Chapter 9
Micah froze wide-eyed, a spoonful of porridge halfway to his mouth dripping onto the elegant dining table. He stared over Evelyn’s shoulder at whatever had captured his attention.
“Good morning Evie and Micah! May I join you, or am I too late again?” Michael’s smooth voice caressed her ears and jarred her mind.
She watched him enter the room, contemplating if the simple request had more meaning behind it. He was dressed casually in a button-down shirt and well-fitted jeans that highlighted his assets.
“Morning!” came a garbled greeting from Micah, shoveling in another mouthful.
“Anyone willing to give it another try deserves a chance.” She replied, hoping he understood her subtext.
“What’s for breakfast today?” Taking the seat next to Micah, Michael grimaced when he peered into Micah’s bowl.
Michael’s father had demanded the head of the table because that was the place of respect like the rest of them were his underlings. She was curious if Michael had intentionally chosen the chair next to Micah, or if he was just used to a subservient position to his father.
“We have oatmeal every day,” her son beamed.
“Mr. Harding!” Banner exclaimed, placing toast on the table. He sounded as shocked as she was to see Michael.
“Good morning, Banner. Can I have some of what they’re eating? And coffee?”
“Certainly, sir.” Banner’s reply sounded more like a question as he left the room.
“I’m more of a pancake guy, myself,” Michael said returning to the conversation, draping a napkin across his lap and straightening his silverware.
“Is it your birthday?” Micah sputtered through his food.
“No, why do you ask?”
“I’ve only ever had pancakes on my birthday,” Micah answered in a wistful tone.
“Are you in favor of syrup or whipped cream?”
“You can do that?”
“Shall I tell you a secret?” Michael leaned toward a nodding Micah. “Your mom used to like whipped cream and sprinkles on a big stack.” He held his hand several inches above his plate.
“It wasn’t that many or often.” She couldn’t help being amused at his playful side emerging.
Banner stifled a laugh, setting a bowl of oatmeal and an array of toppings in front of Michael.
“And that wasn’t the only thing you liked whipped cream on.” She felt the heat rise in her cheeks at Michael’s wink.
Banner coughed, exiting the room.
“You mean like ice cream?” Micah’s new fascination with food was a welcome distraction.
“Sure. What’s your favorite flavor, little man?” Michael asked, piling layers of sweets and fruits into what he used to call ‘goop’.
“Chocolate, I guess.” Micah scrunched his face in an effort to remember.
“Always a solid choice. A lot of variations there, though I like mine thick and creamy.” Michael smirked, his foot touching hers under the table.
“Just as long as it’s not vanilla?” She teased, remembering his unconventional tastes.
“Nothing wrong with an intensely satisfying vanilla, as long as you mix it up with the ah.... trimmings that capture the imagination and bring the experience to a fierce, all-consuming crescendo.” His stare burned with an intensity she hadn’t seen in eight years. She felt warm for an entirely different reason.
“I want one of those! Is it like a waffle cone? My friend said they were so good.” Evelyn chortled at Micah’s innocent assumption.
“Maybe we can do something about that. With your mom’s permission, of course, I was thinking of spending the day with you?” They both looked at her for approval, fluttering their long lashes over their fawn-brown eyes, reminding her why this was a bad idea.
“Really? That’s awesome!” Micah’s chair scraped the floor as he pushed it back and gave his face a quick wipe with his napkin before standing, ready to leave.
“Don’t you have to work?” She questioned the busy man’s sudden availability.
“I had Meghan clear my calendar.” Michael implied that it was a simple thing but she vaguely remembered reading about a senate debate scheduled for the morning.
“We have a full day planned. Are you sure you’re up for it?” She squinted, not ready to trust him yet.
“I’m looking forward to it.” He responded with an easy confidence that could be a facade. She didn’t know this version of him well enough to be sure.
“The agenda includes the library, playgroup, and my mother’s place. Are you ready to take that on?” Her mother had never made her feelings a secret. Whenever she saw Michael, she made it a point to tell him how he needed to strive to be a better man than his father.
“As ready as I’ll ever be. I suppose it’s way overdue.”
