Page 2 of Wild For You

I knocked on her door and she answered. “What’s wrong?”

“You mind watching her while I go check in on Chase? It’s been a while since I’ve seen him.”

“You sure about that, son? Michael hasn’t been right for years and seeing you might send him back into dark times.”

“What kind of uncle would I be if I didn’t go see him while I’m in town?”

She nodded and followed me back to my room.

“Munchkins, grandma is going to watch you for an hour or two while Daddy runs some errands. I’ll bring back something to eat for dinner, okay?”

She nodded and went back to watching television.

I grabbed my keys and closed the hotel room behind me.

Michael had been out of jail for a while, possibly indicating some improvement, but it's doubtful. Chase always called mewhen his dad didn’t come home for a couple of days. It broke my heart that he was in that situation, but I told myself the next time it happened, I had to do something about it. Moving back to Lawson Ridge wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but he was family. He didn’t deserve to grow up without an adult present.

My truck pulled out onto the main road and headed straight for Michael’s. Maybe I could talk some sense into my brother. He had to want better for his son. Any parent would. He hadn’t been right since our father left when he was seventeen.

Pausing on the street, I watched the house to see if anyone was home. The driveway was empty, but I could see the television on through the window. Was Chase at home alone again?

Rather than approaching in my truck, I parked a couple hours down and walked up to the house to knock on the door.

“Get the door, boy! Whoever it is, tell them we don’t want nothing they are selling.”

A rustling sound emerged from behind the door, which then opened. His eyes locked on mine, and then he recognized me. Instead of saying anything, he stepped out onto the porch and shut the door.

“Now isn’t a good time. He’s in one of his moods.” His gaze stuck to the ground.

“I’m not really here for him. Wanted to see you squirt.”

A smile reached his eyes. “Oh, I’m alright. I’ve learned to just stay out of his way.”

The front door swung open. “Who the hell you talking to out here, boy?” Michael’s eyes squinted from the sunlight. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“In town for the wedding. Wanted to stop by and see Chase.”

“How nice of you, brother. We are just fine. You can go back and tell mom that.” He took a drink of his beer and wiped his lips.

“Actually, I wanted to take Chase to grab something to eat,” I said, ushering him off the porch toward the street. My brother was clearly already drunk.

“You aren’t taking my boy anywhere. Get your ass back inside, Chase.”

This was what I was trying to avoid. Michael was a drunk and Chase didn’t need to see that. Much less have to learn to deal with it. He deserved so much better.

“I’ll have him back in an hour or two.”

Chase and I started to walk away down the street, but Michael rushed me and pushed me to the ground.

“You are just going to waltz back into town and try to turn my son against me. It didn’t work last time and it won’t now.”

Instead of giving into what he wanted, a fight, Chase and I walked to my truck and took off to the diner. He looked like he could use something to eat and just the presence of someone other than Michael.

“Does he always act like that?”

“Only when he’s been drinking. So most of the time.”

“Why didn’t you call me? I didn’t know he got this bad.”

---