18. Chapter 17
Richard
Thanksgiving
The strong scent of coffee pulled me from sleep, and I stretched on the couch. I spent the night at my mom’s and heard her in the kitchen, trying to be quiet.
Rolling off the couch, I stumbled into the kitchen, making a beeline for the coffeepot.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t.” I laughed. “The coffee did.”
“It’s so nice having all three of you home.” She looked up at me with teary eyes. “The house will be filled with love and laughter the way it was always meant to be.”
I walked over to the table and took a seat, staring into my cup.
“Richie?” She filled a cup and sat beside me. “Jesus. Am I gonna need something harder than coffee to get through this talk?” Mom asked as she tips her head to search my face.
“I…” Shaking my head, I look up at her. “I don’t know.”
“Fuck.”
My eyes popped open, and my jaw dropped. Mom rarely uses that word.
“You’ve been keeping something bottled up.” She reached for my hand. “You’re my firstborn. I know you better than anyone.”
“I’m holding something in, and I … can’t anymore.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” Mom patted my hand.
“I love her, ma.”
She threw her head back, laughing. “No shit. I know, son. You always have.”
I joined her laughter and shook my head. When we both calmed, I turned to see her face. “Do you know why she left years ago?”
Mom took a drink of her coffee. “Well, the official story was that she wanted to get out of this small ass town and experience what life had to offer.” She shook her head. “But if I were to hazard a guess, I’d say there was more to the story.”
Pressing my lips together, I nodded.
“Did you almost make me a grandma?” She asks quietly.
I shook my head and took a drink of my coffee.
“Son? What’s the complete story?”
Scratching my chin, I looked at my mom and couldn’t stop the tears that filled my eyes. “I beat Coop. Ma, I made you a grandma.” My head dropped to the table. “But she didn’t tell me, Ma. You know why? Because I was an asshole.”
“Richard Garrett. You are a lot of things, but asshole has never been one of them.” Her hand rubbed soft circles on my back.
“You don’t understand, Ma.” I turned my head to see her. “Remember when Ethan knocked Vivi up? And then Henry and Victoria?”
“I remember.”
“I told her I was glad that it wasn’t us. I told her I never wanted kids. That I’d never change my mind on it.”
“Oh.” Mom pursed her lips. “Baby, you were a kid.”
“She didn’t tell me, because I’d already given her my reaction.”
“Oh, baby.” Mom’s hand lifted to her mouth. “So, she left.”
Nodding, I let the small sob out that was in my chest.
“Honey. What did she do?” She reached over and opened a drawer on the hutch behind us, taking out a dish towel and handing it to me. “Did she abort it?”
I shake my head.
“Adoption?”
My whole body shook as I cried. I didn’t even hear my mom push back her chair and stand up. Her arms embraced me as she rocked me, letting me cry.
“Oh god, Mom.” I threw my arms around her and bawled.
My heart finally opened up, letting the pain and hurt out after finding out I was a dad and I never got to hold my little girl.
Ever since Jo told me when we were camping, I haven’t told anyone or talked about it. And with the holiday here, her kids loving me and becoming mine and seeing Cooper with Sammy, I needed my mom.
When I calmed down and stopped sobbing, I sat back, blew my nose, and took a deep breath to tell my mom the rest.
“Do you remember when she was in that car accident?”
Mom nodded and tipped my chin up to meet her eyes.
“She was on her way here. Jo was coming back to tell me.”
“Oh, no.” A tear fell from mom’s eye.
“She went into labor and the baby was stillborn.”
“Oh.” Mom choked back a sob. “So they don’t know if the accident caused the labor or if the labor would’ve happened in its own time.”
I nodded and wiped my face. “Either way, Layla Marie Parks was born and buried.”
“I’m so sorry, Richie. That’s a pain no parent ever wants to feel.” Ma wiped her tears away.
“Ma, I know I’m hurting.” I shrugged. “But she went through it alone.”
“Oh god.”
“I should’ve been there.” My body shuddered as I took a deep breath. “I don’t know what I could’ve done, but then she wouldn’t have been alone. And then she wouldn’t have met assfucker.”
“Assfucker.” Ma laughed and sat back. “You’re right. But you’re forgetting something.”
“What?”
“Without him? She wouldn’t have those five beautiful angels.”
Thoughts of the kids filled me with hope. “I can make sure she doesn’t face anything alone ever again.”
Mom cupped my cheek, pulled me forward, and kissed my forehead. Then she got up and left the room.
I looked around, confused, and before I knew it, she was back. She sat next to me again, took my hand and placed a ring box in it. “My oldest. You are my most serious. My first. You made me a mom and I want you to know I’ve always been proud of you.”
“Awe, Ma.”
She nodded at the box. “Open it.”
Snapping the lid open, I saw my grandmother’s ring. Deep green stones surrounded the diamond. It was gran’s favorite color. I smiled looking up at mom.
“This was Grandma’s.”
“I know. Now it’s yours.”
“Mom, I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say, silly. At least not to me.” She looked at me pointedly. “Just remember when you ask …”
“I’m asking them all.”
