Page 112 of Something Forever

“I don’t want to lie to my dad,” Jackson mutters. “I want to talk to him.” He stands up, patting his thighs. “Come on.”

I blink. “You want to go talk to him… now?”

He shrugs, glancing at Darius. “Why not?”

“Alright.” I stand up, clasping Jackson on the shoulder. “Let’s do it.”

The tension in this room is so intense, it’s almost unbearable.

To start off with, Mr. Cooper and I did not get off on the best foot. It started when I reached in to shake his hand and instead spilled his beer all over his shoes, and it only got worse when I accidentally stepped on the tail of Lulu, their dog, who emitted a yelp so sharp and heart-wrenching that I wanted to shrivel up and die on the spot.

It didn’t get much better once I opened my mouth; after I explained that I recently came into a large of sum of money and wanted to fund Jackson’s undergraduate education with it, Mr. Cooper had one thing to say:

“We don’t take handouts.”

His tone left no room for arguments. Luckily for me, I’ve been dealing with Darius long enough to know that his sharp tone is likely a front for deeper feelings.

Now, I’m sitting across from Mr. Cooper while Jackson and Darius float around the kitchen nearby.

“Sir, please let me explain before you say no.”

He nods and crosses his arms, his expression betraying nothing. He might be a tougher nut than his kids to crack. So I start talking. I tell him about Luke, about the kind of person he was, and how I’ve spent the better part of last year trying to carry out his life’s wishes, only to realize that what Luke would have really wanted was for me to be happy.

After I finish my speech about both the intellectual and fiscal value of higher education, Mr. Cooper uncrosses his arms and stares at me. Jackson and Darius have joined us in the living room, eyeing their dad with curiosity.

He glances at Jackson. “You want this?”

Jackson hesitates, but then he purses his lips and nods. “Yeah, Dad. I do.”

He tilts his chin down, his expression thoughtful. He looks at Darius, his jaw set. “What do you think?”

“Me?” Darius echoes.

“Yeah, dipshit. Who else?”

Darius smirks. “Never turn down a check,” he jokes, but then his gaze turns serious. “Jackson’s got a shot, Dad. He’s got a real shot.”

Mr. Cooper nods and meets my eyes, his gaze unwavering. “Alright,” he says eventually. “I have conditions, though.”

For the next hour, the four of us discuss the scholarship. Mr. Cooper insists that part of the deal means that I can’t just cut the check and run. Not that I was planning to, but it’s nice to know that they actually want me to stick around. Mr. Cooper also tells Jackson that he has to get a part-time job to support himself during school. I guess he doesn’t want him getting too comfortable. I don’t peg Jackson as the type to slide by and take the easy route, but I respect that his father wants him to have a good work ethic. It’s late when I finally decide to leave, satisfied that everyone is on-board and happy with the decision. At the door, Jackson gives me a tight, quick hug, barely giving me a chance to reciprocate, while Darius just punches my shoulder with a smile.

I head back to the apartment, buzzing. My skin feels like there’s an electrical current running through it. Energy and excitement pulses through me. My mind is a swirling jumble of thoughts.

What now? What’s next for me?

Whitney.

Her name drifts through my mind like a siren calling out to the sea. I can’t wait to see her face when I tell her about all of this. I owe everything to her. Everything good in my life comes back to her.

My wife.

By the time I get back to the apartment, I feel like I’m high. I’ve got a woman who I love and a life that is finally starting to feel like it’s mine again. I turn my key into the lock and let myself into the apartment, which is silent. I glance around for a sign that Whitney is home, finding nothing. As I cross to the kitchen, my eyes catch on a stack of papers sitting on the counter.

Glancing down at them, I blink. Once, twice. My mind whirs and slows, as if unable to accept what I’m seeing.

Petition for dissolution of marriage.

No.

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