“You do know.”
“I don’t.”
“Well, you better figure it out because neither of us are leaving this bench until you do. And let me tell you, I’m not a fan of sitting on this seat.”
He stares at me. His glare is still in place, as is his scowl. Christ, he’s my fucking son, that’s for sure. “I didn’t start it, but I finished it.”
And fuck if words I’ve said a thousand times, that Cade has probably heard, don’t come back to bite me on the fucking ass.
“You pushed him over?”
He nods but doesn’t give me the words I’m looking for.
“Say it, Cade. Own what you did.”
He doesn’t hesitate this time. He knows I won’t let this go. Taking ownership of their actions is something I’ve drummed into my kids. They don’t always do it straight away, but I always help them get there in the end. Even when it’s painful as fuck to do so. “Yes.”
“Why?”
He knew that question was coming next and he continues glaring at me because of it. Cade hates to admit the why. He’d rather stab himself in the eye than tell us why he did something he shouldn’t have. He gives me one of his shrugs instead of an answer.
I don’t say a thing. I simply arch my brows and wait.
His lips press together before he says, “Because I was angry with him and I knew Mum would take his side.”
This is something new and it causes me to frown. He’s never mentioned anything about Lily taking sides, and as far as I know, she’s never done that. Lily always tries to be fair with the kids.
“Okay, let’s start with why you were angry with him. And we’re not dobbing here, we’re just talking about the facts.” I’ve learned it’s important to differentiate this shit for him if I’ve ever got a hope of getting him to open up.
He pushes up off the bench and kicks the grass as he says in an angry rush of words, “He broke my Batmobile!”
Cade loves Batman and anything to do with Batman. He and I spent hours building a Lego Batmobile last month and it’s his favourite thing at the moment. Travis wanted to help us, but forthe first time with this kind of thing, Cade wanted to build it with just me. He also wouldn’t allow Lily in on it.
“By accident?” I ask.
A look flickers in his eyes, signaling that he’s struggling with the answer to this question. I know he’ll give me the truth, though, because if there’s one thing Cade King is not, it’s a liar. He may withhold information for as long as possible, but he never outright lies to us. “He was playing with it when he shouldn’t have been.”
“So, it was an accident?”
He kicks the grass again, his jerky movement showing me how angry over this he is. “He shouldn’t have been playing with it!”
“He should have asked you if he could play with it, I agree, but accidents happen, Cade. This isn’t something that warranted you hurting him.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Why did you think Mum would take his side?”
“Because she always takes his side.”
“No, she doesn’t.”
He pushes his shoulders back. “She does. She always says I have to watch out for Travis. I have to let him win because I’m older. It’s not fair.”
“Win at what?”
“At everything! Games, who gets the TV, fights.”
I process what he’s saying and can understand why he thinks this. Lily does make allowances at times for Travis while not making the same ones for Cade. It’s a new thing she’s started doing over the last year since Cade turned nine. Since deciding he needs to learn more responsibility. Cade has misconstrued it to some degree, but I can see how he’d misunderstand her intent.
I reach for him, taking hold of his arm and bringing him closer to me. “Your mother loves you. You know that, right?”
He nods, his eyes intense with all the emotion running through him. “Yes, but she never wants to spend time with me anymore like she does with Travis.”
