11. Chapter 10
Richard
I drove home in my cold wet sticky boxers. Remembering how tight her hand gripped me overrode any discomfort I felt.
Every stroke, finger movement and change in tension had me losing control as though I was a teenager again.
Who knew you could still find excitement in that old treehouse?
On my drive back to the shop, I took notice of all the houses for sale. Nice family houses with decent yards.
Whoa! Slow down there. She’s not divorced yet. She may not want to pursue something with me. I might be the rebound schmuck.
Lost in thought, I drove around to the back of the shop, narrowing my eyes when I saw her ex leaning against a strange car that didn’t belong to us.
I parked and got out of my truck. “Need something?”
“Yeah.” He spat tobacco juice on the ground. “You to back off my wife.”
Asshat.
I nodded, pressing my lips together. “You must be John.”
“I am.” He balled his hands into fists. “My kids have a dad.” He pointed to his chest. “Me.”
“Well.” I shrugged. “It takes more to be a dad than screwin’ their mom.” I winked at him, watching as his nostrils flared.
“You think you know me, motherfucker?” He took a step towards me. “You only know what that fat bitch is saying about me.”
I gave my beard a scratch. “I think you need to leave my property.”
“Why don’t you make me?” He puffed up his chest.
Nodding my head, I pulled out my phone. “Sure thing.” I gave him another wink as I typed out a quick message to Jeremy. Then I made a call with the speaker on.
“Nine one one, what’s your emergency?” My brother’s smooth voice flowed out.
“Yes, I have someone on my business property, that is trespassing. I asked him nicely to leave and I feel they may need some help.”
“You dumb motherfucker.” He growled, got into his car, slammed the door, and cranked the engine. He spun his tires as he left, flipping me off as he drove off.
“They gone?” Jeremy chuckled.
“Yep.”
“Who’d you piss off?”
I heard Cooper in the background. “Do we need to go kick ass?”
“Jo’s ex.” I chuckled. “Tell the Marine to stand down.”
“Can do.” Cooper grumbled.
Jeremy stopped laughing. “Maybe you should come stay at mom’s tonight?”
“Nah. I’ll be okay.” I blew out a sigh. “He thinks he’s big shit, but he’s not.”
“Want us to come stay with you?”
A smile stretched across my face. I loved my brothers. “Thanks, but I’m good.”
“Anytime, big brother.”
Ending the call, I went inside and upstairs to my apartment to shower and relax for the rest of my day off.
Jolynn
The next week was filled with tea parties, Candyland, silly cartoons, snacks, diaper changes and trying to find a job.
Richard and I talked every night before bed, and after we hung up, I’d cry myself to sleep.
What was I thinking messing around with Richard? Five kids, a fat me and an asshole that pops up like a bad penny. He deserved better.
Harrison walked over to where I stood. “Mom, can we go camping?”
“Camping?” I stopped chopping vegetables and looked at him, confused.
“Yeah. You know? In tents, with sleeping bags and bears.”
I went back to my celery. “Bears are big and scary. What about a trial run in the backyard?”
He sighed. “But that’s not real camping.”
I’d only been camping a handful of times. I didn’t know the first thing about it. But I knew as a single mom with five kids I couldn’t do it alone. “What do we do with the girls?”
“Can’t we find a sitter?” His little shoulders shrugged, and I saw the anticipation in his eyes.
“Can I think about this?” I added the chopped celery to the crock pot.
He shrugged, and with shoulders drooping, left the kitchen.
How am I supposed to juggle everything? How the hell do I make it work so I can give him what he needs while keeping the girls happy?
I pulled a carrot out and chopped it up to add in. While I stood there overthinking, I missed the vegetable and sliced my finger.
“Shit!”
“Jolynn!” My dad scolded me. “Don’t be talking like that with littles in the house.”
“Sorry, Dad.” I blew out a frustrated breath and ran to the bathroom.
Behind the closed door, I slid down to the floor and let the tears flow.
Every promise John broke, and every nasty thing he said added to the tears. Every time he treated the boys like they didn’t matter. At all. Every time he made them be quiet because he didn’t want to hear them. For every fucking time, he lied about where he was and took money away from what we needed.
All those hurts made their way out of my body. The tears felt like they carried my failures and there were so many. I clamped my hand tightly over my mouth, trying to muffle any sounds from escaping.
This was my private hell.
Richard
Friday night came, and I had to force myself to stay home and not hover around Jo. After my shower, I kicked back in sweatpants with a bowl of popcorn in my lap. Demolition Man played on my TV for the thousandth time when my phone went off.
you still at your mom’s?
nope
bummer
everything ok?
…
yeah, things are fine
what’d ya do today?
J came out for another visit. it was fine
he was nice and played with them in the front yard and held the baby, honestly? It was weird.
he’s on his best behavior
exactly
he did ask who you were because the boys couldn’t stop talking about you
my dad told him you were an old family friend. Then the boys told him how nice you were taking them to the fair, playing ball with them
asshat knew who I was, he came to see me last week
oh no! Richie I’m sorry
don’t be
so you wanna tell me why you’re only fine?
There’s no response for twenty minutes and then a string of messages rolled in.
he changed his status on Facebook and posted a bunch of pictures with a new girl after giving me hell over and over and over and over again about us getting back together and then he bitched me out about you
and then kept right on going because you’ve been more of a dad than he’s been this whole time to his children. He never wanted to go to the fair. He never wanted to be home. He never wanted to be involved.
