Page 74 of Submitting to Them
“I don’t feel good about this, Tommy.Can you put off the trip for another day?I want to hang out.”
“Oh,nowyou want to spend time with me.”He gives a sarcastic laugh.“You couldn’t stand the sight of me the last few times I’ve seen you.What’s causing the sudden change?”
“I’m worried about you,” I say quietly.
“Well, stop.Like I said.I don’t need a mom.I’ll call you when I get back in town.Let’s see if you still want to have lunch with me then.”
My phone beeps abruptly, signaling the end of the call.
“You butthole,” I say, smashing the ‘call back’ icon.
It goes straight to voicemail.
Eighteen
Kingston
Dealing with work is a lot easier now that I know Kristin is alive and well.She’s not at the office today, but the simple fact that she’s going to return makes my burden feel lighter.I can only imagine how light I’ll feel when I step down from my role as CEO.I like my life, and I want to spend more time actually living it.I don’t need the newest and best of everything.Not a lot is required for happiness.
The sun is starting its descent to the horizon when my personal assistant, Fareed, knocks on my door.“Do you need anything before I shut my desk down for the night?”
“No, thank you,” I say, stretching my arms out in front of me.I should get going soon, too.
Then my phone rings.
The caller ID readsJoel.
“Sorry, I have to take this,” I say, my heart thumping so hard, I can barely hear the words.
“No problem.Goodnight, Kingston.”
“Night, Fareed.”
I pick up the phone.“Do you know how much fucking trouble you’re in right now?”
“Like you fucking care.”His voice is quiet, but snide.“All you care about is work, nothing else.You’re at work now, aren’t you?”
With a sigh, I say, “Yes, but that’s not all I care about.”
“You never cared about me.”
“That’s not true.”I pinch the bridge of my nose.“Where are you?We can talk things out.”
“No thanks, Pops.You’ll just sic the police on me.”
It’s the truth, I would.“Fine, we can talk things out right now.You need to know, I wasn’t able to care for you like I wanted.”
“You didn’t want to do shit.You left me with Mom all the time.She told me how you really felt.”
“You’re going to believe her because she’s your mother,” I say, “but she also loathes me.It’s probably too much to ask of you to ignore the programming you received at her hands.But I loved you, Joel.I love you even now, when I’m so angry I want to throw things.I love you even when, yeah, I would turn you over to the police in a heartbeat.”
“Yeah, I know you would.”
He’s quiet, breathing heavily.
“Joel,” I say gently, “this doesn’t have to be the end of things.We can talk this out.Get you some help.I know Rayanne and Steve probably manipulated you into a lot of things you wouldn’t have ordinarily done.”I don’t know this, but he sounds distressed.If I could just calm him down, I could talk him into turning himself in.Or at least get him to consider it.
“It’s over,” he says.“I’m getting the fuck out of here.You’re no longer my father.”
