Page 28 of The One I Love
I know I should tell them to not talk about their dad like that. I definitely shouldn’t be smiling about it. But deep down I’m proud that my kids are smart and see people for who theyare. I’m also not about to try to convince them he’s the best dad on the planet. He did this to himself. He showed his colors in many ways over the years. He either love bombs, or berates, or is around all the time, or is gone for months. They are tired of wondering which version of their dad they’ll get. And I don’t blame them. I wondered that when he was my husband.
The conversation fades as Luke takes off for baseball and Mariah and I head over to Wes and Betsy’s. I take a glance over to my daughter, who, of course, is typing something on her phone.
“Still trying to decipher the text code for Gabby?”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m texting Uncle Shane.”
“Oh,” I say, trying to keep the surprised tone from my voice. “About what?”
“Letting him know that Dad might be coming Tuesday.”
I let my head fall back against the seat. “Why would you do that?”
I see a devilish smile form on her face out of the corner of my eye. “Because it’s funny to watch Dad squirm when Uncle Shane is around.”
She’s not wrong. Paul and Shane hate each other. Always have. They did in high school when they played football together. Paul was always questioning me about our friendship. Things escalated when Shane came back from his deployment and things were getting rocky in our marriage. Fights about Shane were a common occurrence. Then there was the day I’ll never forget—the day I left. I still remember the look of terror in Paul’s eye as Shane pinned him to the floor.
“You know by texting Shane you’re just stirring the pot.”
She shrugs with a satisfied smile on her face as we pull into Wes and Betsy’s. “It’s what I’m good at.”
We get out of the car to a waiting Emerson and Betsy standing in the driveway. “Morning!”
“Good morning,” Betsy says as Mariah and Emerson make their way to the house. “We got donuts and coffee for breakfast.”
“Smart idea,” I say as she hands me a coffee. “I could kiss you right now.”
She waves me off. “Least I could do for letting us borrow Mariah.”
Speaking of, she didn’t even tell me goodbye. “Mariah! I’ll come get you later.”
“Okay, Mom!” she says, but stops in the doorway before turning back. “Uncle Shane said he’s going to switch his shift so he can be there on Tuesday!”
Mariah and Emerson walk inside, and when I turn back to Betsy, who is nothing but curious. “What is Shane changing his shift for?”
“It’s nothing. Her dad called this morning and said he’s going to come to her track meet. So my daughter, the shit-stirrer she is, texted Shane to come as well.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Their dad isn’t exactly the one to always be around. And he hates Shane, and vice versa. My daughter, who is an instigator to her core, woke up today and chose violence.”
“Interesting,” Betsy says. “And Shane is coming? No questions asked?”
“He is,” I say. “Though, in his defense, if my daughter says jump, he asks how high.”
“Very interesting.”
Betsy’s look is more than one of interest. “What?”
“I just find it intriguing that Shane, who most days we can barely get out of his house, is willingly going to middle school sporting events.”
“It’s for Mariah,” I defend. “That’s it.”
Betsy grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Amelia, Iknow we’re still getting to know each other, and you’re used to the guys, who I love, but are all a little obtuse. I notice things. The guys might just brush off Shane going to your kids' events, but how many have Oliver been to? Or Simon? And I have noticed on more than one occasion that when you’re around, Shane is not the same. And he definitely doesn’t look at you like you’re one of the guys. Oh, and then there was that whole caveman thing at the wedding.”
I nearly drop my coffee. “You saw?”
“I saw him march onto the dance floor like a man possessed and drag you away. So either someone was on fire or Shane didnotlike you dancing with another man.”