“Oh! I’m a grandma.” Happy tears fall from her eyes. “I’ve got Samantha, Layla, and now five more. Christmas is going to be wild!”
The front door opened, and we heard someone coming in. A moment later, Olivia and Sammy came into the kitchen.
“Good morning.” Olivia smiled. “Thank god there’s coffee.”
“Morning, Nana.” Sammy clung to Libby’s side. “Hi, uncle Richard.”
“My beautiful granddaughter.” Mom got up and went around the table to hug the girl. “Would you like to learn how to bake a pie?”
“Like? For real?” Sammy’s lips twisted as she tried not to smile.
“Absolutely.” Mom took her hand. “You can help with anything you’d like or go watch TV.”
“No.” Sammy finally smiled. “I wanna help.”
Libby winked at me before coming around the table to sit by me. “So? Why do you look like you just watched Steel Magnolias ?”
“Wait.” Mom stopped moving and turned around. “You?” She pointed at me. “Watched a chick-flick?”
I playfully glare at Libby. “Had to out me?”
She gave a shrug and took a drink of her coffee. “What gives?”
“He made me a grandma.” Mom turns back to the counter. “We need to peel some apples.”
She gets Sammy set up as Libby stares at me. “Why did you wait so long to tell her?”
“I just learned this summer.” My hands wrap around my mug for warmth.
“So Harrison is a rainbow baby?” She smiled.
“What’s a rainbow baby?” Sammy turned partially to see us.
“It’s when you have a live birth after a miscarriage.” Libby frowned.
Sammy smiled bigger. “Harrison loves rainbows.”
“Which reminds me. Mama Jean, I found the most amazing rainbow teddy bear with a pink heart that I think he’d love for his new room.”
“Yes! When we go shopping tomorrow, we’ll get some housewarming gifts too!” Mom’s eyes twinkled mischievously.
Cooper and Jeremy came stumbling into the kitchen, heading for the coffee, and Libby slipped between them to make a fresh pot.
With all of us in the kitchen, conversations were happening everywhere all at once while we pitched in and helped mom get everything ready.
The chaos felt amazing, and I realized how much I’d really missed my baby brother. Seeing him and Libby together, I knew I could never see him with anyone else.
Jeremy cleared his throat as he grabbed a deck of cards and shuffled. “I invited Andrew.”
“Wonderful!” Mom walked over and dropped a kiss on his head. “I’m so glad you and he found each other again.”
“Just friends.” Jeremy looked panicked.
“It’s all good.” Libby smiled easily. “You gonna deal?”
We sat around playing cards while waiting on things as they came out and went into the oven.
“When are Jo and the kids gonna be over?” Mom asked pulling a pie from the oven.
I sat back and checked my phone. “I thought she’d be here by now.”
Petey and Sadie started barking, and Mom went to see who they were barking at.
“Why don’t they bark at us?” Sammy looked at Cooper.
“Because they know us.” He shrugged. “If it’s someone they aren’t familiar with, then they announce them.”
Sammy had confusion all over her face. “That’s … kinda brilliant.”
“Yup. No stupid dogs here.” Cooper puffed up his chest.
“Except you.” Libby threw a wadded up napkin at him.
He jumped up from his chair and Libby took off running through the laundry room out to the garage.
Sammy shook her head. “He’s a dork.”
“Happy Thanksgiving.” Andrew came into the kitchen with mom, and we heard Libby scream.
“Ugh. Is he chasing her again?” Mom shook her head and put the next set of pies in.
My brother and Libby came back, and we all settled in for another round of cards when we heard knocking. The dogs weren’t barking, but the knocking grew into a pounding.
I jumped up, knocking my chair back and ran to the door, almost ripping it from the hinges to see a bloody, teary Tyler standing there.
“Tyler?” I dropped to my knee and inspected his head. “What? Why are you bleeding?”
“Richard! Bring that boy inside!” Mom yelled.
Scooping up the boy, I brought him in and sat him on the kitchen table as chairs moved away, giving us space.
“Cooper, get the first aid kit!” Mom called out and handed me a warm washcloth.
“Ty, what happened?”
His bottom lip trembled, and his little body shook with erratic breaths. “Har-son pushed me out.”
Checking his face, I saw his lip was busted open, and he had a long cut on his cheek.
“Out of?” I gently cleaning the blood up.
“Window.” He pointed out our kitchen windows towards his grandpa’s house. “He said, get Richdad.”
I looked over at my brothers. “Something’s not right.”
“Daddy comed over.” Tears rolled down his cheeks.
“He just showed up?” Jeremy hands me a fresh washcloth and takes the dirty one.
Inspecting the cut, it doesn’t look deep enough to need stitches. “So, your dad is over at your grandpa’s?”
His little head bobbed up and down. “He yelled lots.”
A dark pit formed in my stomach. “Where’s Harrison, Grady, Briar, and Emma?”
His speech is messed up, and I could feel how rattled he was.
“Har-son said they hide. I get help.” He threw his arms around me. “I scared.”
