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“Hey, don’t be sorry. You guys deserve this. It’s no one’s fault I can’t be there. When I get home, we will fucking celebrate.” I wish I felt as upbeat as I sound. This is a moment with my best friends I will never get back.
“Thanks, man. You know we will celebrate as soon as you get home. I’m sure Kenz will be calling you with the news anyway.” I smile, thinking of how happy she is going to be.
“I can’t wait.” I hear someone talking in the background and know he needs to go. “Campbell, go, man. I’m good now. Thanks for everything.”
“Dick, you never need to thank me for being your friend. I’ll call you in the next day or so and check in. Have some fun while you’re out there.” He laughs and I hang up.
I end up making my mom and Karen dinner, and when they get home, it’s ready. My mom comes in first. “Smells amazing in here, Keith.” She comes into the kitchen and kisses my cheek.
“Thanks, Mom. I’m cooking a whole chicken for dinner.” She goes and opens the oven to have a peek.
“So, you want to tell me why you thought it was a good idea to go visit your dad today?” I freeze in place. Shit, I didn’t want her to know.
“Who the fuck told you?” She hits me with a dishtowel, and son of a bitch, it hurt.
“Don’t say the ‘F’ word to me. Harley told his mom, and she told me. It’s a small town, Keith, I think you forget that sometimes.” Fuck, she’s right. I do forget. In New York, I wouldn’t have to worry about this shit. Everyone here knows everyone’s business.
“Hey, that guy Harley, I don’t like him. Keep him away from Connie.” She crosses her arms and smiles at me.
“Keith, stop avoiding the question. Why did you go see him today?” I scrub my face and lean back on the counter.
“Mom, I had to. I needed him to know I was here, that things weren’t going to be all right when he got out. He needs to know what an asshole he is for everything he’s done to you and the girls.” Her smile disappears.
“And what he’s done to you? Is that it? You needed to make sure he knew his son the cop was stepping in!” Oh, shit.
“Hey, I wanted closure. I wanted to see him one last time, because this is it. None of us will see him ever again.” She shakes her head and goes to the fridge.
“Keith, I love the way you try to protect us, but he’s your father. We can’t forget that.” I’m trying so hard not to argue with her, but clearly, she’s lost her damn mind.
“Mom, should I do a play-by-play of what happened the last time dad was here? How awful it was, how he hurt you, and the girls had to see that? Is that what you want? Is that the kind of life you want to continue to live? If it is Mom, this will be the last time I come running home. I made a promise that I would protect you and the girls, but if you let that man back in your life, I can’t do it.” She has tears running down her face, and I feel fucking horrible, but it’s the truth. I want to comfort her, but I need her to understand how serious this situation is. He will kill her. I just stare at her and wait for her to respond.
“You do not need to remind me, Keith, I am reminded every time I close my eyes. I know exactly what happened, and I know my girls had to witness it. I don’t want to live in fear, but what the hell am I supposed to do? This is all I know.” This time, I make my way over to her and pull her into a hug.
“Mom, why don’t you and the girls think about moving back with me? I know you don’t like the city, but New Jersey is so close. Campbell and Kenz’s families live there, and they love it. Can you just think about it?” She nods her head, and a part of me is so relieved, but the other part knows it won’t be this easy.
After my mom finally pulls herself together, she goes to take a hot bath. I sit down on the couch and grab my phone. I notice I have a couple missed text messages, and one of them is from Campbell. He sent me a picture of the ring. It is stunning. I text him back just that, and my phone rings.
“Hello?”
“Hey, big brother. You have plans for tonight?” I chuckle because what the hell plans would I have?
“Nope, looks like I’m free. What’s up?” Karen walks in the door with Doug, and they both wave at me. Makes me think Karen will be another hard one to try to convince to move. She’ll want to stick it out here with Doug. This is going to take some thought.
“What do you think?” Shit, I didn’t hear a word she said.
“I’m sorry, Connie, what?” She laughs, and I find myself smiling.
“I said, I can’t get anyone to go to the bar with me tonight, so do you want to come?” This time, I laugh.
“Damn, I’m your last resort?”
“Shut up, there was one other person after you.” We both laugh, and I have to say going out for some drinks sounds fucking perfect.
“Sure, sounds great. What time should I be over?” We decide that I’ll pick her up at eight o’clock and hang up. It’s only five o’clock, so I have time. I go into the kitchen and finish making dinner.
Doug joined us again for dinner, and Mom and Karen loved it. It was pretty fucking good. By the time we ate and cleaned up, it was time to shower so I could be at Connie’s on time. This would be the first night since I’ve been here that I’m actually going out to do something, and I am fucking excited. Just the thought that maybe I could be distracted for even one night is awesome. I throw on my jeans and a black button-down shirt. I run my hands through my hair and spray on some cologne. I go out into the living room to find my mom watching TV. She turns and looks at me with a big smile. “You look nice. Where are you going?”
“Thanks, Mom. Going to pick up Connie, and we are going to the bar for a little bit. Can I borrow your car?” She points to the key rack.
