Page 5 of Catching Our Moment
Me
Excuse me. Back off. I’m handling it.
If they came here, I’d be attending bail hearings instead of defending my home from my soon-to-be-ex’s petty theft of small electronics.
My mouth opened, and the words popped out: “I’m going to go home for the weekend and take some time—” Time to stop the planned public evisceration.
James’s expression opened with optimism. “I think that’s a great idea. Go home and be with your friends. Take Aaron?—"
“I was going to see if you wanted to stay here with Aaron and spend some time with him. Talk to him about what will happen with you moving out.”
His hands went back in his pockets, and he shifted on his feet. He stared over my head.
“You have plans.” I thought out loud.
“I’m going to move into the condo I rented…so, yeah.”
Bullshit. Having dropped the D word on me, he was hoping to drop his D on her, obviously. He was hoping to get laid.
Surprisingly, I didn’t care. There was no punch to the gut. My frustration, anger, and maybe embarrassment grew at this further proof that he had his whole life planned out, and my head was still spinning.
“Fine.” I put the KitchenAid mixer back in its place and firmly closed the pantry door.
The phone rang again. I didn’t even look at it, just sent it to voicemail.
“We can discuss Aaron's schedule when you get back.” There was relief and hope in his tone that I wouldn’t be “difficult.”
I nodded. “Whatever.” My new favorite word.
I wanted to take my shower.
I halted. “Just one thing. Not in my house, James. Go to her place or your new love nest. But at least have respect for me, for our son, not to have her in my house. Don’t even pull up in the driveway with her. I don’t want the neighbors talking more than they will be.”
He walked past me but wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Then, let me get a few more things.”
I followed him down the hallway and stood quietly.
Another text came in.
Grace
I tried to talk Shaw down. But he wants to talk to you.
If you don’t answer, he will just come out here. He and Wyatt are making plans.
Dammit. Wyatt was the brother I never had. He was the kind of guy you always wanted on your side and at your back, because loyalty to him was a commandment. Once Wyatt got involved, things happened. Nothing you could necessarily attribute to or pin on him. But they happened.
In school, a bully would mysteriously appear to wet himself during a school assembly, or your rival would finally get caught for cheating on a test and be cut from the team.
Once, we complained to Wyatt about a teacher who stared at our chests and made inappropriate comments. Within a few days, that teacher was arrested for soliciting a female police officer working undercover as part of a sting targeting online predators.
I wasn’t saying he set it up—it could’ve been a coincidence. But when we heard, he looked at his watch and said, “Good response time.”
So, I had grave concerns about unleashing Wyatt.
Besides, I was a bit insulted. They thought I would fall apart.
Me
