Page 92 of Antagonist

26

HARRISON

I want to like Fran.I really do, but it’s like everything she’s saying or doing is aimed at putting me in my place or putting Fletcher down.

She’s known Fletcher for a long time and they have a kid together. I get it, and I’d never do anything to ruin that or put myself in the way of their relationship. So I can’t help the rising annoyance every time she talks about the fun they’ve had together in the past, as though nothing in the future can ever measure up.

Newsflash, Fran. He’s with me, not you.

If it was all aimed at me, I wouldn’t give a damn. But I don’t like how sad George suddenly looks. And I certainly don’t like how Fletcher seems to be one comment away from committing murder.

“Look at the time,” I say, even though I didn’t check my watch. “I think it’s time for Megan to go home. It’s a school day tomorrow.”

“Are we going home too, Daddy?” George asks. “I want to play with Rosie before I have my shower.”

“Yes, we’re going home,” Fletcher says.

“Oh. I thought you were staying the night. I’m not putting you out, am I?” Fran says with fake sincerity.

“Not at all, Fran,” Fletcher says, standing and placing our leftovers in the basket. “It’s a school night. We never stay on school nights.”

“Of course. I’m so used to Europe where everything is a lot more relaxed.” She flicks her long hair behind her shoulder.

I bite my tongue to stop myself from telling her that even in Europe, kids have school schedules.

Fletcher goes inside while Fran says goodbye to George. When she’s gone and the kids are watching TV in the living room, I go searching for him.

He’s packing his stuff away like he hates every single one of his boxer shorts and T-shirts. When he sees me in the room, he puts it all down and walks into my arms.

“I have such a bad feeling about this,” he says.

“I know, baby.”

“She was so rude to you. Not everything she says is true, you know? I didn’t always have fun. If I did, I wouldn’t have come back to Stillwater. I wouldn’t be happier here than I’ve been anywhere else.”

I hold him tighter. “Shh, I know, Fletcher. I wasn’t born yesterday, and as a divorce attorney, I’m practiced at spotting the kind of controlling stunts she's so amateurishly trying to pull.”

“I’m scared that living with Fran is going to be really disruptive to George. He’s not like us. He thrives on his routine and doing the things he likes most. I’m afraid Fran will try too hard to make George fit into her mold.”

“Babe, you’re his father, and you’ve been with him all his life. No one knows George like you do. Maybe talk to her and see if you can come to an agreement about it. And if you want any other kind of advice, let me know.”

That’s as much as I’ll say, even though I want to tell him that his instinct is right. I just hope this doesn’t end up in an ugly custody fight. One I have no doubt Fletcher would win, but the problem is the effect it’ll have on George.

We finish cleaning the cabin and get into our cars, but not before I give him a searing kiss to show him how much I enjoyed the weekend.

“Just remember what I said earlier. All those dirty thoughts…”

He smiles and gives me one last kiss before getting into his car.

Megan falls asleep on the drive to Stella’s and doesn’t wake up when I take her out of the car and up to her bedroom.

“She’s totally knocked out,” Stella says as I close the bedroom door. “What did you do to her and where can I get it?”

I laugh. “Just lots and lots of activities, a long hike, and she probably spent a lot of last night chatting with George. I could hear their giggles from the bedroom.”

She elbows me. “So things with Fletcher are going well.”

I can’t stop smiling. “Yeah.”