I would leave to grocery shop and he’d start calling me 30 min after I left because the kids were getting on his nerves. He didn’t want to keep a job. He didn’t want to find better housing. AND NOW with the new girl, he’s doing all that.
what’s wrong with me? Why her? Why now?
I gave it a few minutes to make sure she’s done before I respond.
Ever think maybe it’s not you? Maybe he wasn’t good enough for you and this is all an act? It’s easy to leave and find someone new when you’re not invested. I bet she lets him do whatever he wants and she goes along with whatever he wants.
and that’s what he wants. He doesn’t want to be tied down or told how his so-called money is spent. He isn’t worthy of you.
or those kids
My phone rang, and I knew it was her. “Yes?”
“Oh, my god. Did he really show up at your shop?”
“He did.”
“Did you really call the cops on him?”
I busted out laughing. “No. I messaged Jeremy and then called him. He played along.”
“Really?” She laughed with me.
“Really. He doesn’t scare me, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let him disrupt or hurt you and them kids ever again.”
“Why are you being so nice?” her voice trembled, and I wished I was there to hold her.
“I’m not being anything, Jo.”
“Richie.”
“This is who I am. You know me.”
“I do know you.” She sniffled. “Anyway, he called me about a half hour ago. He got pulled over and now he’s in the pokey.”
“What? Why?”
“Driving on a suspended.”
We both laughed harder, and I leaned my head back. She got quiet, and I heard a door snick closed.
“I really need my own space.” Her voice filled with defeat.
I knew that tone. She felt overwhelmed and needed some downtime with a good cry. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“My dad is old. And set in his ways. Us being here was fine in the beginning while mom was sick, but now … he’s grumpy . Oh, and I have no privacy. Like zero. I can’t even sneak away and hide in the fucking bathroom. Then … then there’s the unsolicited parenting advice and I feel like I can’t raise my kids how I want.” She sniffled. “I can’t find a goddamn job because I don’t have a diploma or GED, and my kids are growing and I don’t have the money to keep up. John never has any money.”
“Jo?”
Her voice grew harsh and quieter as she rambled on. “But he can get booze, chew and drugs! And now Harrison wants to go camping and I can’t take them all camping. I don’t know the first thing about it and what would I do with the girls? And how would I keep track of the boys?” She half laughed like a maniac as her voice rose in panic. “Oh. Then I’d need to get the camping gear. And I’m sorry. There is no more money in my fat. Ass! Do I need to suck dick to afford camping stuff?”
I tried hard not to laugh. “Jojo.”
She snapped. “What?”
“Jojo, breathe.”
“Richie … you don’t understand.”
“Bullshit.”
“Richie?”
“Did you forget who you’re talking to? Don’t you remember your parents or some of the church ladies donating hand-me-downs because Pop needed his booze more? Don’t you remember all the shit we couldn’t do because there wasn’t any money?”
“Oh, God.” She sobbed. “I …”
“You’re wrong. I do know.”
She sobbed softly into the phone. “Please, tell me how I can help my boys.”
“They need time to adjust to life without him. Just like you do.” And for the second time tonight, I wished I was there to hold her.
“What if I’m playing with your emotions and I’m clinging on to you because I don’t want to be alone?”
“Are you?” I moved and set my popcorn on the coffee table.
“I’m so scared that what’s between us is you feeling sorry for me.”
“Seriously? You think so little of me that I fuck around with just any woman?”
“Richie, I did something so, so, so stupid.” Her sobs grew. “I hated myself for leaving how I did.”
“Then why did you?” My throat tightened, and I felt tears in my eyes.
“I had to.” She blew her nose. “I’ve missed you. Every day I was gone, I missed you.”
“I missed you too, Jojo, and all we can do is take things slow and see what happens.”
“Richie, I’m a mess.” She whispered.
“We all are.” I swiped the tears away.
“I … uh, suggested camping in the backyard.”
Topic change. We can do that.
“If they want to try that, they can crash in the treehouse.”
“ Our treehouse?”
“Oh?” I chuckled. “It’s ours now?”
“Well, I mean after Sunday.” She laughed tenderly.
“You’re so cute.” I cleared my throat. “Hey Jo?”
“Yeah?”
“I have camping gear if you wouldn’t mind me tagging along.”
“You really want to go camping with my crazy ass and five kids?” She barked out a laugh.
“Actually, yeah. I would love to.”
She was quiet for a moment, and I heard her draw a deep breath in. “I would love to have you teach us.”
“So, next weekend?” I mentally checked my schedule.
“Sounds good to me.”
“Tomorrow, come by the shop. I have the papers for the van.”
“Richard Garrett Parks. Where is my van?”
I cleared my throat again. “Um, junkyard.”
“What!? Why?” Her panicked voice was back.
“Because it was a piece of shit, Jolynn, and I’m not having you and those kids driving around in a death-trap!”
“You … you bought me a van?”
“It’s late, baby. You need to get some sleep.”
“We’re not done talking about this, Richard.” Her mom voice came out, making me chuckle.
“We can duke it out tomorrow.”
“Fine.” She sniffed. “G’night.”
She ended the call, and I sat there smiling like a fool. I loved her so much I would move heaven and hell for her. I know I’m not the rebound. Asshat was.
I looked forward to our fight tomorrow because the pervert in me wanted to bring her up to my bedroom and fuck her silly.
Slow down, dipshit, she needs time.
Opening my messages with Libby, I shot her a quick text.
Jo needs a job
She hit me back a second later.
We could use another office monkey.
Smart girl. She knew exactly what I wanted.
Tossing my phone aside, I hit play on my movie and smiled like a fool. I haven’t camped in years, and now I get to take my future family.