Page 126 of Fierce-Michael

“What do you think?”

“I think she’s the best thing that has happened in your life and if you mess it up, you’ll regret it.”

“I know,” he said. “I’m trying not to.”

“It’s all you can do. Now let’s go see the birthday boy.”

He went outside and saw his parents talking to Ty. Then Ty ran off to play with his cousins.

His mother went over and talked to Amber and asked them to sit with them. He appreciated that his parents always made Electra and her parents feel welcome.

He grilled burgers with Owen, and Kelly helped him set the food up, then clean up. She wasn’t by his side the whole time and he felt they had a good routine between them.

His parents spent some time talking to her too.

He felt he was rushing things because Electra’s parents looked uncomfortable so he brought the cake out to light the candles and sing Happy Birthday.

Once everyone had a piece, Electra’s parents left. Ty would open his gifts later. He wasn’t one for that being done right away. He didn’t want his son to think a party was only about what he got.

Twenty minutes later he was cleaning up the plates when Ty came over. “How come Mom didn’t come to my birthday party?”

He’d been hoping they could get through the day without Ty asking that.

“I’m sure she had to work,” he said.

“Oh,” Ty said. “But she didn’t even call to talk to me. Do you think she will later?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “But I think it’s nice that Grandma Amber and Grandpa Kirk came, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Ty said. “I did. They didn’t know where Mom was either.”

“I’m sorry about that,” he said.

“I don’t care anymore,” Ty said. “I’d rather be with you anyway.”

“Let’s not talk about it now. It’s your party and you can have fun.”

“Okay,” Ty said. “I will. Thanks for giving me a party.”

Ty gave him a big hug. Not something he always did. He knew his son was hurt over Electra not showing up. How could he not be?

The question was, did he have it in him to have her visitations ended until she could figure her life out?

He thought he did.

It was the right thing to do for Ty, him, Kelly and maybe Electra.

She needed to grow up and if she couldn’t, then there should be consequences for her actions.

It just seemed she couldn’t care less if she saw her child. Maybe he’d been blind to it for years.

All the forgotten holidays, visits, not to mention essentials for their son… Electra never forgot a shift at work. A date with a guy. A party with friends.

Things shewantedto do.

Those things she didn’t want to do, she half-assed them in life.

The truth sometimes hurt, but it could be freeing too and it was time to get a straight answer from his ex.

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