Page 128 of Size King

Fortunately, for the remainder of our time at Ultra-Cycle, we are just cleaning up after ourselves. Hell-Snakes would occasionally stop by, and we tell them all that if we see any of them in Reno again, we will hunt them all down one-by-one, and they’ll join Jacob.

Just like that, the Hell-Snakes scatter away and slither out into the desert. Ultra-Cycle is closed, and my wife has been avenged.

I get home at five,expecting to order dinner in for us. I am emotionally drained from everything that happened, and I don’t want to work in the kitchen, but as I make the walk from my driveway up to my front door, I can smell pleasing aromas wafting from inside the house.

I get inside and am greeted by a beautiful woman, my two beautiful sons, and a big Shepherd’s Pie waiting to be eaten on the dinner table that they’d all made together. I am overwhelmed. It has been a long time since I’ve arrived from a hard day’s work to a hot, home-cooked meal.

I’m still in a bit of a weird place since everything that has happened earlier. Luckily, the three of them do all of the talking. They fill me in on their day. Mason and Austin both rave about what a great time they have hanging out with Megan playing games (video games, board games, hide-and-seek, they did it all) and they say they want her to come back.

Megan claims that Mason and Austin both talked to her, but she “pinky-promised” she can’t divulge to me what all they discussed. Since the boys are toddlers, and I can tell Megan wants to be “cool” with the kids, I decide not to press for the information. I’m a little jealous since Mason is usually so quiet. I’m more impressed that she got them to talk more than anything.

We keep things simple after dinner, but it is truly what I needed. The four of us are all on the couch, sitting snuggled together, just watching a movie and hanging out. It somehow feels right. Even Megan seems right at home.

During the entire movie, everything is going great and it is a redemptive evening. Then, Austin randomly asks Megan a significant question.

“Megan, are you our new mommy?” Austin asks.

From the moment those words leave Austin’s mouth, I can see her freezing into place. She is uneasy and unsure of how to answer his question.

“Austin,” I interject. “Megan’s your newfriend! Didn’t you like hanging out with Megan today?”

Both boys nod in response.

“She’s not your new mommy,” I tell them. “Okay, Austin?”

I think I have successfully brushed it off, and I assume that we will just move onto something else. Instead, Megan gets up on her feet.

“It is getting late,” she says. “I think maybe I should get going, gentlemen.”

“So soon?” I wonder.

“I have been here all day, you know.” She chuckles. “I’ll see all you guys soon, okay?”

I try getting on my feet, but she holds her hand up.

“You really don’t need to walk me out,” she says. “I can get back to my car by myself. Thank you for hanging out with me today, Mason and Austin!”

She gives them both a quick hug and gives me a quick wave. As she makes her exit, I find myself getting reabsorbed back into the couch.

While the boys are drifting to sleep, I wonder if Austin’s earlier inquiry about Megan being “their new mommy” has indeed scared her off and given her the kick she needs to get out the door.

Then I think, She’s never coming back now.

52

Megan

Kelsey is driving us randomly and aimlessly through the streets of Reno so that we can talk. We are supposed to be heading to work at our new job, but I’m getting jittery. I’m convincing myself that I can’t go through with working for Dustin. I’m not even sure what I will say to Dustin whenever I hear from him or see him next.

“Do we really want to be late on our first day?” Megan eventually asks.

“I’m not even sure if I can face Dustin right now,” I say. “It’s so crazy. I’m more freaked out by what Austin said than I was when people were shooting at us.”

“Why do you think that scared you away?” Kelsey asks.

“I’m not sure I’m ready to be ‘mommy’ to someone else’s kids,” I tell her. “I don’t even want kids yet of my own!”

“Megan, he’sthree,” says Kelsey. “I’ve seen four and five-year-old’s call their teachers ‘mommy’ before. It’s a simple mistake.”