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Sam patted the kid’s head and asked him the usual, “So how was school, boy?” TBone always had a funny story or some grand experience, this Sam already knew.
“Jackie dropped his lunch tray and cried. Like... I don’t cry like that. I tried to tell him, he could get another one.” Then TBone went on telling Sam about the mess and the lunch lady. Next, he told Sam where they stayed last night. “One of those places with lots of rooms and doors with numbers on ‘em.”
Sam cocked his head at him and asked, “A motel?”
TBone nodded “Yeah! We had a room near the pool and Mama took me and Shaw swimming. It was so much fun. Then for supper, we had McDonalds and Shaw sure made a mess with the chocolate shake. Then me and Mama had to sleep with her between us, so she wouldn’t roll off the bed.” TBone looked over at his dad and asked him, “Did you know Shaw is a bed hog? Early this morning, she rolled over and pushed me right out of the bed. My butt hurt a little from hitting the floor but I’m not like Jackie, I didn’t cry.”
Sam stared at him, and then he actually laughed. “I feel your pain, boy. Shaw's just like her mother. She throws me out of bed all the damn time.” He looked over at Melora and found her nuzzling Shaw’s neck. She wouldn’t look at him and that stung Sam’s pride as his smile faded away.
They ate their supper and Sam realized how much better he felt as the kids made him feel downright happy. This was his life, Melora and the kids. But when he glanced over at Melora, he saw she refused to look back at him. She was ignoring him again and he didn’t like it. He growled.
TBone’s bright-eyed gaze shot over to him. “What’s the matter, Daddy? Don’t you feel good?”
No, he didn’t. Not all damn day, but he wouldn’t say that out loud. Clearing his throat, Sam told him, “No, son, I’m feeling all right.”
TBone shook his head. “Then why are you growling like an old bear? That’s not nice. Bears are mean sometimes and growling is not good.”
“I’m fine, kiddo.” Sam shook his head. “Just had to clear my throat, is all.”
“T, how about you go get your pajamas on,” Melora said. “It's getting time for bed and you have school tomorrow. Then you can come back and play with your dad some more before we tuck you in.”
TBone got up and ran down the hall to his bedroom.
Melora glanced over at Sam and shook her head. Getting up, she took Shaw from her highchair and went to clean her up.
When TBone came back a few minutes later, Sam took him to the couch to watch one of the goofy shows the kid liked to watch.
Melora came back as she carried Shaw. She went to the kitchen and made Shaw her last bottle. Coming out to the living room, she sat in the rocking chair to give her the bottle and when she was done, Shaw was asleep. She rocked her for a few more minutes.
Sam never realized the routine they had fallen into. It was a good one. Never in all his years did he see himself all domesticated like this, but damn, it was the best thing he’d ever known too. He rose up and came over to lift his daughter out of her mother’s arms then carried her down the hall to the nursery room. He gently placed her into her crib and stared at her for a moment or so. She was getting so big that soon, she would be in a big girl’s bed. He let out a heavy breath and turned to leave the room. When reached the door, he turned around again and went back to Shaw’s crib. Leaning over the rail, he kissed her softly on the cheek and then left the room in a hurry. His eyes were moist as he thought about what he would miss about bedtime with his kids.
TBone ran over to him when he got to the living room again and jumped into his arms. “I missed you last night, Daddy. It just wasn’t the same without you.”
This had to be the kid adding to what Sam already felt, not that TBone meant to do that. “I missed you guys too. This old house was just too quiet,” Sam told him.
Melora walked up behind them and softly whispered, “Come on boys, it's bedtime.” Her eyes looked moist too, as she looked away from Sam.
Sam turned to go to TBone’s bedroom. He got the boy settled in his bed and leaned over to give him a goodnight kiss on his forehead.
Melora pulled the blankets up, kissed her son’s cheek, and whispered, “’ Night T, Love you bunch.”
TBone giggled. “Bunches, Mama. It’s bunches, remember? But I love you more, Mama, nite.”
Sam’s heart began to hurt just about then. Damn, this was killing him. He didn’t know if he would survive this separation. But he wouldn’t bend for fear he’d break. He had to stick to his guns and until he knew what secrets Melora was hiding, he didn’t know if he could trust her.
Taking a deep breath, he went to their bedroom and pulled out his suitcase to pack what he needed for the next few days. After raiding the dresser and tossing stuff into the suitcase, he headed into the bathroom. He got his razor, his cologne, along with toothpaste and his toothbrush. He went back and tossed them in too. Zipping it with a bit of aggression, he grabbed it up and walked to the living room.
Melora stood there staring at him.
“I want you to know I’m doing this under protest,” he growled.
Melora crossed her arms over her chest as she looked upset too. “I know. But I can’t live with a man who can’t or won’t trust me. I’ve done nothing wrong here Sam. I want you to know that. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Sam growled as he stalked toward the front door. Before he opened it, he paused to ask her again, “What are you hiding from me, woman?” He did not turn to look at her.
When all he heard was silence, he opened the door and stomped out of the house. This all still seemed unreal to him. It had come down to a standoff. Lies and secrets didn’t sit well on him. It wouldn’t for any man, would it?
When Sam got into his truck and tossed the suitcase onto the passenger’s side, he knew this was gonna be another long fucking night.
