He shouldn’t have said that in the first place.
But then the school called Mom, and it was so annoying.
When I told her what Chad said, she told his parents to educate their kid, so he won’t get beaten up like that in the future.
Then Mom told me people will say whatever they want, and I shouldn’t let it get to me.
She’s wrong.
I won’t allow anyone to insult my mom.
Even if it’s Dad.
“Listen here, you son of a bitch.” Mom points a finger at his chest. “Whether or not I chose to have Marcus was my decision, not yours.”
Dad is still staring at his phone. “Then don’t come here yelling the house down because he spent a night on his own.”
“It’s his birthday!”
“I don’t give a fuck.” He lifts his gaze to her. “His birthdays mean nothing to me. You’re the one who had him. Take responsibility for him.”
“Wow.” She steps back. “Not only did you lie to me back then, pretending to be single when you had a whole wife and three kids?—”
“You were being dramatic, ending a relationship just because of a wife.”
Mom takes another step back, visibly vibrating with anger. “Dramatic for not wanting to be a mistress?”
“You would’ve had a better life than now.” He stares her down. “You look terrible, by the way. Gone are the days when you were attractive. Even your biting tongue is no longer amusing.”
“Well, I’m glad, because the last thing I want is to amuse you, asshole. I’m here to ask you to be a decent father to your son.”
“A decent father provides money.”
“That’s a bank, not a father!”
“Call it whatever you want.”
“I don’t know why I bother talking to you.” A worn, brittle sound slips from her, her head bowing for a heartbeat before she lifts it again. “You know, I really didn’t want to cut you out of his life, since you donated the sperm and all, but if you’re going to keep hurting him by not showing up or by being so emotionally paralyzed, you’re no longer allowed near him.”
He smiles, but it looks evil, like in the cartoons. “You can’t keepme out of his life.”
“I can try. And keep your allowance. I don’t spend your blood-soaked money on my child anyway.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, June. You’d rather struggle than take the hand I’m offering?”
“You finally get it.”
Dad purses his lips, frowning like he always does around Mom. “You’re making a grave mistake.”
“The only mistake I made was meeting you, asshole. Actually, no. Marcus came out of it, and he’s the best thing that’s ever happened in my life, so I’ll consider the couple of years I spent with you fucking charity.”
My lips twitch in a smile. Mom always says that—that I’m the best thing that’s happened in her life, and that she doesn’t know how she’d lived without me.
If only Dad cared like she does.
It doesn’t have to be a lot.
Just a tiny bit is enough.
