Page 72 of Pelvic Flaws

Without thinking too much about it, I pulled into a parking lot at the bottom of Katie’s road. I should probably have got him home, but a few minutes listening to the kid wouldn’t hurt.

“Okay,” I said, turning off the engine. “Tell me why you think that.”

Isaac turned to look at me and shrugged. “I dunno, just because sometimes I wonder whether they ever actually wanted me.”

Shit this was heavy stuff from the poor kid and from what I knew about Katie, totally unfounded. She adored her kids – yeah they pissed her off from time to time, from what I could gather, but there was no doubt they were her priority.

“I’m pretty sure they did. I don’t know your dad, and me and your mom are really just getting to know each other, but I know for certain that she loves you. She’s so damn proud of you. You should have heard her talking about your drawings the night I met her.”

“Maybe Mum wanted me, but I don’t think Dad did. He left us and started a new life with Sophie bloody Tit Wank.”

I reeled back a little in my seat. “Say what?”

Isaac grinned. “Sorry, it’s what we call her. I know it’s not very respectful of my step-mother, but she’s only a few years older than me and I find it really hard to think of her as my elder.”

I had to admit the name was pretty funny, but he was right – she was his step-mom and he should give her some respect.

“I get that you don’t like her,” I said. “But, that’s a pretty shitty nickname, buddy.”

“It’s not that I don’t like her, but I hate that he left us to start a new family with her. Kind of proves a point that he didn’t want us, but he wanted Jessie.” Isaac rubbed at his temple and grimaced. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Jessie, she’s amazing, but she gets Dad and we don’t.”

“Divorce is never a good thing, Isaac, and unfortunately it’s you kids who get it worse. The two people you love most in the world aren’t together anymore and that’s gotta be pretty hard to take.”

“He couldn’t wait to leave us,” Isaac said, gripping his thighs and rubbing his hands up and down them. “They said it was because they didn’t love each other anymore, but I think he loved being away from us as well – well maybe me.”

“Hey now,” I soothed. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

Isaac looked up at me and shook his head. “Charlie’s his pride and joy because he plays football and likes going Go-Karting with Dad, Annie is his Princess and Jessie is his little baby, but I’m nothing,” he cried, looking at me with pain filled eyes. “He’s never once taken notice of my drawings or asked to see them. I’m just the eldest, the one that he regrets having because if he hadn’t, he could have fucking left Mum as soon as he got bored, which was probably a few months after they got married if I know him.”

He blew out a shaky exhale, and then started to breathe heavily, pushing the heels of his hands against his eyes. Shit, this poor kid was hurting real bad, and what was sad was that he felt he could only talk to a guy he’d known for a few weeks about it. He needed to open up to his parents, or to Katie at least, otherwise all the shit going on in his head would weigh him down and eventually fester from sadness to anger, and who knew what that would result in.

I was sure he had it all wrong, but however misplaced his thoughts were, they were his thoughts and he needed to speak to his parents about how he was feeling, so I placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a gentle shake.

“Okay, we’re gonna get you home and you’re gonna tell your mom all of this-.”

Isaac dropped his hands to his lap and opened his mouth to speak, but I held a hand up to stop him.

“Nope, that’s not an option, it’s a statement of fact. You need to talk to her Isaac, because as much as I’m here for you if you need me, truth be told, you hardly know me.”

“You’re my boss and my mum’s boyfriend,” he pleaded. “I can’t talk to them about it.”

“Yeah I know, but I’m your mom’s new boyfriend and your new boss. Plus, I’m not so sure your dad would like it if he knew you’d talked to me about these things. I’m pretty sure he’d want to be the one to resolve this with you.”

“Huh,” he scoffed. “Like he’d care.”

“Hey come on, I think you know he would.”

Isaac dropped his head and picked at the edge of his leather jacket.

“Come on,” I said, turning the engine back on. “Let’s get you home, I’m sure your mom is anxious to see you.”

With a sigh, Isaac nodded. “Okay, but thanks Dex for coming for me. I really appreciate it.”

“Anytime, Isaac, anytime.”

And I really meant it. I was more than happy to help Katie’s kids out, because if nothing else, it meant I was helping her.

Katie

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