Page 46 of Beyond our Forever

When I walk into the family room at the back of the house, I find my children are all there, each trying to get Bruce’s attention in a different way. Aaron tells him something about the game next weekend, while Noah is showing him something on his iPad. Ava, well, she’s just being Ava, hanging around his neck like a little monkey and showering him with kisses. Yup, she’s definitely Daddy’s girl.

Bruce tries to pay equal attention to all of them, but it’s an impossible task, they’re overwhelming.

Noticing my entrance, he gets up from the couch and greets me with a kiss on the cheek, his lips lingering long enough for only me to hear him say, “You look beautiful.”

His fingers run down my arm, leaving behind a buzz that feels almost electric, tempting, and inviting.

Be his friend?

This isn’t how being friends feel. Not in any way.

“Why are you going to dinner?” Aaron asks.

“Because we are celebrating,” Bruce says proudly.

“Did you get promoted at work again?” Noah asks.

“No, this time it’s your mother who we are celebrating, buds. She’s decided to go back to school.”

He looks at me and smiles, and I can almost see him waving some metaphorical pom-poms, ready to become my personal cheerleader.

“Great,” Aaron comments.

“Aren’t you too old for that?” Noah scowls, and his reaction really hurts.

It’s a blow that leaves me breathless as well as speechless.

“Noah!” Bruce chides him. “Apologize to your mother immediately.”

“Why?” He shrugs. “It’s true.”

Bruce takes a deep breath, smoke virtually coming out of his ears as he looks at Noah, while our son shrinks at his father’s reaction.

“Give me the iPad,” Bruce insists in a deceptively calm voice, and as Noah hesitates he raises his voice. “Give it to me right now!”

When Noah finally passes him the gadget, his father delivers the punishment.

“This is going to stay with me until I think you deserve to have it back. Now you’re going to apologize to your mother, and you better sound sincere.”

“No! I don’t see why I should,” he replies, before running upstairs. It seems to be his thing today.

My spirits sunk to the ground, as has my desire to go out to celebrate. I want to stay here and lock myself in my room. I really don’t care about other people’s opinions, but Noah is different, he’s my son.

I’m about to cry, and make my escape by copying Noah when the doorbell rings.

“That must be Elizabeth,” Bruce’s voice cuts through the uncomfortable silence we’ve been left with. “I’ll get it.”

He leaves the room, leaving me with Ava and Aaron.

“Noah is an idiot.”

“Aaron!” I scold him. He doesn’t have to talk about his brother like that, even if he is behaving like one.

“I know what an idiot is,” Ava announces. “And Noah is one.”

“Ava!” Here we go again.

Bruce returns with Beth following in his footsteps.

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