Page 52 of Catching Our Moment

Mama Byron held up her hand. “You had your chance to tell me and didn’t. Now I want to hear from my daughter-in-law.”

“But I’m your daughter-in-law!” Amber squealed, pouting.

Kelcie sat down beside her. “I went to Charlotte to see Shaw’s first game back since being injured. You know Shaw and I?—”

“Oh, yes. James’s father was watching the game.”

Kelcie gave her former mother-in-law her side of the story and then added, “I didn’t know where it came from. It was out of nowhere. James was supposed to have Aaron that weekend but backed out—like he always does,” I couldn’t help but drop in.

“You stay out of this!” James sneered. “If it wasn’t for you, my son wouldn’t be so difficult to deal with.”

I’d had enough of sitting on the sidelines.

“What is The Tucker School, James?” I said.

He froze.

Amber went pale.

“I don’t know,” he said and turned to his mom. “I have no idea what he’s talking about.”

“It’s a boarding school in Connecticut. They were planning to send Aaron there,” Kelcie said quietly and then pierced Amber and James with her gaze.

“If you knew your son, James, you’d remember that Aaron hears everything.

He heard you two discussing your plans. Tell me, where were you going to find the tuition for that? ”

And then Kelcie spilled all the tea. “It’s going to be difficult since you just spent so much on the house renovations and all the trips you and Amber have been taking, isn’t it?”

“My finances aren’t any of your business, but you know what is? Aaron. He’s mine, not yours.”

“Cutting my child support wasn’t going to put a dent in that amount,” Kelcie said, standing next to me.

“I know where it was going to come from,” I said, scanning the group.

“The offer for Smitty’s podcast. A few appearances on his show would’ve paid for the tuition with a fair amount of money left over.

Plus, if you didn’t have to pay child support, you’d be sitting pretty…

at least until you found yourselves in debt again.

But then, Aaron could just do a few more podcasts, and you’d be set. ”

“You shouldn’t even be here! Get off my property!” James yelled loud enough that the man in the Explorer across the street definitely caught it.

Amber held him back. “He needs to be in a structured environment. Tucker is a great school for autistic kids,” Amber piped in, justifying their actions.

“Aaron doesn’t need to be sent to a boarding school. He’s fine with me,” Kelcie said.

“Bullshit,” James said.

James’s mom peered down her nose at Amber and James.

“I know he’s unhappy here. He tells me, and he hears more than he should.

I don’t blame him.” She waved at the house.

“It’s bedlam in this house.” She folded her hands.

“Amber, dear, I think you should stay in your lane and take your own guidance about structure and discipline.”

She stepped up to James, causing him to take a step back. “I don’t want to ever hear you talk about sending my grandson away again. And taking him from his mother? What has gotten into you?”

James’s mouth was so tightly drawn that his lips disappeared. “He isn’t a normal boy. He needs?—”

“I am a normal boy.”

We all turned to see Aaron standing on the porch with his belongings. “You need to stop bullying me and my mom.” Aaron narrowed his eyes at his father and Amber.

“Aaron—"

“I want to go home with Mom. I want to watch football with Shaw, and go to the playoffs, and play with my friends in the park.”

“You aren’t going anywhere with him,” James said. “Your mother can chase Shaw like a pathetic football groupie, but I won’t have her dragging you all over with her.”

Aaron lunged for his father, but I grabbed him. “Don’t you talk that way about my mom!”

“We are done here,” I said, gently moving Aaron into Kelcie’s arms.

“If you choose to continue with this asinine behavior, James… If you keep harassing Kelcie and Aaron, you won’t just be taking on my lawyers, but I will have Wyatt Fortner so far up your ass, your breath will smell like a dirty sneaker.”

James’s eyes widened.

“Yes, Wyatt has a remarkable way of finding out everyone’s secrets,” I said.

Amber grabbed James’s arm. “Forget it, sweetheart. We don’t need this aggravation.”

Aaron piped in, “And you aren’t going to be able to squeeze Shaw for money either. Because I’ll tell any judge about everything I’ve heard while in this house.” He gave Amber a knowing smile. “Everything.”

That had Amber backing up. “Fine, take your brat and leave. We don’t need his spoiled fits here. Our life was perfect without?—”

Mama Byron stepped up into Amber’s space. “Complete that sentence, girl, and you will regret it. I don’t care who you are married to. Get me?” Mama Byron’s Dirty Harry tone could have scared a defense lineman into submission.

I wrapped my arms around my girl and her boy and led them away from that house.

Kelcie turned to Mama Byron and said, “Vivian, you are welcome to visit any time. We’d love to see you.”

“Thank you, sweetie. She smiled her grandma smile at us, walked down the stairs, and gave Aaron an exaggerated hug. “I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with this. You are our grandson, darling. You are loved beyond measure.”

Then she gave a weary smile and rolled her eyes before saying to Kelcie and me, “I’m sorry for whatever this has cost you…both of you.”

“No problem, Mrs. Byron. Tell Mr. Byron you are both welcome to come see any of my games as a personal guest,” I said.

We all ignored James’s outburst. “My father hates Charlotte.”

Mama Byron kissed Kelcie and Aaron. “We’ll be in touch.” As we walked to the car, she added, “Shaw, take care of my family.”

“Of course,” I said. “They’re my family too.”