AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But I draw a blank.
“Hey, Dad.”
I jump in my chair as Elijah sneaks up behind me.
“Jeez, bud. You should be in bed. What’s going on?”
Walking to him and taking a knee so we can make eye contact, I see faint tears on Elijah’s face.
“What’s wrong?”
I put my hands on his shoulders, rubbing up and down his arms.
“I saw Olivia cry. When she came out to get me. And then I saw Mom leave the house super angry. Did she fire her?”
My heart aches all the harder, and I pull Elijah in for a hug.
“Oh, buddy, no. She can’t fire Liv. I hired her. But I do think she said something mean to her. I’m sorry.”
“I love Liv. I don’t want her to go, and I don’t want Mom to be mean to her or you.”
His tears start up again, and it’s all I can do to hold my own back. I squeeze him tight to my chest and then lift him up in my arms.
“Oof, you’re much bigger than you used to be.” We chuckle lightly. “I won’t let your mom be mean to her anymore. Okay? I’ll make sure Liv knows you love her.”
Elijah sniffles. “Okay. Dad, am I bad for not liking Mom so much?”
Another rip of pain echoes through me. A kid should never have to feel like this. Never.
“No. You are not bad or wrong. Sometimes people do bad things to people they care about. It…well, bud, it sucks.”
Elijah’s eyes go wide, and a tiny smile flickers across his face.
“I know. I shouldn’t say that, but it does. Life is way more complicated than I wanted it to be for you. Your mom did a bad thing, and that sucks. I know we both try hard to love her through it, but it’s hard right now, and I get that. I…”
Sugarcoating it seems like the easier thing to do. But I won’t do that to Elijah anymore.
“I don’t want to be with your mom anymore because she makes me sad. And very angry. She made a promise to me and broke it. I think she also broke a promise to you. She’s not putting your happiness first, which is something you agree to do when you become a parent. So, there may come a time when you need to say what you want to a judge.”
“A judge?”
“Yeah. It’s strange, but when you’re married, breaking up is a big deal. That judge might ask you who you want to live with. And I want you to be one hundred percent honest, even if you’d rather live with her. Okay?”
“Dad, I—”
“I don’t want you to answer right now, bud. Okay? I just don’t want you to be surprised. I want to treat you like an adult because you’ll get there soon enough.”
I could feel the worry radiate through him. I hated this situation before, but now I fucking loathe it.
“I love you, Elijah. No matter what. You’re the best thing in my life.”
“I love you, too, Dad. Um, Dad—” he looked at me with those eyes that said he wanted something “—do you think Liv would come hang out, even if she didn’t work here?”
I smile at him. “Of course. She loves you.”
“I think she loves you, too. You make her laugh.”
A short burst of laughter runs through me. “You think so, huh? Liv is just a friend. Besides, is just making someone laugh really enough for them to love you?”
