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“Unfortunately, yes. Whenever I go to see Cody and Katrina, or pick them up to do something with me. Why?”
“Make up with her. Grovel if you have to. Apologize for being a dick.”
“That’s rich, coming from you. Have you ever groveled to a woman in your life?”
Levi shrugged. “No. But we’re talking about you, not me. You’re miserable, if your humor is any indication of that. Laurel’s probably miserable too. You’re not going to give up on your kids, and it doesn’t sound like you want to give up on her. So what other choice do you have?”
“I’m not groveling. But I could apologize for fighting with her, I guess.”
Levi got up. “That’s my advice. Take it or leave it, but stop being a dick to the employees, okay?”
Before Zack could respond his cell phone rang. “It’s Laurel,” he said.
“My cue to leave. Good luck.”
“Laurel?” he answered.
“Uncle Zack, it’s Cody.”
*
“Uncle Zack?”
“Cody? What’s wrong?” The boy’s voice was weak and pitiful. And it didn’t sound put on. He sounded scared. “Does your mom know you’re calling?” He knew Cody could read, but he hadn’t known he read well enough to find Zack’s name in Laurel’s contacts. But maybe Laurel had dialed it for him.
“Mommy’s sick. Me and Katrina are sick too.”
“Can Mommy come to the phone?”
“No. She’s frowing up. And when she stops frowing up she lies on her bed and does this.” He made moaning and groaning sounds.
“Are you and Katrina frow—I mean throwing up too?”
“Nuh-uh. But my tummy still hurts and Katrina won’t stop crying.”
“How long—Never mind. I’ll be right there. Can you let me in?”
“Probly. ’Cept if I’m frowing up.”
“I thought you said you weren’t—” He cut himself off, aware that talking to a six-year-old on the phone had its limitations. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Twenty minutes later, he was knocking on the door to Laurel’s apartment.
“Who’s there?” a quavering voice asked.
“It’s Uncle Zack, Cody. Can you let me in?”
“’Kay.”
Zack heard a lot of noises coming from the other side of the door, and then the door opened a crack to reveal Cody’s pale face. He shut the door and a few moments later, opened it to let Zack inside.
Zack pushed aside the stool Cody had obviously used to reach the door lock. “Hey, buddy. How are you?”
Cody burst into tears.
That’ll teach me not to ask stupid questions.“Everything’s going to be okay. I’m here now.” He picked up the little boy and stopped at Katrina’s room when he heard her call out. She looked as pitiful as Cody did. So he picked her up too and went to Laurel’s room. Sure enough, she lay on the bed, curled in a fetal position and moaning. He set down the kids and walked over to her.
“Hey.” She looked pitiful. Her complexion was pasty white, her hair was yanked back in a ponytail but some of it had escaped and hung in a tangled mess in her face.
