Page 46 of Signs and Signals

Silas nods, agreeing with the plan, but the knot in my stomach is getting tighter. I know I need to bring up the situation with his dad and Indya. I’m just not sure how to approach it. I figure the best way to do it is by ripping the band aid off, just put it out there.

“I got a message from Indya when I was on my way to meet you earlier. She said she needed me, so I turned around and headed to her place while I called you and asked to meet later.”

“That’s good news, she is opening the line of communication, you may not need that grand gesture after all, she may do all your dirty work for you,” Silas laughs.

“No, it was nothing like that. But if you want me to tell you what happened let me get it all out without interruption,” I say, my tone pensive. He must see on my face the level ofseriousness I am trying to convey, because I swear, he doesn’t look as though he has taken a breath since his last comment.

He nods his head, so I continue.

“Your dad left her a message, telling her if she didn’t return his call he was coming to her house. She wanted me there with her when she called him. When he got on the phone, he pretty much told her that between your mom and dad and Indya they can work out a joint custody agreement without getting the courts involved. If she didn’t agree to that option the next option would be they would take her to court for full custody and requesting she only get visitation once a month,” I pause letting him let all that sink so he can process it. Then he looks up at me and I know he is angry on Indya’s behalf.

“How the hell did he get her number or her address? We sure the fuck didn’t give it to him. Remember when I said I was protecting them,theyare who I am protecting them from. My mom does nothing but drink, she is an emotional drunk, with no job and no ambitions for life. My “dad,” if you want to call him that, is a drunk and his emotion when he is drunk is anger. I wonder if they tried to get a hold of me. I left my phone at home after I spoke to you. So if they did reach out, I will know when I get home, and I will give her a call.” Silas is being filled with more rage the more he talks. I don’t say anything, I just let him get it all out, because then maybe I can get some insight on what lengths his parents will go.

“This all started when they kicked Indya out of our house. This is why Asia and Emerson lives with me and has lived with me since the day I moved out at a few weeks after Indya left. They were never great parents, and apparently, David is a piece of shit, child molesting rapist, who deserves to rot in hell for what he put that girl through. My parents weren’t going to let me take Asia because of how young she still was, but I fought them over it. I told them I would make sure everyone knew whatDavid did to Indya. None of us knew what was going on and I wasn’t about to fail another one of my sisters. I should have fucking protected her.” His body is trembling, his rage trying to find a way out.

“I guess your mom saw a picture of the two of us in a magazine, they googled me and found my parents and my mother gave the information, after he told her Indya was their foster child and they haven’t seen her for years, and that whole sob story. Trust me, my parents are crap too. So, I know my mom had an ulterior motive. As soon as I can pin her down, she will be dealt with. I can promise you that above all else.”

After saying our goodbyes, we go back to our own homes. Silas said not to worry about his parents, that he would take care of it. I made sure he understood that I want to know what happens and if he needs me for anything, to just give me a call.

An hour later, he sent me a message and said he was heading out of town and would update me when he returned.

***

Lady Luck must be on my side today, I woke up, got my workout in, went to the clubhouse and watched tapes of the last couple of times we played the teams we are up against again next week. The playoffs start in two weeks with the Wildcard Series, so we need to be at the top of our game and prepared for everything.

After I leave the clubhouse, it is close to nine in the morning. After making some calls to set up something special for Indya, I head to my condo.

As I am stepping on the elevator, my phone rings, it’s my mother. I answer quickly.

“Mom, nice of you to return my calls,” I say as a way of answering.

“Do not start with me so early this morning, son. I just got off the plane and saw all the calls and messages.Did something happen while I was gone?” She is trying to act concerned, but that shit is not going to fly with me.

“Everything is fine. I just wanted to have lunch with you and catch up. We have both been extremely busy and unavailable; you have missed out on a lot of my life the past couple of months, Mom,” I try to play it off, like I don’t know she is up to something. Hopefully, it works because the game we are playing right now, Mom is the international champion.

“Oh, that would be lovely, dear. Want to meet at the Italian place I like for lunch today? You know the one I’m talking about, right? I can call and set up a reservation for eleven, since you have to be at practice at noon,” she says, playing right into my hand. What she doesn’t know is we don’t have normal practice today—it is all tapes and workouts. My next tape time is at four this evening.

“Yeah, that is perfect, that way I can eat something light before practice. Message me and let me know if you can’t get the reservation made—that way, we can come up with another game plan.”

She scoffs like she dares them to not let her reserve a table for lunch. We say our goodbyes as I walk into my house. Great, everyone is already here. My day keeps getting better and better.

I walk into the Italian restaurant and spot my mother right away. I bypass the host stand and head straight for the back table. The table is in an area where things are seen but not heard, my mother’s favorite.

I lean down to kiss her cheek, “Good to see you, Mom. How are you?” I know, I am a shit person, I am laying on the charm, thick, so she will believe I am just dotting on her, which she enjoys.

“I am well, son. How is getting ready for the playoffs? Are the Legends going to make it all the way this year?” I chuckle,one, because she, too, is laying it on thick, and two, she could care less about the game or the team but still asks, knowing she could give two fucks what happens in baseball.

“We are getting ready, lots of practice, training and watching tapes. We are hoping we have the edge to win the World Series.”

We order our food. Mom gets theInsalata di Mare, a seafood salad and for myself, I ordered Shrimp and Zucchini Risotto. Mom is drinking a glass of white wine—my guess is theGiacomo Conterno Montfortino, Barolo Riserva, because of the price tag, over $1200 a bottle. She must always keep up appearances. I drink sparkling water with lemon; my mother would die if I just said I want water with lemon without it being sparkling. It is just water, so I couldn't care less.

“So, Mom, I asked you to lunch under false pretenses,” I start off. The look she gives me—shocked, because why would I trick her and not just want to constantly bend to her will. Still, I continue to get out what I need to so I can get back to my house for more important things.

“I received a text from Indya, breaking up with me, a while back. Of course, I was heartbroken—still am—but more than anything, I was confused as to why she no longer wanted to be with me. So, I did as she asked and didn’t try to contact her. This went on until recently. I found out about an article that was posted at the time she broke my heart. So of course, like any scorned man, I went to the source. I figured it was Mallory alone that concocted this plan, but when she cornered me in my garage, and I took her up to my condo to talk about everything, the pieces all came together.”

I give her a moment to let it all sink in, hoping she will come to the conclusion I have all the facts, and she is not going to like what is about to happen. But no, she hears what shewants to hear and draws her own conclusions that are far from actuality.

“I’m so glad you two are working it out. I knew you and Mallory were perfect for each other, and will have a long, beautiful, successful life together. I just know it is going to make our winery that much more successful being tied to their hotels,” she coos dreamily.

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