CHAPTER FOUR #2
I look up at the clock and see it’s a few minutes before five.
Time to clean up and finish up for the day.
Bentley worked with me for about an hour, and then he got distracted by Juan and Jameson working on an engine rebuild on a pickup.
I look over, and he’s leaning over the edge of the truck into the engine, his feet dangling.
He’s got Juan right next to him. Jon came out about an hour ago and is on Bentley’s other side.
Seems they’re having fun with his bazillion questions. He seems to ask whatever comes to mind.
I think the best question I heard all day was when he was first working with Juan.
Bentley was standing next to Jon, and Juan had just made some off-handed comment.
Bentley looked at Juan and asked him, “Why do you call it backfiring when I don’t see any fire in the back of the car?
” I think Jon almost had an aneurysm, trying not to laugh out loud at Juan’s expression.
Bentley looked over at me, and I gave him the answer.
What I said must have made enough sense because he moved on to another question.
It’s good to keep these young men on their toes.
Makes them realize we never have all the answers.
I walk over to them. “It’s quitting time.
We need to get cleaned up and get home. Your mom will be heading home in a few minutes.
She messaged me that she was picking up your brother and sister.
” He follows the guys' directions and puts the tools away.
Then he washes his hands alongside his new favorite person, Juan.
He grabs his stuff and follows me to the truck, talking the whole way about how he hopes he gets to come back tomorrow or another day.
“I think Juan needs my help to get that engine working right.”
“I don’t know if your mom is going to have you spend the day with me or not.
Remember, this isn’t supposed to be a vacation.
” He sighs and leans back into the seat of the truck.
“I know, but I wasn’t going to let that dummy Dexter pick on my friend Abby anymore.
He is always teasing her and pulling her braids, calling her slow, ugly, and fat.
She’s actually super smart, but she’s quiet and doesn’t like to speak in class because she talks funny.
He’s the dumb one.” I know he did what I would do, but I also know that he needs to behave in school and not get suspended again.
“I get why you did what you did, son, but in school, you can’t hit people.
Did you tell your teacher before this all happened?
” Out of the corner of my eye, I see him pout and look out the window.
“Then I’d be a tattletale and snitch. That’s what little kids and babies do.
Besides, Mom says you’re supposed to defend your friends.
” Well, when he’s right and reasonable, how can you argue with that?
“In school, it’s not really tattling when you tell the teacher, especially if this is happening where she can’t see it going on.
The other piece of advice that I doubt your mom ever said to you, but as man-to-man, I’m going to let you in on a little secret.
” I stop at a red light and look over. He seems almost excited to hear what I have to say.
I’m really beginning not to care for their dad and his lack of parenting.
“In life in general, but especially at school, never throw the first punch. If you have to be in a fight, make sure the other guy starts the fight. You’ll get in less trouble that way, and it’s self-defense.
” I really hope Kimbra doesn’t think I’ve overstepped.
A few minutes later, we’re pulling up to her place, and I see she’s pulling into the driveway.
Bentley sighs a big sigh for someone so young.
He grabs his backpack and jacket and opens the truck door.
“Let’s get this over with.” I can’t help but chuckle.
He is super smart, and then there are moments that remind me he’s not quite ten years old.
I walk up the driveway as the kids run into the house.
Kimbra gets out of her SUV with her bags and gives me a tired smile.
I lean down and give her a kiss. “Long day, Doc?” She gives me a slight smile.
“Yeah, long day, and I still need to deal with Bent. This is the part of parenting they don’t tell you about where you’re actually happy with how he defended his friend, but you have to tell him otherwise.
” I grab her bags from her and follow her in.
“He’s a good kid. He kept the guys on their toes all day with his questions.
It was great. Do you need me to take him with me tomorrow?
” She shakes her head. “No, Ms. Elenore is back tonight and already said she would watch him. Besides, I can’t make both days a fun thing for him.
Otherwise, I’m not being that great of a mom.
Want to stay for dinner? We’re having nuggets and french fries tonight.
Real gourmet.” She chuckles as she moves through the house, kicking her shoes off and picking up toys, clothes, and other things the kids have left about.
She gets to the kitchen and opens the freezer.
She lets out almost a whine. “I swear this morning, when I looked, there were chicken nuggets and fries in here!” She pulls out the nuggets but then just stares into the freezer.
I walk over and look. There are definitely no fries in the freezer.
“You got potatoes?” Kimbra looks at me. “Yeah, I have some in the pantry.” I grab the bag of nuggets from her.
“You go do the mom thing, and I’ll get dinner ready, fries and all.
” I have to fight busting out laughing at her shocked expression.
“You’re…you’re gonna cook us dinner?” I make a scoffing sound.
“Doc, this is hardly cooking. I know how to cook. I had to learn so I could survive all these years. This is pretty basic, so I’m sure I can handle it. ”
I’m gifted with her grabbing me by my neck and kissing me with emotion that I wouldn’t have guessed making dinner brought out.
She breaks the kiss and looks at me, her eyes looking glassy.
I might have to kick my own ass for making her cry.
“I was married for more than ten years, and not once did he ever even offer to make anything more than a phone call to order takeout. Thank you, Mathis.” I lean down and kiss her quickly.
“Go do what you need to do. I got this. You’re not alone anymore.
” She nods and heads down the hall to the kids’ rooms.
Kimbra
I can’t believe he cooked dinner for us.
He just jumped right in and helped out. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming because I was starting to believe that men didn’t actually do things like that in real life.
He not only made dinner with homemade fries, but he made a salad that my kids are actually eating.
What kind of sorcery is this? I mean, even Bentley, who’s my pickiest eater, has eaten all his salad and had seconds on fries.
He’s not quite as big a fry eater as most kids, so this is pretty monumental.
Ben’s making dinner also gave me time to have a talk with Bentley, and even though I think he did the right thing, I had to do the whole mom thing and tell him hitting someone wasn’t the answer.
I get a feeling he and Ben had a talk today, and that’s another thing to add to my list proving he’s a unicorn.
Or a cyborg. That’s an alien, isn’t it? I don’t think I’m in trouble. I think I might be already gone.