Page 56 of In The Game

“Okay!” More rustling of tissue paper. I still can’t believe he showed up with four presents. He probably thought this was the last time I’d let him near Arthur.Am I a mean mom for wishing he didn't bring gifts?

“More paper! But this one has a koala on it. Barrett, it’s a koala! Read it!”

Barrett laughs. “Those are zoo passes so you can go see the koalas with your mom whenever you want.”

“Mom, we can go to the zoo!”

Arthur must be on cloud nine. “That was very thoughtful. Thank you.”

He leans against the countertop while I slice. “You’re welcome.”

“Okay, I’m opening the last one! It’s a bear!”

Barrett clears his throat and then looks over at Arthur. “I know you like koala bears, but since koalas aren’t really bears, I thought I would get you a teddy bear. Because your name means bear.”

The knife falls to the cutting board, and I fan out my fingers on the counter.

He looks down at me while talking to Arthur. “Did you know your mom used to call meBear?”

I purse my lips.This was never supposed to happen.He’s pushing these probationary privileges—big time. If he says a word to Arthur about his connection to him, I’ll turn this knife on him without thinking twice.

Arthur laughs, unaware his mother is about to unravel at the seams. “No, that’s silly! Why did she call you Bear?”

I swallow and pick my knife up to return to chopping. His gaze burns through me, but I don’t look.

“Because my name means bear too.”

Taking out a bowl, I throw all the chopped cabbage and carrots inside.

“Come on, little man. Let’s get this camera set up while your mom finishes cooking.” Arthur runs out of the room.

As Barrett passes behind me, he leans down to my ear and whispers, “Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”

I open my mouth to speak, but he’s already gone.

Shit.

As I finish cooking, I listen to them play together in the living room. I was half hoping Barrett would be uncomfortable around him, but it’s the opposite. I eavesdrop on their conversation while finishing the dressing for the coleslaw.

“Wanna play garbage man?” Arthur asks.

“Sure, how do we play?”

“I’m the garbage man and I go around to clean up the garbage.”

“Cool. Can I be a garbage man too?”

“No, you have to be the garbage.”

I snort.

“Perfect. I’m great at being garbage. But I’m a lot of garbage. Do you think you can lift 240 pounds of trash?”

“Yeah! Look at my muscles!”

“Wow,”Barrett answers, surely admiring Arthur’s baby muscles. There’s a pause and then Barrett says, “Uh oh, we might need to ask your mom for some tape.”

“Why?”

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