Page 26 of Creed

“I don’t know if Dad feels that way. He sure didn’t act like he did.”

“He did, and he does. I promise.”

She nodded, and I pulled her into another hug.

Brian could’ve handled this so much better, and honestly, I was surprised he hadn’t. He was always good to the kids and mindful of their happiness. It was one of the many things he used against me when I told him I was leaving him. He said I wasn’t thinking of the kids and what this would do to them, but he was wrong.

I had thought about them. I’d thought about them nonstop, and I still thought about them every second of every day. They were my children, and I loved them more than anything. I gave Chrissy another kiss on the head before asking, “Feel any better?”

“A little.”

“Good.” I stood and started out of her room as I said, “Finish with your clothes, and I’ll get dinner started.”

I slipped out and made my way down to Austin’s room. I knew it was doubtful that he would want to talk to me, but I wanted him to know that I was there if he needed me. I tapped on his door, and after a thud and rustled commotion, he called out, “Yeah?”

“It’s me.” I eased the door open and was surprised to find him sitting upright at the end of his bed. “You good?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“No reason.” I shrugged. “So, everything was good at your dad’s?”

He gave me a look, then rolled his eyes. “Chrissy told you, didn’t she?”

“If you’re talking about the new girlfriend, yes. She mentioned it.” He looked so sad and defeated. It made me want to go over and kiss and hug him like I did when he was little, but I forced myself to stay put as I said, “She said it didn’t go so well.”

“It wasn’t that bad.” His eyes drifted to the ground. “It was just different.”

“I can imagine. It might’ve been better if you guys had known the girlfriend was going to be there.”

“Maybe, but I got the feeling it wouldn’t have mattered.”

“What do you mean?”

“He acted like a tool and rode us most of the weekend. I don’t know what his deal was. I guess he was too into her to… It doesn’t matter. The weekend is over now, so no use in dwellin’ on it.”

“Okay. You’re right. It’s over.” I didn’t want to push, so I just told him, “But if you want to talk later, I’m here.”

He nodded, and I took that as my cue to go. As I closed the door, I told him, “Dinner will be ready in half an hour.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

I closed his door and went on to the kitchen to make dinner. I wanted to do what I could to make the kids’ night a little better, so I decided to make spaghetti. It was easy and one of their favorites. I started pulling out all the ingredients, and the entire time, I was thinking about everything the kids had said.

I tried not to let this thing with him get in my head, but the hurt expressions on the kids’ faces were more than I could take. Austin wanted me to believe that he was unbothered by it all, but I could tell that it had gotten to him just as much as it had his sister.

I hated seeing them like that. I hated thathemade them feel like they didn’t matter, and I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. I walked over to my purse and took out my phone. I hated confrontation, mainly because I wasn’t good at it. I could never think of the right thing to say.

I knew if I called and tried to have a normal conversation with him, he would twist things and make this all about me. He would find a way to say this whole thing was my fault. I didn’twant to deal with his nonsense, so I decided a text would be better.

Me:

A heads-up about the new girlfriend would’ve been nice.

The kids were pretty upset about it.

Brian:

Do I need to remind you? We’re divorced.