even though the others can. He’s not allowed to play with the toys for his cousins. Instead, there’s a box of toys he’s allowed to play with for little kids.
Owen’s words run through my mind over and over.
“It’s okay, Daddy. I don’t mind playing with them. I can play with the bigger kids when I’m older. Grandma says I need to wait until I’m more ’sponsible.”
The sound of my own son trying to comfort me and make excuses is something I never want to hear again.
“Justin?”
I focus on Karen’s face and try to calm myself down. “Owen won’t be coming over here anymore.”
“What? Why?” She lays a hand on her chest and genuinely looks surprised about this turn of events.
“Why? Because I spent last night listening to him tell me how you’ve been treating him differently than the others and not letting him play with his own cousins. How you made him sit downstairs while you had all those kids here for a party yesterday.”
“I didn’t think he’d enjoy hanging out with them,” Karen argues. “He’s so much younger than the other boys, and he was happy watching a movie.”
“He said you made him go downstairs because there wasn’t enough room at the table for him.”
She hesitates for a second before answering. Her facial expressions are hard to read. “The boys were playing one of those games that requires them to all have a spot. There weren’t enough chairs. That’s when I suggested that he–”
“You didn’t suggest anything,” I butt in. “And he also says that he’s not allowed to grab a snack or drink without your permission?”
“I told him he needed to ask,” she responds. “It’s called manners, Justin. Owen could stand to learn a few.”
“Owen is perfectly mannered for his age,” I spit out. “He’s sweet and kindhearted and has been feeling left out here. So, like I said, he isn’t going to be coming here anymore. I have someone else watching him after school.”
“You’re overreacting, Justin. You’re really going to trust a five-year-old over me?”
“I trust my son because I didn’t raise him to lie.”
I turn around and head back down the pathway. It’s only eight in the morning and Gabe is at the house with Owen. Owen was still fast asleep when I left, but we have a day of fun planned. All planned by Gabe. I don’t want to waste any more time here than I have to. I hear the door close behind me before I reach the car.
***
“Here you go, baby.”
Daddy hands me my new favoritest blanket and I curl up in the bed with it. Daddy shared a shower with me, and then mutual blowjobs, before he dressed me in a pair of training pants and my favorite pajama set.
“And here’s your juice. Do you want a snack or anything?”
I’m sitting in the middle of the bed with a couple of toys and stuffies, Kelvin clutched under my armpit. It’s only eight in the evening, still light outside, but Owen is already in bed for school tomorrow and we’re also taking advantage of some fun time before bed.
“I’m okay.” I look up from the block train that Daddy bought me last week. “Do you want a snack? You didn’t eat lunch with me earlier. Your bellymust be so hungry.”
Daddy smiles and laughs at my joke. It’s only half a joke, though. Daddy really didn’t eat much today. He drank lots and lots of water, though. And made me drink lots and lots of water too, which made me have to go potty three whole times.
