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“Neither. Just saying he knew if he showed on his own, you’d throw him out, but because he was treating Jim, you let him stay.” She shrugs like it’s obvious.
“It doesn’t matter because I didn’t speak to him. I don’t want to know what he has to say,” I retort, feeling old emotions burning inside me.
“You must be curious. You said it yourself, he went through something terrible. When tragedy strikes, people can react in weird ways,” Patty explains. She’s told me how her grandparents died in a car crash before she was born. A drunk driver killed them, and her mom went through a really hard time.
“Gah! Don’t make me feel bad about the way Liam and I broke up,” I groan, and I move to the floor to play ball with Crew. He was the last guy I gave my heart to. Now Crew is my only love, and that’s the way I want to keep things.
“I’m not making you feel bad. Just the guy seems persistent. Maybe you should hear him out,” she suggests. I need a change of topic.
I stand to heat dinner. I made it late last night after Crew went to sleep. “Is chicken and rice okay?” I ask Patty.
“I’ll eat anything. It was such a long day. I had back-to-back appointments. I like working at the hospital, but I think I may want to work in a private setting when I’m done,” she explains.
“It’s good to have options,” I point out.
“Why don’t you go back to school and finish your degree?” she asks.
“For one, I lost the scholarship, and two, I don’t have the money,” I say dryly.
“But maybe there’s a way with student assistance. Crew will go to first grade next year. You can put him in a publicly funded school and finally finish your degree.”
I shake my head. “I’ve come to terms with the fact this is my life. I’m happy. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to work full time and attend classes.”
Patty's lips form a crooked line. “Go back part time then.”
“School isn’t in the cards for me,” I say.
“But you’re so smart. You should be doing something you’re passionate about,” she says.
“Ah! That’s the dream,” I say dramatically. “Leave well enough be.”
She rolls her eyes.
We head to the kitchen.
“Crew, come for dinner,” I call to him.
“What are we having?” he asks.
“Chicken and rice with some veggies,” I reply.
“Blah.” Crew sticks out his tongue.
“It’s healthy. You need to grow big and strong,” I say to my son.
“I’ll eat the chicken if you send me to hockey,” he counters, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
Patty bursts into laughter at my son’s audacity, but when she sees I don’t find it funny, she claps a hand over her mouth.
“Sorry,” she mutters.
“Crew, to be honest, we don’t have a budget for hockey right now. The equipment is expensive and so is the skating program that comes along with it,” I explain to my son.
“No fair,” he pouts, pushing out his pudgy lower lip.
Life isn’t fair, kid.
“I know, sweetie, but Mommy is doing her best. If I get some extra money, then we can maybe consider it. Now I want you to eat your dinner, and then we’ll work on your reading.”
