Page 73 of Heartless Boss
I bend down and my left knee rests on the wooden floor, so I’m on eye level with her.
“I’m going to go away for a few months, so you’ll be staying with Alana.”
“What? Why?” she asks as tears well in her eyes. “Are you leaving me like Mom did? Is it because of me? Did I do something wrong?”
Kids are so pure and innocent that they have a way of thinking that everything is their fault. They always see the world through the lens of love. And that’s what I admire about them. They are not corrupted by the world.
I use the pad of my thumb to wipe her tears. “No, it’s nothing like that. I’m sick, and I need to get better. But when I get back, I promise, I’ll make it up to you.”
Cora gets up from the couch, throws her arms around my shoulders, and hugs me as if this is the last time she will see me.
“So you’re going to a hospital?”
“Yeah.”
She exhales loudly, and her round cheeks are pink. “I love you, Tuxedo Mask.”
“I love you, Chibiusa.”
“When you come back can I come live with you?” she whispers in my ear. “I can’t take another one of Alana’s healthy meals. I love our sister, but she takes healthy to another level.”
I nod. “It isn’t Alana who’s forcing you to eat that, Darien is the health freak.” Ever since Alana married Darien, he got her hooked on healthy food.
Cora hugs me one more time before she pulls away. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She pulls a bracelet of a white cat with a moon centered on his forehead from her wrist. “This is Artemis. He’ll protect you from anything. He’s my good-luck charm.” She places it in my hand.
“Thanks, I’ll wear it everywhere I go.”
“I have to say one more thing before you leave.” She pauses. “Do you know why I call you Tuxedo Mask?”
“Because I wear suits.”
She shakes her head no. “Tuxedo Mask is Chibiusa’s dad. Sometimes, I wish you were my dad. Yes, by blood you’re my half-brother, but you treat me like I’m your daughter. Daddy didn’t treat me like I was his.” Sadness colors her face. “He never really interacted with me when he was alive. We would have dinner at the table, and the only thing he would say to me is ‘pass me the salt,’ or ‘sit up straight,’ or if I was done watching a show when we’re in the living room, or ‘how was school?’” She pauses for several beats, and I glance at Alana. Her face is pale as she hugs Cydney to her chest. I turn my view back to Cora, and she traces her index finger on the shell of my ear.
“I remember when I was little, like five, he bought three bikes for Christmas. Two were pink with white ribbons floating from the end of the handles and the other one was blue. I asked why he bought two extra bikes. He looked so sad and said, ‘These two are for my son and other daughter.’I told him that he doesn’t have any other kids. And he put a helmet over my head and said, ‘I do, and I let them down because I’m a horrible man.’ Then he cried. I think that was the only time Dad was sober. Momma told me the reason why Dad drank so much was because he watched Granddad drown Grandma in the bathtub.”
I look at my ma for confirmation, and she nods. Ma never talked about Dad’s side of the family. I knew our grandparents died when my dad was ten because Ma tried to convince him to visit their graves when she wanted to visit her mother’s grave right after she died.
Then the tears form in my eyes. Cydney wails for her bottle, and Alana leaves the living room.
“Daddy loved you. I think he just didn’t know how to show it. Like Mommy loves me, but she doesn’t know how to love.” She shrugs, and then I kiss her forehead.
For a twelve-year-old, Cora is very insightful and loveable.
“I’m proud of you, Gunner.” She wraps her tiny arms around my neck and squeezes.
“Thank you.”
When I stand, Ma, Herold, and Darien engulf me in a hug and they offer words of encouragement.
When I grab my duffle bag sitting by the oak door, I swing it open to see Logan and Matt standing by a black SUV.
“I heard you’re going to rehab for three months, yeah?” Matt says, taking his toothpick from his mouth and tossing it to the wet asphalt.
I shoot Darien a look.
“I sent out a group text. I figured you need all the support you can get.” Darien pats my back. “Get your ass in the car.”
After I toss my bag in the trunk, I hop in the passenger seat.
