4. Sparrow
Skye is forcing me to come to a cookout tonight, when all I want to do is crawl onto the couch and go to bed. Life has been moving fast since the teddy bear was left on my welcome mat. I called Skye and between her and Cam, they instructed me to get my ass up to Michigan and they would take care of everything else. The kids only had a few days left of school, so once I called the principal and explained the situation, we were on our way. Even though Loch and Telle were confused by the sudden move, they were excited to see their Aunt Skye.
Skye tries to see the best in everyone she meets. She also wants all of her people to be happy, and since I’m in her circle, she is subjecting me to the people she considers family. I know I owe them, because somehow, they are renting me this house for only three hundred dollars a month, which is unheard of.
Pulling into Skye and Cam’s place, I spot my friend running up to my car. A car that I’m surprised even made it to Michigan. I’m actually surprised that the thing is still running; this was King’s consolation prize for breaking my heart. And it wasn’t in the best shape when he gave it to me.
“You made it!” She gives me and the kids hugs, like she didn’t stop by this morning with breakfast. I walk up to the group, Skye’s hand in mine, and take in the scene. A few older people are gathered around the grill, some other guys are milling about, but unfortunately for the kids, I don’t see any other children yet. I need to find some for them to meet before school starts in the fall.
Coming to a stop, I reach for Telle and Loch, pulling them from Skye. She just introduced us when Cam is pushed out of the way, revealing a ghost. He drops to his knees, clearly thinking the same thing about me. I’m pulling the kids away, back towards the car, when I hear my name.
“Sp…Sparrow, wait!”
No fucking way he’s been up here the whole time.
And I randomly came to a cookout he’s at.
Why is he here?
“Back in the car, guys. We need to go home, and…I don’t know. But we need to go home, right now.” Loch and Telle wordlessly get into the back seat as I slam the driver’s side door. I pray that the car starts on the first try so I can make my escape.
I see Skye crying in Cam’s arms, and I don’t know what to think. If Skye knew that she'd found King, that she knew the kids' father, my best friend would tell me.
Right?
Slamming on the brakes in front of the new rental that I am going to hate leaving, I turn back and look at the kids.
“I will explain everything. I'm so sorry, but I need you to go in and pack.” Telle stares at me with his glacial eyes before nodding his head. My son somehow always knows when something is wrong.
“Okay, Mom,” Loch mumbles as a tear streams down her face. Loch is my sensitive kid. She is so much smaller than her brother, I have heard a hundred times that people don’t think they are twins.
Rushing into the house, I start throwing things in garbage bags. This place came furnished, and we didn’t move with a lot, so this shouldn’t take long. But I have no idea where we are going to go. I shouldn’t make the kids live like this, but the devil is hunting me down.
The front door bangs open, revealing Skye and Cam. Skye has tears streaming down her face, while Cam has a confused expression on his face.
“You’re King’s bird,” Cam says slowly.
“I’m not King’s anything! You guys…you guys knew, and you tricked me. I thought we were family!” I scream back.
“PB…Sparrow. I swear I had no idea! You know I would tell you. And we are family, so get that nonsense out of your head. But we need to figure this out,” Skye tells me as she wraps her arms around me.
Jumping when the door bangs open again, I back away until I am blocking the hallway. The living room fills with people as my anxiety rises. No one is getting to my kids.
King takes a step forward, but I hold out my hand, halting his movement. “Not another step.”
“I’m not going to hurt you, Bird,” King stammers out.
“That’s not a given,” I say as I wipe the tears from my face.
“Ma! Are we leaving tonight or tomorrow?” I hear Telle yell from his room.
Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I say, “Tonight, Telle.”
An older man steps up, clearly King’s dad. “Now hold on just a minute. Those kids deserve to know their dad. They are staying here.”
He comes closer, and I don’t hesitate to pull the knife from my back pocket. “Anyone gets close to my kids, and I will fucking gut you.”
After what happened, I don’t go anywhere without this knife, a taser, and pepper spray.
“Darlin’, I wouldn’t advise you trying to use that on anyone.”
“And I wouldn’t advise talking about anyone’s kids. They are mine , they are staying with me, end of fucking discussion. We'll be gone in an hour.”
Thirty minutes if they leave so I can continue packing.
“Spare…I don’t think that’s wise…with everything. How about we give it a night. I know your priority is to the kids, where do you think you're going to go?” Cam says as he moves closer to me.
Cam knew exactly what to say to make me pause and take a minute. I don’t have anywhere to go, and now that King is here, I have two men that have me in their sights.
“Bird…please don’t fucking leave,” King pleads to me.
“Mom, Loch…what’s going on?” Telle stands in front of me, trying to stand as tall as possible. “Who are all these people? What’s going on? Aunt Skye, Mom, why are you guys crying? Maybe you all should leave,” my brave boy tells the room.
“Mommy…I don’t feel good.” Closing my eyes when Loch calls out. My sweet girl is a worrier, so I assume she now has a stomachache due to the drama of the last thirty minutes.
Opening my eyes, I turn Telle around so he’s looking at me. “Please go bring your sister some saltines and a water. We’ll stay until morning, okay?”
“Okay, Mom. Are you safe here with them?” Telle hesitantly asks me.
“Yeah, bud. I’ll be fine. Go check on Loch, I’ll be there in a minute.”
Turning back to the group, Skye steps forward. “I’ll go check on her. Is that okay?” I take a few steps to my friend. No one has tried to get down the hallway, so my threat must have done its job.
“I’m trusting you with them. I’ve been trusting you with the most important people in my life. Please don’t let me down like everyone else.” I may have said the last part loud enough for everyone to hear.
Fuck King for thinking that I owe him anything.
He was the first person to break me. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the last.
Skye goes down the hall to the bedrooms, while I turn back towards the group. The room is silent until Cam takes the lead. “How about we cool it tonight? King and I can come back in the morning with breakfast?”
“We aren’t having breakfast like one big family. There isn’t anything to talk about. Me and the kids are leaving in the morning.”
Cam moves closer to me, bending over to whisper in my ear, “I know you're scared. I know your mama claws are out. But no one is going to take those kids, or I’ll be fighting right alongside you. You can trust them with the kids. I. Promise. You.” Looking up, I stare into the man’s eyes.
Taking a step back, I address the room. “Breakfast. The kids will most likely be up by eight. Loch will eat anything sweet but try to bring her some fruit. Telle is more of a bacon and eggs type of eater.”
“And what about you?” King’s dad hesitantly asks.
“Just a coffee, please.”
With that, the people start to clear out of my living room, leaving Cam, King, and his brothers. It physically pains me to look at the man that I loved in what seems like a lifetime ago. He’s going to want to know about the last eight years of my life. It’s not a good story, but Cam is right.
I need help, and King will help. If I choose to let him.