Chapter 28
Martin
I help Chris sort through the groceries while I try to bring up Evan’s birthday and the fact that she and Ryan have promised him a car.
“I don’t feel like talking about this now. I just got back from work.”
“We wouldn’t have to talk about it now if you’d told me before deciding.”
Chris drops the bags and turns towards me. “It’ll be convenient for him to have a car, so he doesn’t always need someone to pick him up. He’s a good kid; he deserves our trust.”
“It’s not a trust issue, at least not with Evan.”
“So the problem is Ryan?”
“No.” I sigh, exhausted. “But you admit that all the decisions about Evan come from the two of you.”
“Evan is a man; we don’t decide for him. Actually, he hasn’t let me since he was twelve.”
“You know what I mean.”
“If you think it was Ryan’s idea, you are wrong; it was mine. He just agreed with me. I can think for myself about what’s best for my son. I’ve always done that.”
“I just wish you had told me about it.”
“I don’t recall ever needing your approval before, do I?”
“Do I have to go to the neighbours’ house so I don’t hear you fighting?” Evan asks as he walks into the kitchen.
“Be serious, Evan, please,” I say.
“I am. The two of you aren’t. So much drama over a car.”
“It’s not about the car,” I reply.
“Oh, right. That’s because Mum didn’t tell you earlier.”
“It’s not that simple, you know. When parents divorce or separate…”
“Stop there.” Evan raises a hand. “First, you didn’t separate or divorce, because you were never a couple except for—”
“You’ve made your point,” Chris cuts in.
“Tell you what. I’ll buy the fucking car myself,” Evan says, suddenly.
I can’t hold back a laugh, and Chris elbows me.
“How would you like to do that?” she asks, trying to keep a straight face, but I know she wants to burst out laughing at him, too, and take the piss out of him with me until tomorrow.
God, we are shitty parents.
“I can find a job.”
This time, Chris doesn’t hold back, and neither do I.
“You’re not encouraging, you know? And not funny either.”
“But you are.”
Evan looks at me with that grin, the one that tells me he’s about to screw me over, big time.
“Dad got a phone call yesterday,” he announces triumphantly.
“What’s that got to do with anything now?” Chris asks.
“Maybe that’s why he feels so cocky.”
“I’m not!” I quickly defend myself.
“Yet you seemed very happy to get that phone call.”
“What the hell are you two talking about?” Chris asks.
“Do you want to tell her, Dad?”
“I don’t get why I should tell your mother about my calls. And why are you bringing this up now?”
“I’m in the mood to chat.”
“If you’re in the mood to chat, I can bring up a bunch of topics.”
“This is more interesting right now.”
“Can you explain it to me, too?” Chris complains.
“Dad has a thing.”
Chris immediately turns to me. “A thing, Martin?”
“I don’t… You can’t…”
“Is this the same person from that message?”
“What message? What did I miss?” Evan asks impatiently.
“A message for which your dad invented the bullshit of the year.”
“But he can’t even tell bullshit!”
“Exactly. But you see, for the C?”
“Move your arse, come on.”
At that moment, Ryan walks into the house, cutting the argument short, and for the first time in my life, I’m actually happy to see him.
“Don’t make a fuss!” Ryan exclaims.
Then someone else steps in behind him, and I suddenly feel like I’ve sunk into the deepest shit of all.