“I came to see my kids,” he said, already walking into the living room.
I slammed the door and sprinted after him. But my legs were too short, and when I made it to the living room, he was already talking to the kids.
They both stared at him, trying to figure out who he was. They were too young to remember a dad who barely ever showed up.
“Good to see you, kids,” Jim said and saluted them.
He’d never been great with them, and they never asked for him. I always thought kids that young would love their parents no matter what. But Jim proved that if you were a big enough barnacle, you could scare off even the most devoted of children.
“It’s bedtime,” I sang, pushing down my discomfort and concentrating on getting the kids away from him. “Who wants to read a book?”
They grumbled when I turned their show off, but they both loved reading, so after a few more complaints, they followed me to their bedroom.
We sat on Luca’s bed and read two books before I declared bedtime.
When they were both settled, I took a deep breath and got ready for battle.
Jim was sitting on a bar stool, drinking one of my beers. Good to know he still had no boundaries.
“What do you want?” I asked, standing on the other side of the counter.
He took a long drink of his beer, making my blood boil. “I just wanted to see my kids.”
I crossed my arms to stop myself from slapping him over his big head. “So you just decided to show up here? Why the sudden change of heart?”
He grinned at me, showing the dimples I used to find adorable. “Don’t be mad. You used to like being spontaneous.”
“I also used to likeyou. Guess I finally grew up,” I said, clenching my teeth.
He took another sip of his beer, and I noticed his hands were shaking. His hair was greasy, and he’d lost weight. “I need a place to stay for the night.”
Luca came into the kitchen before I had a chance to reply. “Mommy, there’s a fly in the room.”
I took his hand and walked him back to his and Lena’s room. “Come on, Sötnos, let’s get you back to bed and find that fly.”
Lena was already fast asleep, sprawled out on her mattress like a starfish. I pretended to catch a fly that wasn’t there, and after making a big production out of throwing it out the window, Luca was back in bed. His eyes were already half closed when I pulled the blanket over him and kissed his cheek.
I straightened back up, took a deep breath, and wished for things that could never be. Like a meteorite falling on Jim. Just a teensy tiny one that wouldn’t do any damage to anything or anyone but him. I rounded the corner back into the kitchen, watching Jim drink his second beer. The empty bottle of his first sat forgotten on the counter.
“It’s only for one night,” he said, as soon as he noticed I was back.
“Are you out of your mind? No.”
“You won’t even know I’m here,” he pleaded, peeling the label off his beer bottle. “I’m in a bit of a jam.”
When is he ever not in a jam?The only thing that had changed was I was no longer willing to bail him out.
I pointed to the front door. “Get out.”
“There are people looking for me. I just need one night to sort myself out.”
Did he just bring his problems to my doorstep?I went from trying to have a calm conversation to a nuclear explosion.
I stalked up to him and then stopped before I did something I’d regret later.Oh, who am I kidding? I’d never regret punching him in his smug face.
“Are you out of your mind? Do you ever think of anyone but yourself?” I whisper-hissed, praying he didn’t endanger us by coming here.
“Of course I do. I was thinking of you. That’s why I’m here,” the woodhead replied.
