Page 36 of Catching Our Moment
I remained quiet. I understood my Kelcie well enough to know when she needed to get it out.
“The second issue is…” Her voice began to break, and her lip began to quiver. She ran her hand over her face again and walked by me into the den that was furnished with a desk and a small sofa. But instead of sitting, she began to pace. I didn’t move and stayed in the doorway of the laundry room.
This was familiar ground to me. She was sangry—a mixture of sad and angry. She was hurting and furious that she was letting it get to her. She didn’t feel in control and didn’t want to let go. Sometimes, I’d stood back and let her blow. Other times, I’d stepped in, held her, and let her get it out with me there to help her. Tonight, my instincts told me to stay back.
I stood still and let her pace, running her hand over her ponytail.
“What’s the other issue?” I asked softly, so quietly I wasn’t sure she could hear me. This was a third way I helped her—I poked the bear and ignited the fuse. Right now, I could tell that this was what she needed.
She stopped, and with the fury of Hades in her eyes, she said, “Because he doesn’t want to deal with him this weekend.”
I dropped my head so she didn’t see the fury building in my eyes.
“His girlfriend’s son has a double-header with his travel team. He wants to go to it on Saturday, and he doesn’t think it’s a good idea for Aaron to attend.” Kelcie’s eyes were glassy as her words hitched.
“Why not?” I said, my eyes still fixed on the floor.
“He said Aaron would be bored, and it would be a long day for him. But really, it’s the crowds. He’s worried Aaron will get agitated and make a scene…” She let out a shaky breath. “And he doesn’t want to deal with it.”
“Aaron sometimes would disagree with the umpire’s calls and was vocal about it,” she continued. “He’d get stressed and have meltdowns. It’s the reason he can’t play team sports, even though he desperately wants to. Most of the time, he just gets overstimulated.”
So why would the man choose something that makes his kid uncomfortable? What an ass. “Okay, well, what about?—”
“Last weekend, Amber’s kids were with their grandparents so that they could have some time to themselves—'for once.’” She used air quotes. “The weekend before that, it was another excuse.”
I drew in a deep breath and looked away, reining in my true thoughts.
“Yes, that’s the man I was married to—one that is embarrassed by his son.”
“That wasn’t what I was going to say.” I shook my head. I was going to say I wanted to stomp on his face.
She shook her head and froze. She lost all color, and a look of horror crossed her face.
I turned to find the cause.
Aaron was on the stairs, staring at both of us.
13
Shaw
“Why do I embarrass my dad?” Aaron asked in a monotone voice, tilting his head. “Have I done something wrong?” He turned to his mom. “I don’t understand.” He pulled on his fingers.
Panic was written on Kelcie’s face. Her mouth opened, but words were not coming out as she tried to walk toward her son.
I stepped forward. “Hey, buddy. What’s the score of the game?”
“21-17, Washington,” he said succinctly, though his gaze was still focused on his mother.
“Is it still half-time?” I asked, trying to buy Kelcie some time to gather herself.
“Yes. So, am I not going with Dad this weekend?” He walked down the stairs and stood in front of her. He was almost up to her nose. His shithead of a father wasn’t that tall, but his grandfather, Kelcie’s father, Holden Hammer, was a former football player himself and was almost as tall as I was.
She hesitantly put her hand on his head, threading her fingers through his hair. “No, not this weekend. Your father is busy, and we can’t seem to arrange it. But we will find something fun to do around here?—”
It infuriated me that she shared the blame.
“Where is he going that I would embarrass him?”
