Chapter 3

3.

"Didn't I get through it the same way back then?"

"When I first took over caring for your mom, didn't I call you too?"

"And didn't you refuse to bring our son home for me?"

For a moment I felt dizzy.

When Mom slipped into her coma, Joy had been caring for her, and the early days meant rehab exercises. By the time she finished, it was already almost too late to pick up our son.

So she'd called me.

"Clarence, I just finished Mom's rehab exercises. I honestly don't have the strength to go get our son."

"Could you leave work half an hour early today and pick him up?"

I'd refused outright.

"You're his mother. I'm out here working myself to the bone to give you and the kid the best life possible."

"I asked you to do one thing, look after my mom, and now you're too lazy to even pick up your own kid?"

"If it were me, I could take care of Mom and pick him up at the same time, no problem."

I remembered now. I remembered all of it.

My face went stiff with shame.

"Forget it."

"I'll go myself."

I grabbed the car keys and headed out, not even hearing Bella call after me.

The drive was half an hour, but traffic backed up on the way, and by the time I reached the preschool it was already six in the evening.

My son's lead teacher didn't look happy.

"Mr. Sawyer, next time could you give us a heads-up if you're going to be late?"

"I have a family too, a kid of my own. This late, and I don't even know what time I'll get home."

On any other day, a line like that would probably have set me off, right into an argument with her.

I paid good money for her to look after my kid, and now she was griping at me?

But today I was too worn out.

I just didn't have the energy.

I waved it off. "Got it. I'll come earlier next time."

Back home with my son, I flipped on the lights.

The house was empty.

Like no one lived there at all.

My son sat on the couch, hand pressed to his stomach, quiet and sullen.

"Daddy, what are we going to eat?"

"I'm so hungry."

I went and dug through the fridge.

Back when Joy and I were fighting over the divorce, the fridge had gone bare.

She hadn't even bought groceries, just dragged her suitcase out the door.

Which was why the fridge was still empty now.

I called Bella.

"Bring some food over to my place. I want dinner."

Then I tossed a few bags of snacks at my son.

I ducked into the bathroom to rinse the smell off my body.

Just as I finally couldn't smell that old-person odor anymore, the doorbell rang.

Bella walked in carrying a fancy dinner she'd had packed up.

Soft and slinky, unbearably tempting.

"Boss, want a candlelit dinner?"

"Neither of us has had a proper bite all day."

Of course I wanted it.

But before I could say anything, my son came thundering over.

"Wow, a fancy dinner! Daddy, I'm so hungry, I want meat!"

Bella's face froze on the spot.

"B-boss, is the lady of the house home too?"

"Isn't this a little awkward for me?"

I took the food and pulled her inside.

"Didn't I already tell you? His mom and I are getting divorced. Once it's final, you'll be Mrs. Sawyer."

"Hunter will be your son."

"Set out the food."

Two steaks, two plates of pasta, and some dainty little sides.

Best of all, she'd even brought red wine.

The wine sloshed in the goblets as she sat beside me, the mood thick and suggestive.

Once he'd eaten his fill, my son ran over and tugged at me.

"Daddy, Mommy's not home, come play with me."

The goblet tipped, and a good splash of wine spilled onto my bathrobe.

The mood ruined, I felt a flare of irritation.

"Go by yourself."

"You keep this up, and I'll have the police come take you away."

He pouted, let go, and went off to play with his toy cars in the living room.

With the mood pretty much wrecked, I wiped the wine off myself. Outside the window, the wind suddenly howled up.

Whatever was left of the mood scattered.

After dinner I put my son in his room. Outside it had started pouring.

Bella hadn't left. She'd changed into a sexy purple nightgown, teasing me at every turn.

"Boss, this outfit, who wears it better, me or your ex-wife?"

In the dim yellow light and the pull of the alcohol, Bella looked downright irresistible.

I swallowed hard, a fire in me burning hotter the longer it went.

"You, of course."

"That old woman doesn't come close to you!"

I scooped her up and threw her onto the bed.

Her soft, coquettish little squeal in my ear made me itch all over.

Just as I reached to yank off the nightgown, lightning flashed outside again.

Someone pounded on the bedroom door.

My son was wailing.

"Waaah, it's so loud out there, is the police coming to take me away?"

"Waaah, I want Mommy."

You know what it means to trip over a stone you set out yourself?

This was it.

I opened the door and let him in.

Bella was already straightening her clothes, and knowing nothing was going to happen now, she walked out of the room.

I ground my back teeth, hauled him onto the bed, and snapped, "Sleep. You're ruining your old man's good time."

"Make one more sound and I'll have the police come lock you up."