Page 99 of Catching Our Moment
I stared out the window, Shaw unable to see my face as we drove in silence to the airport.
40
Kelcie
I tried texting Aaron again to check on him. Before he finally responded, I’d been about to call James again to find out if he had taken away Aaron’s phone.
Aaron
Mom, Dad made me leave with him. Are you going to come get me?
Me
Yes, honey, don’t worry. Your father and I had a miscommunication.
Aaron
I don’t like it here, Mom. This wasn’t the plan. I was supposed to watch the games with Grace tonight. She was making chili. I want to come home.
Me
I know, honey. I’ll be there this evening.
Aaron
Is Shaw coming? Dad is saying bad things to Ms. Amber about you and Shaw. I can hear him from the other room.
I’m sure he was. James’s anger was in full tilt.
Aaron
Dad and Ms. Amber are arguing about where I’m going to live. Mom, I don’t like this.
Son of a bitch. I decided to call Aaron and let him hear my voice. I didn’t care what James thought.
“Hello?”
“Hey, honey. I know you don’t like to talk on the phone, but?—”
“Mom. I don’t like them talking about you, and I don’t want to live here.”
My boy’s tone was edgy and panicked. I needed to be there to talk him down, to hold him tight and help him calm down.
“Honey, it’s okay. Your father is…” I said and then realized I was going to make excuses for this man—again. Well, not this time. “Your father is being a jerk.”
“He’s being an asshole,” he said, and I heard the tears in his voice.
“Okay, yes, you’re right,” I said, and we both got quiet for a beat.
James’s voice broke the silence. “Aaron, get off the phone. You’re supposed to be doing your homework.”
“I’m talking to Mom,” Aaron said. “And I don’t have any homework.”
“Give me that phone,” he said to Aaron, and then to me, he said, “Where are you?”
“I’m at the airport. I’ll be home in a few hours.”
“It will be too late to bring Aaron back. He will stay here this evening,” James declared. “You shouldn’t be giving in to his demands all the time.”
