Page 36 of Left

Oliver was out of breath when he was done. There was no doubt in his mind about what had happened. Emmanuel knew at the moment he couldn’t convince his eldest… but Oliver wasn’t staying around to hear anymore, anyway. He pushed back from the table and the chair toppled over as he stormed from the room and thundered upstairs. Ivy rushed to go after him. While Emmanuel was left with the two youngest.

“Daddy?” Sage had tears in her voice.

“Yes, Sage.”

“You told us the truth, right?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay. Are you moving out because of the whole paternity thing?”

“In part, it is complicated.”

“Momma doesn’t believe you?”

“Sage. She does, but it doesn’t mean that this isn’t still difficult. That is why we are taking some time apart. We still love each other, and you all very much. It will work out, but your mom and I are going to be living apart for just a bit.”

Words he never thought he would hear from his daughter came next. “May I be excused? I’m not hungry.”

“Yeah Sage, you are excused.” Sage walked over to where her dad sat and gave him a squeeze. Then shuffled out of the room.

Benjamin stood and righted the chair his brother had toppled.

“Benjamin, do you have questions?”

“I think you’ve answered them, Dad. I’m going to head up to my room, too.” Then he was gone. Sitting at the head of the family dinner table alone, the weight of the encounter came crashing down on him. His shoulders sagged under the weight of the torrid emotions ravaging him. That shit couldn’t have gone worse.

Now he had to get up and go move into a condo. The last place he wanted to be. His thoughts were so far away, he didn’t hear Ivy return. She sat beside him and took his hand.

“I’m sorry for the way Oliver spoke to you. Once he has calmed down, he will apologise.”

Emmanuel didn’t want to think about Oliver and his behaviour. He waved her off.

“No one is in the mood to eat. I'm going to head over to the condo. I’ll message you when I get there.” Emmanuel patted her thigh as he stood. The walk to the door seemed miles away. As he reached it, Ivy tapped his shoulder.

“Maybe you shouldn’t –”

“Ivy. Please don’t. I’m gonna head out.”

“But it’s so dark out.”

“It was always going to be dark.”

Chapter Eleven

LOUDER THAN YOUR DISRESPECT

The moment Emmanuel walked out the door, Ivy’s shoulders sagged with grief. Everything was unravelling. Why had she thought some time apart would be helpful? Bring clarity? He’d been gone for five minutes, and her chest ached.

The only thing that stopped her from calling him back was the knowledge that a push-me-pull-me situation wasn’t healthy.

Neither is kicking your husband out!The side of her that led with her heart, that she’d pushed to the side, was very discontented. She wanted her man.

Ivy headed up the stairs to check on Oliver. She’d tried earlier but had backed off at his anguished, “I can’t talk, Mom.”

A brief reprieve had been granted, but she was gonna have words with her eldest. She wasn’t accepting his total and utter disrespect for his father. The same one who had been there for him every step of the way.

The door to Oliver’s room was slightly ajar when she arrived. The voices stopped her in her track.

---