Page 59 of Awakening the Sheriff

Milton nodded, sniffling one last time, and slipped away, leaving me alone with Byron.

“Sit down.” I pointed to the couch. Byron hesitated, defiance written all over his face, but he complied, sinking onto the cushion. I took a deep breath, fighting to control my emotions as I prepared for the conversation.

“Why are you so mean to your brother? He looks up to you, Byron, and all you do is push him away.”

“Maybe if he weren’t such a baby, I wouldn’t have to,” Byron shot back, his eyes flashing.

“That’s not fair. You can’t take your anger out on Milton. None of this is his fault. He’s younger than you in more ways than one. Can’t you give him the space to be himself instead of forcing your ideas of who and what he should be onto him?”

“Whatever.” Byron rolled his eyes again, a move he had perfected.

“I take it your actual anger is with me. Can you tell me why you’re upset?”

Lord in heaven, I deserved a medal for keeping my patience. I was so, so close to losing it with him. The only thing keeping me from exploding was the fear it would drive us even further apart.

“Why did you have to go and date a man?”

“I get that you’re upset, but I need you to understand that my relationship with Auden is not about ruining your life.”

“Really?” Byron scoffed. “Because it sure feels like it. Everyone’s going to make fun of me because my dad is sleeping with the sheriff! How could you do that to me when I’m already struggling to fit in here? No one will want to hang out with me, ever!”

My hands shook as I clenched them into fists at my sides. “I’m sorry if my relationship makes things difficult for you, but I deserve happiness too, don’t I? I’ve been single for a long time because I wanted to focus on raising you and Milton.”

“So why can’t you wait until I’m gone, huh? Two more years and I’m out of here, and you can do whatever the hell you want.”

“You want me to wait two more years because it inconveniences you? Are you serious?” I was losing my patience.

“Whatever.” He crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at me. “You’re being selfish again. I want to live with Mom. I want to go back to Atlanta.”

His words were like a punch to the gut. The accusation stung, but I swallowed my anger. I had to try to reason with him. “Do you really think your mom will want to move back to Atlanta with you?”

“She promised,” Byron spat out, looking away from me. “She said she’d sue for full custody and take me back there.”

Had Mandy told him that? Was she serious? A surge of panic bubbled inside me at the thought of losing my son, and I fought to keep my composure. “Your mom can’t have full custody. She works irregular hours as a flight attendant. It’s not possible.”

“Of course you’d say that. She told me she wanted custody of me and Milton when you guys split up, but you blocked it. You don’t want me to be happy. You’re such a liar, Dad!”

“I’m telling you the truth. I hate to say it, but if your mom told you that, she lied. I can show you the court documents if you don’t believe me,” I insisted. “Your mom didn’t want custody. She agreed to let you and Milton stay with me. She loves her job, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But she shouldn’t lie about it, and you shouldn’t blindly believe her.”

“She only works so many hours because you don’t pay her enough child support. If you did, she wouldn’t have to work so much, and she could take care of us.”

“Jesus Christ, Byron, she makes more money than I do!”

Byron gaped at me, probably because I’d full-out cursed, which I rarely did.

“I’m not paying her a dime because I don’t have to. Why would I when I have custody? She has to pay me, and let me tell you, those payments have been scarce. Open your eyes, would you? You’re old enough to know better!”

I wasn’t proud of yelling at my son, but I was done with standing there and taking the punches he was doling out. Mandy had screwed me over hard, feeding him all these lies, and I refused to take it lying down.

Rage, disbelief, and hurt warred in his eyes. “Why should I believe you? You’re the one who dragged us here, away from everything we knew. Our friends, our school… Mom even said you were selfish for doing it, and she was right.”

“Byron, please.” My anger dissipated as quickly as it had risen, and what was left was bone-deep sadness. How had it come to this? “I’ve taken care of you and Milton all these years. I’ve always tried to do what’s best for you. Doesn’t that count for anything?”

“Maybe it would if you hadn’t ruined everything by moving us here and now getting involved with the sheriff!”

“I’m not trying to hurt you. I love you more than anything in this world.”

“Then why are you keeping me away from Mom?” Tears streamed down his face. “I’d be so much happier with her!”

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