Page 1 of In the Works

1

SARAH

“If you don’t getyour butts in the car right now, I’m going to take your games.” I winced as soon as the words left my mouth. It was such a stupid threat, one I had sworn I’d never make when I first had Derek.

But as he rolled his eyes, barely bothering to turn his head toward me, I couldn’t find any more fucks to give.

Standing in the foyer, I put my hands on my hips. Leila brushed past me, her backpack slung over her shoulder as she marched diligently to the car. I gently flattened the flyaways on her head. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

The loud gunfire emanating from the TV rattled my brain.

I marched over to the living room, standing in front of the screen. “Derek, do not make me punish you.”

“Mom!” He cried out as he chucked his controller into the couch cushions. Crossing his arms, he sunk back into the plush sofa.

From the corner of my eye, Ava toddled toward the front door, following the sound of her big sister out near the car.

Once she was out of earshot, I turned my attention back to Derek, who still hadn’t relented. After a minute of silent staring, he gave in.

“I don’t like having to go to his apartment,” Derek confessed.

I kneeled down, intercepting his gaze. “I know, bud. But your dad told me he has a lot of cool stuff planned for this week.”

Shrugging, Derek reluctantly met my eyes. The glowing hazel reminded me of his dad. I’d spent nearly fifteen years looking into Jason’s warm gaze. And now, we spent most of our time in polite hugs when we swapped the kids’s custody each week.

“He doesn’t even have a Playstation.” Derek flopped forward.

I opened my arms to him, letting his little ten year old body rest on mine. “I know, baby. He’s still getting his place situated, but he’ll get one soon. And if you want, I’ll help you bring this one.”

Derek giggled. “No, mom. Only Auntie Robin knows how to do it.” Realizing he didn’t have much choice, Derek stood from the couch. He grabbed the black duffel bag sitting at his feet and headed for the front door.

Once he was outside, I locked the door behind us and let out a sigh. Leila had helped Ava get into her carseat and was waiting in the back seat with her hands folded.

“Thank you, guys.” I winked at them as I tossed my bag into the backseat between the two little kids.

I slid into the driver’s seat while Derek piled into the front passenger seat, tossing his bags down at his feet.

Turning the ignition with one hand, I texted Jason with the other:

Heading to you now. Sorry we’re late.

Before I could even put the car into drive, my phone dinged with a reply.

No worries, excited to see everyone.

I pulled out of the smooth driveway, freshly paved at the start of spring. Jason’s new place was just across town, a quick five-minute drive through New Winford’s Main Street. We made good time despite the swarm of high schoolers grabbing coffee from Dirty Dee’s before homeroom.

Before I knew it, I was making the left on Jason’s street: a quiet residential block with a few small homes. As the car crunched down his gravel driveway, the front door of the house swung open.

Jason waved at the car from his porch, jogging down each step.

I threw the car into park. “Alright, kids. We’re here.”

Derek groaned from the passenger’s seat, shoving his handheld console into his bag.

I placed my hand on his shoulder. “I’m just down the road. If you need anything from me or the house, I’ll be right there.”

I let the engine idle as I hopped out of the car and swung open Ava’s side of the minivan. At the same time, Jason opened Leila’s. Through the car, he smiled at me. “Hey, Sarah. Thanks for bringing them.”

---