Chapter 49
Layla
While Pete feeds Jasmine a vanilla ice cream cup, I take the meat off the rotisserie chicken to make the same chicken salad sandwiches I made last time.
“I’ve been thinking about those since you left,” Pete says sheepishly.
“Well then, Pete, chicken salad sandwiches you shall have. Do you want me to show you how to make them now since I didn’t get a chance last time? They’re super easy.”
“I’m not much of a cook, but sure. I don’t think I can mess those up too bad.” He doesn’t bother to look at me. He slides the spoon into Jasmine’s mouth with more ice cream.
I crane my neck to the front door and wonder if I need to go find Seth. He wasn’t nearly as happy as I thought he would be about his father stepping outside. I let out a breath of relief when I hear the front door open, but when he slams it, I start to worry.
Pete noticeably jumps at the sound, but Jasmine is not phased. She just points at the ice cream cup and opens her mouth wide for more. Seth stands at the kitchen entrance and looks around.
“Dada,” Jasmine says with her mouth full.
“Hey, Jazzy Girl,” he says back. “I see you’re back to manipulating your grandpa.”
I let out a breath of relief at his playfulness, but one thing Seth never does is get angry around his daughter.
“Oh, I don’t mind,” Pete says. “She has me wrapped around her finger.”
Seth rolls his eyes but doesn’t say anything. I point to the chair at the island across from me. When he sits, I get him bottled water and some of the cut fruit I found in the fridge.
He thanks me but doesn’t say anything else. I make the chicken salad and cut the baguettes. We eat lunch together and talk. The atmosphere at the table is light, but Seth doesn’t say much.
“I was thinking,” Pete begins. He gives Seth a quick glance, and Seth goes stiff as he waits to hear more. “You know how you make the hibachi whenever you visit?”
“Yeah,” Seth says before he takes a big bite of his sandwich. I have the feeling he did that to stop himself from saying something smart.
“Instead of cooking it yourself this time, maybe we can all go to a restaurant.” A big glob of chicken salad falls out of my bread, and I start to cough at his announcement. Seth reaches over and whacks me on the back. “I mentioned it to Dr. Reynolds, and he thinks it’s a good idea. He says he’ll come so he can help me with my breathing. I already made a reservation. I dropped your name, so we have a private room.”
He seems so proud of himself, and I know how big of a moment this is.
“I think it’s great,” I whisper, and he smiles with pride.
“Are you sure?” Seth asks.
“I don’t want to live like this anymore, and I know I fought you about therapy, but it’s been the best thing for me. Thank you, Son.” He reaches across the table and puts a hand on Seth’s. I turn my head to wipe the tears from my eyes.
“Okay. When are we going?” Seth asks.
He slams the bedroom door and paces like a caged lion while I put our clothes in the dresser drawers. He’ll talk when he wants to, so I won’t push him.
“Do you know what the fucking shrink had the nerve to say to me?” he asks. I guess that didn’t take long. After closing the top drawer, I turn to face him. “Other than the usual ‘it’s not his fault’ bullshit, he asked me why I continue to take care of him if I’m so angry. Why build him this house and find him a doctor instead of walking away for good? The fucking nerve. I should fire his ass. He’s not here to question me. His job is to fix that hot mess downstairs.”
He plops himself on the bed and lies back to stare at the ceiling.
“Why do you?” I ask. “And I’m not talking about the house. You’re rich, so that’s nothing to you. I know you well enough to know you wouldn’t abandon him with nothing, but why do you take his calls? Why do you visit? Why do you make hibachi just because he likes it? Why don’t you just take care of him financially and leave the rest alone?”
He sighs and covers his face with his hands. “I like hibachi too,” he says with a shrug. When I remain quiet, he says, “Because despite everything, he’s all I have. At least he was before Jasmine and you. Until a year ago, he was all I had, and as much as I hate him sometimes, I can’t quit him. I’m just as fucked up as he is.”
I walk to him and look down. After several seconds, he peeks through his fingers, and I grin at him.
“You’re a good son,” I say. “A good person.” I take his hands and try to pull him into a sitting position, but he’s much too strong. He finally takes mercy on me and sits up on his own. I sit next to him. He puts his arm across my shoulders and I rest my head on his.
“You’re not so bad either,” he says before he kisses my temple. “Thanks for listening.”
“Spousal privilege,” I remind him.
“It will be my privilege to give you another dirty Whorekowski tonight.”
“You’re damn right, it will be.”
He lifts me onto his lap. “I don’t ever want to come visit without you again.” He holds up his pinky finger. “Promise me.”
I wrap my finger around his. “You won’t ever have to.”
We sit in silence, and I enjoy this quiet moment with my husband. The man I once detested has slowly become my best friend. I move my head and sniff the side of his neck. He smells so good. We stay like this until we hear a soft knock on the door. After I yell come in, Pete sticks his head in. I try to slide off Seth’s lap, but he holds me in place.
“Jasmine is asking to go outside,” he says. As if she understands, Jasmine bounces in his arms and claps her hands. “I’ll go out there with you.” He looks away when he says it, but Seth’s brows shoot to his forehead.
“Are you sure, Dad?” he asks. “Don’t push it.”
“I’m sure. Today wasn’t my first day. I’ve done it a few times before with Dr. Reynolds.”
“Oh!” I say, jumping off Seth’s lap. “Did I ever tell you two that I played on the girls’ basketball team in high school? We came this close to winning a championship.” I put my thumb and index finger close together. Then I start to bounce an imaginary ball between my legs.
“I know someone who’s won two championships,” Seth throws in. I shoot the imaginary ball, and he blocks it. I grab the imaginary ball again and pretend I’m going to shoot, only to fake him out and go around him.
“You know what? Let’s take this outside,” I say to Seth. “I’m gonna whip your ass for real.”
He throws his head back and gives me a carefree laugh. “You’re gonna beat my ass at basketball? Yeah. Okay. It’s on.”
“I’m gonna go change,” I say, suddenly excited.
“Whatever. Nothing will save you from the humiliation you’re about to feel.” He takes Jasmine from Pete and growls at her. “Game face!” he yells. Even Pete takes a step back. “Grrr,” he says to Jasmine. She bares her teeth and growls back. He tosses her in the air. “Game face!”
“Ame face,” she says back with a giggle.
They growl and make noises all the way out of the room and down the hall.
Pete stands there with his eyes wide and says, “They’re nuts.”