Page 13 of That First Night
I’m taken aback and find myself in silence trying to figure out how to answer his question. Where in the world does this kid hear this shit?
If it wasn’t for my little sister, Emiline, he would be fully corrupted at such a young age. All he’s known his whole life are me, Emiline and my two brothers, Marc, and Oliver. Oliver alone is enough to corrupt any kid, at any age. I am willing to bet all the money to my name, that Oliver is who he heard about dingleberries from. And I have a lot of money to my name.
“It’s not something you have to worry about right now, James.”
“But Daddy, Uncle Ollie said I have to watch out for them dingleberries anytime I make a deposit in the golden throne.”
Just wait until I talk to Oliver next. I swear to God… I don’t care what country he’s in right now, I am going to wring his neck.
I shake my head. “First of all, the term is porcelain throne. And second of all, you need to stop talking to Uncle Ollie. Lastly, this conversation is over.”
James, or JJ, as we like to call him because his full name is James Jacob, is only three and a half years old but he is a sponge of knowledge. He is the type of kid who will ask questions about anything you say and do because he wants to know it all. It’s one of the reasons we have to watch what we say around him, because he’s sure to repeat it at some point. He has Ford blood in him, after all. I know I am biased when I say this, but he’s the smartest kid I have ever met, and he certainly didn’t get that from his mother.
God, his mother. Sheila is a fucking joke.
James is the product of a one-night stand. A one night stand I wish I could erase from my brain, but I can’t, and I won’t because it brought me James. He is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I never wanted to be a dad, it wasn’t part of my plan or something that I thought would fit into my life. I am a businessman, first and foremost. I am ruthless in the boardroom and always set out to win, but then James happened. Looking back, I never knew what I would be missing out on because he is my greatest adventure in life.
It hasn’t been easy since his mom walked out on us. She was young and had a life to live. Well, at least that’s what she told us. Sheila had these major goals in life to be a model or an actress or some shit. Fuck if I know. She resented James for changing her body. She knew before even giving birth that she wasn’t going to stick around. I wasn’t a relationship kind of guy, but one look at James the day he was born, I knew I wanted to give him the world and so, I tried. I really did. I wanted her to stay and be a mom for him. Who knew my biggest mistake would turn into my greatest gift in life?
I’m not happy she left, but in a way, I am thankful she did it when he was so young, because now he doesn’t know the difference. He just thinks he's got a daddy superhero. His words, not mine. Again, smartest kid in the world.
“JJ, are you ready to go? Auntie Em is going to be here soon to pick you up for the park,” I shout, from the bottom of the stairs, after he ran off like a dinosaur on a warpath.
“Heck yeah, Daddy!!”
“We don’t say heck, buddy,” I shout back.
“Sorry Daddy, I love going to the park with Aunt Em and getting circle pasties with holes,” he says running down the stairs.
“Circle pasties?”
“Donuts, Daddy. Get with the program.”
I shake my head. “No donuts today, Monkey.”
“Okay, but—” he’s interrupted when Emiline comes running through the elevator doors.
“Where's my favorite nephew?” Emiline screams.
“I’m your only nephew, Auntie Em!” He giggles, running straight into her arms for a barrel hug.
Emiline loves him as if he is her own. I hit the jackpot with my family, that’s for sure. When shit hit the fan and Sheila walked out on us, they stepped up to be extra parents for him. Every day, I am beyond thankful for that. James deserves it. I know deep down, someone will come into our lives and become a mother figure to him. But for now, he’s got all of us.
“You ready to go, buttercup. We’re going to the park to meet a friend of mine.”
“A friend?” I question her and what she’s up to. “You don’t have friends.”
“Yes. A friend,” she scoffs. “Who might just become James' new nanny by the end of the day.”
A nanny. For fucks’ sake. “I don’t need a nanny. I just need some help with James here and there, and we have that covered.”
“We don’t have it covered, Tommy,” she says sympathetically. “Weneeda nanny. You are working more with the new investment in the high rise being built across town. Marc has been inundated with new real estate business since his partner walked out on him. Oliver,” she pauses, noticing James still standing right next to her. “Well, Oliver is busy sticking his eggplant in holes around the globe.”
“Daddy, why is Uncle Ollie sticking eggplants in holes?” he questions me.
I shake my head, and say, “He’s a gardener.” It was the quickest thing I could come up with. Fuck.
“And you know I am starting the nursing program soon. My life is going to be over for the next 18 months. It’s an accelerated program and it’s the hardest program in the tristate area.”