“You have overdue books? Good thing we’re going to the library. I like adventures. What kind of books do you like? Do you ever play the random book game?” Micah slipped his hand into Michael’s as he rattled off questions.
“I think I remember playing that game with your mom. But maybe you can show me how it goes, in case I forgot.” Michael squeezed her son’s hand and she felt it in her heart. The damn thing was trying to convince her to let her guard down.
“Micah, why don’t you visit Cora? Help her make some sandwiches and snacks for today. Also, tell her that Michael is coming, so she can include his favorite.”
“Yes, Mama. Wait until you meet my friends. Tim has an awesome soccer ball. Do you know how to play? You’re going to love my grandma...” Still pummeling Michael with information, Micah started toward the door.
“Sweetie, mind leaving Michael here? We need to discuss some guidelines for today’s plan.” She stood and moved toward Micah, ready to stop him if necessary.
“Ok. But don’t leave without me.” Micah called over his shoulder, reluctantly releasing Michael’s grasp, and dragging his feet out of the room.
“We are not your fucking playthings,” she hissed, peeking around the corner to make sure Micah was out of earshot.
“But you are fun to play with.” Michael cooed, leaning on the wall next to her.
“I mean it! If you are doing this as some kind of retribution, that kid is going to be crushed. Just stop now, before he gets hurt.” She busied herself with stacking dishes.
“I told you. I’m not going to let anyone, including me, hurt you or Micah ever again.” Positioned behind her, his warm breath caressed her neck.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. You consumed and then decimated me once before. I can’t survive that a second time.” It was imperative for her to recall why she was angry with him and brazen it out.
“Evie, I want our forever to start right now. I’m in this completely. Body and soul. I’m going to prove to you that I’ve always loved you.” Curling the hair around her ear, his touch sent shivers through her. He could be so charming and persuasive. Remembering that he was the devil to be despised was going to prove difficult.
“IS THIS YOUR PLAYROOM?” Micah asked in awe, standing at the open doors of a room Michael hadn’t visited in eight years.
“Sort of, but for adults. We always called it the game room. You want to look around?” Michael asked, noticing that Banner had done an excellent job adding some new features while they were out for the day.
“Wow, foosball! Mama, look! It’s like the one at the store. Can I touch it?” Micah was cautious. Even though he was excited, he was careful and didn’t run through the room.
At the park, he and his friends were fearless, taking risks because they knew that their moms were there to support them. Michael wanted Micah to feel that way all the time. He hoped this room would be a good way to start.
“Absolutely! I thought you might like to share this room with me, and maybe your mom sometimes.” He bumped Micah’s shoulder and saw Evelyn observing them, still at the entrance of the room. “Your mom used to be a heck of a foosball player. But she probably can’t anymore after that injury.” He appealed to her competitive nature to draw her into the room.
“Mama, you got hurt playing his game?”
“Yeah, when I kicked her butt four times in a row!”
“It was twice, and that was only because you cheated.” She crossed to the game, fiddling with the handles like she was warming up.
“Whoa! Is that a gaming station?” Micah spied one of the new additions to the room, complete with chairs and headphones.
“I don’t remember that being here.” Her eyes traveled the room. She was so expressive, he saw every time she landed on something familiar.
“It’s kinda new.”
“My friend Bobby told me this just came out. I played the old one at his house before.” Micah called across the room, holding a game case in his hand.
“You don’t need to bribe him. He’s thrilled just to have your attention. You were amazing with his schoolwork and then playing soccer with all the kids. That’s all he needs.”
“And what about you, what do you need?” He asked, moving closer to her.
“To see Micah live a long, happy life.” She watched Micah setting up a game and getting comfortable in the low-slung seat in front of the large screen anchored to the wall.
“I think that’s a given. But what about something selfishly for you?” He whispered in her ear.
“I’m fine, Michael. Don’t try to fix me.” If her words were meant to repel him, her body leaning against him sent a different message.
“I don’t think you’re broken. I just want you to let me in so I can share the burden.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
“Too much has happened. We can’t go back, and I don’t know how we can undo the damage done to move forward.” Her voice caught as she laid her hands over his.
“Come on! You need to choose your avatar.”
