Page 55 of The Sun to Me

Chapter Twenty

Michael’s next visit with Jace went by fast. He was still monitored by a state worker who held an unbiased opinion of the custody battle between him and Marilyn. He was happy to see that she wasn’t even around when he had arrived – only the worker and Jace were present, and his child warmed up to him fast, remembering him from last time.

They played with the Legos the most, building large towers, cars, and buildings before they paused to eat the McDonald’s Michael had brought with him.

“You remembered that the McNuggets are my favorite.” Jace studied one of the pieces before dunking it in a huge glob of ketchup.

“I did. I don’t know too many people who don’t like them.” McDonald’s was rarely his choice for food, but with children involved, he figured he’d be eating it a lot. “How’s everything been going since we last saw each other?” He didn’t want to ask too many prying questions, but he was hoping to gain more information about his living situation. And he genuinely cared about Jace’s life and wanted to know more about it.

Jace shrugged and nibbled on his nugget. “Mommy is still with that man. What’s it like living with you?”

Michael considered the question for a second. Mitch had been on a huge drinking binge for days, sleeping it off and then starting over as soon as he got up for the day. He hadn’t mentioned their fight, nor his threats to tell on him if he didn’t make it home by curfew. Maybe he forgot it ever happened, especially since he was completely wasted when they had that discussion.

“It’s okay for now. Where I’m living is temporary.”

“Temporary? What’s that mean?” Jace looked up at him, his green eyes the same exact color as Michael’s. His dark hair was shaggy, and he needed a haircut, but Jace was his. Completely his, with very few resemblances to Marilyn except for a few of his facial expressions.

“It means that I won’t be staying where I am forever. I’m just there for now until things settle down and I can start making more money.”

“Mommy says she can make money real easy.” Jace finished another nugget and slid his finger through the ketchup, licking it from his skin.

“Yeah? What does mommy do?” Michael figured he’d regret asking, and even looked over to the monitor to see how closely they were paying attention. They seemed bored with their phone open as they scrolled through whatever was on the screen. Michael wasn’t going to let his guard down – it could all be a game to pretend they weren’t listening.

Jace plucked a fry from the bag and popped it in his mouth. “She sells things. She has weird people come over and closes the door.”

Michael held his hand up to stop him. “That’s okay. You don’t have to tell me anymore.” He made a mental note of all the things Jace told him. Things he could tell his lawyer as he prepared his custody case.

“She’s just busy. And I have to stay in the backyard or my room all the time. She says it’s things I shouldn’t see.”

Michael reached across the table and ruffled Jace’s hair. “I’m working on some things, Jace. I can’t make any promises, but I hope I can help you. I hope I can make things better for you.”

“I wanna come live with you. Even if it’s just tempay… I bet it’s better than with my mommy and her boyfriend. Or husband. I’m not sure what he is.”

Michael smiled at Jace’s misuse of the word. “Temporary. It’s all temporary.” His mind went to Haize and all the time they had been spending together. How they both had said they loved each other and all the meanings that word meant. He imagined how it would be to not have a damn curfew hanging over his head, and one day be able to spend all the time he wanted with her. Never having to leave her bed… living under the same roof. It sounded like heaven. It sounded like something he didn’t deserve.

“How much time do we have left?”

Michael glanced at his watch. He was always timed in everything he did. Always having to watch the clock. “It’s time to go, buddy.”

“Already?” Jace’s lower lip stuck out and he folded his arms over his chest. “I don’t wanna go back home. I wanna stay with you.”

“You’ll be with me soon.”

“When?”

“I don’t know. I’m working on it as fast as I can, I promise.”

The monitor stood up and stretched, sticking his hand out for Jace to follow him. Michael was a few steps behind, tossing their food trash into the container as he went out to his pickup. Winter was settling in over the mountains and he could feel the cold air blow down into the valley.

A car window next to the truck rolled down and Marilyn stuck her head out, her devious smile raising the hair on the back of Michael’s neck. “You’re looking so fucking good, Mikey. What are you doing differently?” She looked skinny and gaunt… her teeth needed some dental work. She wasn’t the Marilyn he remembered. Or maybe that’s how she was, and he was blind to it all.

“You should try being sober. It’s a totally different experience.”

“What is?”

“Life.” He spread his hands to motion around him.

“It won’t last, Mikey. You’re gonna relapse.”

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