I gave him a full squeeze and pulled back, letting my mom take my place. “Stay with Grandma.”
“’kay.” He sniffled.
“I’m going to go get your brothers, sisters, and mama.”
The words barely left my mouth when a loud bang had everyone in the room jumping, and Cooper hit the floor.
“Fuck.”
That was a gunshot.
“Give Coop some space.” I called over my shoulder as I ran out of the mudroom to the backyard.
I heard someone behind me, but there was no time to look back. That was a gunshot, and I prayed my family was okay.
Hopping the fence, I heard Jeremy speaking.
“I’m going to look for the broken window and find the kids. Libs is calling 9-1-1.”
I waved him off and checked the backdoor into the garage. I twisted the knob and there’s no movement.
“Dammit!” I dashed around to the front of the house and saw the screen door closed, but the wood door was open.
I ripped open the screen door and Jo was on the floor crying, with blood all over her hands.
“Are you okay?”
She shook her head, and I felt the hot barrel of a gun between my shoulder blades. “I thought I told you, motherfucker. Stay away from my wife.”
How many months ago was that?
“Dude, the divorce was final last month, and you brought your new woman to court.”
He pushed it harder against me. “She was my fuckin’ friend.”
“How was I supposed to know?” I shrugged.
“You talking about me to this dick? Huh, Lynn?” His voice ramped up. “You talkin’ about me?”
“No.” She sobbed. “No Johnny. I wasn’t.” She took a deep breath, fighting her tears. “Please let me call an ambulance.”
“Why?” He laughed haughtily. “With the old man gone, we get the house.”
“Why didn’t you just tell him you wanted the house?” I glanced over my shoulder.
The barrel poked hard into the back of my neck. “I heard you’re trying to buy this bitch a house!”
“Look. Let’s step outside and talk.” I held my hands up in surrender.
A shot rang out, dulling the hearing in my right ear. “Shut up!”
Silence filled the air, along with the scent of whiskey and gunpowder.
Maybe he’s drunk?
“C’mon, man, we can grab a drink.” I tried to switch tactics, to get through to him.
From outside the house, I heard my brother Cooper yell, “Clear!”
Jo looked at me and I mouthed the kids are safe.
She gave a slight nod and pressed her bloody hands down, trying to staunch the bleeding from her father’s abdomen.
“Seriously. What do you want, John?” I tried to keep my voice even. “Let’s talk this out like men.”
“You stole my wife.” He raged behind me.
“Man, I thought you didn’t want her.”
“She! Left! Me!” he punctuated each word by poking me harder with the gun. “You stepped in where you weren’t wanted.”
“Man, I’m sorry.” I held my hands up higher.
“And now you’re stealing my fucking kids.”
Forgive me.
“I’m not trying to.” I huffed out an impatient breath. “But I can’t see her without those brats.”
“You callin’ my kids brats?”
Whoops, wrong words.
“No. No. No. Just that it’s a package deal.” I shrugged. “If I see her, they come with.”
Behind me, I heard liquid sloshing in a bottle, and felt the gun move down.
“Johnny?” Jo’s voice wavered. “If I come home, will you let him go?”
“Oh, now the bitch wants to come home.” He moved the gun from my back, waving it all around while he ranted. “You fuckin’ left me! You left me crying on the floor. I bawled like a bitch, begging the good lord to bring you home.” He paused to take another swig. “But no. You had to be a cunt and keep my kids from me.”
“No. Johnny, you can see them whenever you want.”
“You dumb cunt! Anytime I call you to talk to my . Motherfucking . Kids . You tell me no!”
“They were in school!” She snapped back. “What do you want me to do?”
“You … you let your so-called friends tell you what to do and you let them control you!” He splashed whiskey all over as his arms flailed, punctuating his words. He finished by randomly shooting the wall, then used the gun to point to himself. “You. Didn’t. Care. About. Me! You took my kids away. You took everything and clawed at my heart. You’re heartless. I said I’d give up everything for you. But no!”
The gun goes off again, missing Jo. “You just snuck off and came back to the place you couldn’t wait to get away from. Fuck you, Lynn! Fuck. You.” His neck has veins popping out, his face is red, and spit flies out when he talks.
“They decided to not let me have visits anymore, because of you . I know you told them to take my kids away. You heartless fat fucking cow!”
I noticed his balance was almost gone as he turned to face me. Seeing an opportunity, I cold-cocked him. My fist throbbed, and blood flowed from his nose, making him drop the gun and bottle of whiskey, swinging wide back at me.
“You dirty cock-” was all he got out before I swung again.
He came back with another fist, but not before I grabbed him by the neck. “You will not talk about Jo that way.” I punched him in the gut. “You will not talk about the kids that way.” I punched him again. “And you will follow every god damn rule the courts set before you.”
Hands wrapped around me, pulling me from Johnny. He landed a sucker punch before another officer restrained him.
The resounding horn blared from an ambulance, filled the air, and I felt the cuffs being locked on my wrists.
Happy fucking thanksgiving.