“Uh oh! Someone’s getting restless. You should go.”
“You’re not going to play? Are you at least sticking around?”
“If you want me to. I need to catch up on some emails and bills, but I can do that on my phone.” She walked to the overstuffed white leather couch where she and Micheal used to spend hours snuggling.
“Micah, I think I need your help with something.” He stated, easing into the floor-level chair that rocked back.
“Besides the video game?”
“Yes, besides that. I need you to help me figure out how to take care of your mom. She won’t accept help from anyone.”
“Oh, that’s a tough one. It’s always just been her, me, and grandma. I don’t think she’s used to anyone else being around. But she’s also the one who has to do everything. I can’t even open the peanut butter yet.”
“Just the three of you? What about the playgroup? No other family, friends, boyfriends?”
“She tells me about family but they’re all gone. We usually only see the playgroup in the park and she had some work friends but never boyfriends. She said there just wasn’t ‘time for that kind of nonsense in life’.” Micah imitated her voice with his hands on his hips.
“Maybe we could take her out?” He suggested, hoping Micah could give him some ideas.
“Don’t you go to a lot of events together?” Micah asked, fingers clicking on the controller.
“I meant like a date.” Michael looked over his shoulder to see Evelyn on her phone, leaving the room.
“She says fancy places are a waste of money,” Micah replied without looking away from the screen.
“So we start simple. How about ice cream and a movie?”
“Yay!” Micah cheered, but it was unclear if it was for the game or the outing.
“You’ll ask her?”
“Why don’t you do it?”
“We had a fight a long time ago and she’s still mad about it. For good reason, but she doesn’t really want to spend time with me.”
“Are you trying to use me to date my mom? Aren’t you already married to her?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Adults always say that when they don’t want to talk about it.”
“What the hell is this?” She stormed into their space, shoving her phone in his face.
“It looks like a bill from the hospital.” Michael backed up to let his eyes adjust to the picture.
“It’s paid in full! But not from my account!”
“That’s my cue to get out of here.” Micah dropped the controller in his seat and ran out the door.
“Are you sure?” He had been hoping for more time to win her over before she found out about this.
“You don’t think I know how to manage my finances well enough to notice if my monthly installment is missing or not?”
“I didn’t mean that. Maybe there was a mixup at the hospital.”
“Nope. I called, and they said it’s correct.”
“I don’t know what else to tell you.”
“How convenient. I guess I’ll have to call your lawyer or accountant directly and tell them to skip next month’s payment to me. Heath would be overjoyed to comply.”
“Please. Don’t do that. For Micah. I was just trying to help. I want you to be able to throw out your threadbare nightgown and get a new one. Or even go crazy and get two.”
“And this is why I wanted to do my laundry! But Tilly convinced me she’d get in trouble if I did that. Now the entire house is talking about my damn pajamas.”
“We just want you to be able to relax and take care of yourself.”
“Since when? Last week? We’ve been on our own for eight years, literally living hand to mouth. I’ve worked as many jobs at a time as I could physically handle. And when this year is done, I’ll be right back there. So there is no room for me to be complacent, and certainly no room for me to owe any more than I already do.”
“You’ll still have your stipend unless you insist on a divorce. And once we decide to tell Micah about me, we can make child support arrangements. Do you have other debts besides the hospital?”
“Ha! A single mom, barely scraping by? Of course, I do. I play the credit game just like most of the poor schmucks struggling out there.”
“What if I pay them, and we figure out a reasonable plan for you to pay me back?”
“Not on your life! I will not give you something to hold over me. It was bad enough when I was in love with you. Now, it would just be masochistic.”
He didn’t realize it would hurt to hear her use that phrase in the past tense, meaning that she didn’t love him anymore. He was anxious to comprehend if her statement was really how she felt, or if she had blocked everyone out like he had.
“I’m sorry I overstepped. It won’t happen again. Can you let this slide, knowing that I’m trying to learn how to navigate this new version of us?”
“Michael...just...dammit! One day doesn’t prove anything. We’re such different people than we used to be. I want to believe we can make this work, I really do, but Micah is my priority.”
“And you both are mine. We’ll figure this out, together.”