5. King
Sleep did not come last night. How could it? Sparrow and I finally found each other, but the reunion is not the one I’ve spent countless hours daydreaming about. Sparrow was once all smiles and laughter, but the person I saw yesterday was just a shadow of that. I keep replaying my conversation with Cam, making sure I don’t forget a single word.
We are back at the house, and I slam Cam against the wall. “What the fuck happened to her?” Cam easily throws me off of him, my dad stepping in between us. Cam and I are the same age, same height, same temper. Even though we're best friends, we have come to blows a few times.
“I’m sorry, King, but it’s Spare’s story to tell.”
“Spare?”
“Umm…I tried to call her birdie, and I thought she was going to cut my dick off. Now I know why."
“Cam, we need to know what we are up against here. I’m sorry, but that girl does not seem like she should be raising my grandkids. To be honest, she seems a little unstable.”
Before I can respond to my dad, Cam shocks us all when he slams my dad down into a chair. “Everyone fucking listen and listen good. Anyone threatens her or tries to take those kids, you will also be fighting me. Sparrow has been to hell and back a few times. That should be enough. That woman will fight to the death for those kids. You should be honored someone like her is raising your grandkids.”
Once Cam left last night, I went back to Sparrow’s and sat at the end of the driveway all night, one reason I didn’t get any sleep. Sparrow is running from something, she may not trust me enough to tell me what yet, but she needs protection.
I failed her once already; I won’t do it again.
Leaving the end of the driveway at sunrise, I head home so I can get a workout and a shower in before heading back to Sparrow’s with breakfast. My emotions are all over the place. I found Sparrow, or she found me, and we have kids.
I’ve missed everything.
I was an angry kid when we moved up here, so my dad put me in a kickboxing class and I haven’t looked back since. I’m getting antsy to get back over to Sparrow’s; I don’t want her to think that I’m not coming so I end my workout early to shower.
Walking into the kitchen, I’m shocked to find my dad and brothers waiting for me. Ace usually sleeps until the afternoon unless he needs to go to his motel. River has weird sleeping patterns, something he picked up from our childhood.
Looking at my dad, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m going with you. I would like to know what she has to say.”
“Pop—”
“Son, whatever it is, I can tell it isn’t good. I have a feeling you didn’t leave her with that scar on her face. You didn’t leave her underweight.”
The fuck I didn’t.
Cam and Skye walk in, Skye’s eyes red and puffy. It looks like they didn’t get any sleep last night. Skye clears her throat before speaking. “I know you are all very similar. I don’t know who is coming, but I would suggest a small group. Don’t move too quickly in her direction. Try to keep your tempers under control. If you don’t, she will shut down, and you won’t get any more out of her.”
I think I’m going to be sick.
Hanging my head, I take a few deep breaths before responding. “Let’s go feed my family.” Lifting my head, I point at my brothers. “You two stay here this visit. I don’t want to spook her.”
I’m not letting my bird fly away from me.
Skye takes the lead when we get to the rental and lightly knocks on the door. A moment later, Sparrow slightly opens the door and lets us in. Taking her in, I’m shocked at what I find. She is wearing a ratty T-shirt, but that’s not what has my blood boiling. There are scars on her left arm, the other covered in a sleeve of tattoos.
“Morning, PB. We come bearing food and coffee!” Skye tries to say happily, but it falls flat.
“Thanks, Jelly,” Sparrow responds with a yawn as Cam hands over a coffee. She gives him a small smile in return, and I want to hit my cousin. That should be my smile. All of her smiles belong to me.
The kids come in, and after staring us down, we all sit around the small table. Everyone stays silent, not wanting to talk about the reason they are here in front of the kids.
Staring at the kids, there's no doubt in my mind that they're mine. Telle looks exactly like I did at his age, right down to our matching dimples and crystal blue eyes.
“Who are you, guys?” my son says, breaking the silence.
God, my son. I have a son. And a daughter.
Finding Sparrow’s eyes, we stare at each other for a minute before she speaks. “Telle, Loch, this is your dad,” she points in my direction, “and grandfather. Remember, I told you that we were separated when we were younger. And that there’s no way that he would have stayed away if he knew about the two of you?”
That’s an understatement.
My daughter, who is her mother’s twin, tilts her head and stares at me and Pop. God, I could stare at her for hours. I can’t believe how much she looks like Sparrow, down to her squinting when she is trying to figure something out.
My son, on the other hand, is looking at me like he wishes he had a weapon to use on me. I hold his stare, but this kid could win a staring contest.
Easily.
“Where the hell have you been? We don’t need you! ” The chair screeches as Telle shoots out of his chair. He points a shaky finger my way. “You stay away from us, stay away from my mom!” He runs out of the room, slamming a door.
“If you will excuse me a minute. Jelly.” Sparrow points at Loch before leaving the room.
We sit in silence until my daughter opens her mouth, “You weren’t there when we needed you. If my brother doesn’t want you here, maybe you should leave. Aunt Jelly, I’m going to go lay down.”
“Your stomach?” Skye asks as she walks up to Loch.
“Yeah. I don't want to worry…but.” Loch shrugs her shoulders before leaving the room.
What have my kids gone through?
Looking around, I spot blankets on the couch, but that doesn’t make sense. This is a two-bedroom place, why would anyone be sleeping on the couch?
“She stopped making the kids share this year. So, she sleeps on the couch.” Skye starts cleaning up while we wait on Sparrow. I feel like I need a pack of cigarettes, a bottle of Jack, and a good fight.
“Okay, what do you guys want to know?” I turn and find Sparrow back, this time wearing a sweatshirt.
Everything.
I want to know everything.