Page 34 of The Omega's Secret Baby

“I'm sure I can do this,” I told my boss. Because, really, it was time to man up. About this charity event, and everything else.

“Good, good.”

I left my boss's office in high spirits.

And I should have known that the day couldn't possible continue to go that well. I was hardly out of my boss's office for ten minutes before my cell phone began to ring. And that usually only meant one thing.

Jake's school.

Of course.

I sighed, and answered the phone, although I really didn't want to. What had my little bundle of energy done this time?

“Mr. Stevens?”

“Speaking.”

“We'd like for you to come down to the school, please. It's about your son Jake. Honestly, it's much the same thing I called you for last time.”

The same thing?Oh, c'mon.I'd really hoped Jake had learned his lesson. “Did he get into another fight?”

“Well, if it's any consolation to you,” the secretary said, “this time they were both throwing punches.”

No, that wasn't really much of a consolation. “I'll be down there as fast as I can.”

* * *

Iwentdown to the school, I listened to what the principal had to tell me, I apologized profusely, ignored the way Mrs. Foster glared at me, and then I took my son, put him in my car, and drove all the way home in complete silence.

I couldn't talk to him. Not yet. I knew the moment I opened my mouth, I would explode. How could he do this again? Like I didn't have enough on my plate.

Likehedidn't have enough on his plate.

I parked the car in front of our house and together, we walked inside.

“Oh, it's you guys!” my brother greeted us from the living room. He poked his head in the hallway. “Anything wrong?”

“Why don't you ask your nephew what happened,” I said, taking my coat off. Thankfully, I didn't have to go back to work that day, so that was one less thing to worry about.

Jake looked at Griff, lips pressed in a thin line and shoulders hunched, as if he was being unfairly accused or something. “I got into a fight,” he said eventually. “With a mean boy.”

Griff sighed. “Again?”

“He started it.” Jake pouted.

“Oh yes,” I chimed in. “The other boy was the first to punch. After you took his sandwich and tossed it in the trash.”

“He said--“

“I don't care what he said,” I cut Jake off. “I don't care at all, okay? We had an agreement, and you broke it.”

Jake stared at the floor and said nothing, and I got the feeling that I wasn't getting through to him.

“You got yourself suspended!” I went on. I was sure he was aware of this, but I had to vent, anyway. “Do you want them to throw you out of the school? You like the school, don't you?”

“I don't like the school!” Jake burst out. “I hate the school! And I hate you!” With that, he stormed up the stairs, still in his street shoes.

“Jake!” I called after him, but he was already throwing the door to his room shut.