Page 107 of Dizzy

“You’re gonna listen. You’re gonna get back in that car, drive home, andthink. Think about who the fuck I am. Think about what I’d do for my boys. Then think if I give a shit about Jess Baker or your leads or the Hazleton development.”

For a second, she gets it. Then her chin goes up, and her eyes get that mulish cast. She ain’t gonna listen.

It’s my fault. I been letting her waltz around, thinkin’ she gets what she gets by right, not by my choice.

“You have no right to keep the boys,” she sputters. “We have a custody agreement. If you refuse to abide by it, I will take you to court. I don’t have to give you all this extra time. It’s afavor.”

I shake my head. She really don’t know me.

Maybe until recently, I didn’t quite know me either.

“Nah. You ain’t gonna do that. You like your big house. You like Steve. You like drivin’ around this town in your big car actin’ like you’re big shit. Who owns this town, Sharon?”

I wait, but she don’t answer.

“Steel Bones owns this town. Who owns this county, Sharon? Who built that development you’re so worried about? Whose check pays for the car and the clothes and the lunches? Cleats don’t cost three hundred dollars.”

“Youoweme,” she spits from clenched teeth.

“For what?”

“For that.” She points at the house, arm so rigid it could break. “For those boys. ‘Cause they’re the only things you cared about, weren’t they? You never cared about me.Mydreams.Mygoals.”

Fuck. It always comes down to this. I didn’t support her. I didn’t encourage her.

“Bullshit. I paid for everything. The classes. The license fees. Business cards. Swag.Iwatched the kids. I put dinner on the table when you were showing houses. I had prospects hang your flyers up all over the county.”

“Money’s wasn’t enough, Dwayne.”

Shit. She’s right.

Nothing was gonna be enough.

‘Cause I wasn’t what was holding her back.

Whatever was stoppin’ her, whatever she had to fight through to be happy, it wasn’t me. It was in her own head.

There’s nothin’ I could have done. No magic words. Not then. Not now.

And I am done with playing along with this game where she acts however she wants, and I deal with it, ‘cause it’s easier to leave things the way they are. That’s not gonna work anymore.

I’m gonna find Fay-Lee, and bring her home, and we’re gonna be a happy family, damn it.

“I’ll take the boys to school in the morning. You want to pick them up, or should I?”

“Typical. Avoiding the subject.”

“You’re not getting it. We’re done. It’s not my job to make you happy. Not my job to give a shit about your life, your beefs, whatever. You ain’t my problem.”

“I’m the mother of your children,” she hisses.

“You want to talk about Parker? You want to talk about how that boy don’t even smile no more—we can talk about that. How he don’t see the point in bein’ at your house anymore. Or we can talk about your husband calling Carson chunky. I got thoughts on that matter, and I will be sharing them with Steve.”

“Husky,” she mutters.

“What?”

She’s smart enough not to repeat it.

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