Page 6 of Too Good to Be True

Seth

T wo days later, I’m still a nervous wreck and in the kitchen—a recipe for disaster!

“Is that bad?” Ross asks, handing me a cloth to dab at my hand. The hand that I had to hold under running water after accidentally burning myself while preparing dinner.

“It’s nothing, just a superficial burn.”

“I have some ointment,” Mr Yang says, witnessing my accident. “I’ll go get it.”

“Thank you, Mr Yang!” Ross and I say in chorus.

“I can finish here,” Ross offered.

“Thank you, but I can do it.”

Better not risk any more accidents. Ross in the kitchen is a danger to everyone. At least I’m just to myself.

“I would like to make myself useful in some way.”

“You’re already doing it. You’re here.”

“Anything for you and the kids. I just wish I could stay until the lawyer arrives.”

Rowan called me today and asked if I had informed the kids about the situation.

Of course, I lied, hoping to buy some more time, but when Rowan suggested that we meet immediately to discuss the preliminary hearing, a legal process that will determine the initial steps in the custody battle, I realised that I had reached the end of the line and that it was time to tell the kids the truth.

My friend Ross stopped by before work to offer his support.

I leave dinner cooking and join the kids, who are all in the living room doing their homework. I clear my throat, Ross’ hand on my shoulder to encourage me, and the reassuring face of Mr Yang, who has just returned to us to cheer me on to do the right thing.

“Guys,” I begin, my shrill voice not promising anything good. “I should… er… tell you something.”

The kids immediately turn their attention to me.

“What’s going on?” Mason asks, alarmed.

Logan immediately takes Emily’s hand between his own.

I was the one who told them about their parents. I had to do it. I didn’t want them to find out from the voice of a stranger or a social worker.

It was the hardest thing I have ever done. And the most painful. I will never forget their eyes, the hope that it was just a bad dream, and the despair of certainty. I will never forget our embrace and my words. ‘I am there with you. You don’t have to worry about anything. Uncle Seth is here.’

“Something wrong, Uncle Seth?” Logan asks hesitantly.

“Not really, but…”

“Just say it,” Mason urges me.

I take a breath and spill the tea. “Remember your grandmother?”

“No,” Emily quickly says.

“Vaguely,” Logan wrinkles his forehead as if straining to remember.

“Yes,” Mason states, his expression serious.

“She would like… She thinks that… You know, she…”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Ross interjects. “Your grandmother is asking for your custody.”

“Ross!” I call him back immediately.

“She believes that your uncle is not able to take care of you.”

“What?” Mason raised his voice.

“And she has hired a lawyer, indeed, a bevvy of lawyers to override your parents’ wishes and to gain sole custody of you.”

“Are you done?” I raise my voice as well.

“Sorry, watching you try to delay the inevitable was really painful.”

“What does that mean?” Emily asks, looking at us. “I don’t understand…”

“It means our grandmother wants to take us away from here,” Logan informed her.

“No!” Emily gets up from the floor and runs towards me. She hugs me tightly. “You promised, Uncle Seth!”

I hold her close to me. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”

“You said you would take care of us,” Logan adds, his voice tinged with disappointment, the trust he had in me now shattered.

“You are right.”

“We believed you,” Mason concludes gravely, his fear of being abandoned now palpable, “And now you leave us, too.”

“I’M SORRY, I didn’t want this,” Ross says at the door.

“I should have told them right away. Let them get used to it. I waited too long.”

“It’s my fault. I never keep my mouth shut.”

“I would never have been able to tell them the truth.”

“I hate leaving you this way.”

I look behind me. Mr Yang is on the sofa with the kids, trying to calm them down. They wouldn’t even have dinner after the news. They threw so many questions at me that I couldn’t answer them.

Fortunately, Rowan is on his way. I hope his experience and confidence can help us through this acceptance phase.

“Talk to you later?” Ross asks me before going.

“Sure.”

“Try not to fidget too much in his presence…”

“I can’t promise you anything.”

I’m nervous just thinking about it. Let alone with him here!

“Try to pull yourself together,” he tells me again before leaving me to my fate.

I close the door and turn my attention to the kids.

I can do it, I tell myself, although I am not sure.

“So,” I walk over to them and sit down on the armrest of the sofa. “Mr Kennedy will be here shortly and will explain everything to you. I’m sure that after talking to him, we will all have a clearer idea.”

“Is this lawyer any good?” Mason asks.

“One of the best.”

Actually, I don’t know if that is true. I mean, he seems absolutely perfect to me. I can’t imagine that there is anyone who can match his talents.

“Will we win with him?” Logan asks, his voice thin.

I don’t want to lie to them, but we need hope and positivity.

“No one will take you away from me.”

“You didn’t answer,” Logan points out.

“This is because I am sure the lawyer will be the one to answer all your questions as soon as…” I look at my watch. He should have been with us by now. “As soon as he’s here. Are you really sure you don’t want to eat anything?”

“My stomach hurts,” Emily says, brushing her abdomen.

“How about a cup of herbal tea?” Mr Yang asks her. “I’m sure it will help you relax.”

“OK,” she agrees.

Mr Yang gets up and signals me to join him in the kitchen. “I’ll make tea for everyone and then leave you alone. This is a family matter.”

“But you are family.”

Mr Yang smiles at me, and then his hands clasp my arms. “The kids need you, Seth.”

“I know.”

“You have to be strong and brave and, above all, stay calm. They depend on you, and you’re all they have. No matter how scary it is. That’s the way it is. You are the adult. You are the one who has to take charge.”

Mr Yang’s words did not help that much. I am more agitated than before, and I am more scared than ever. These kids only have me in the world and a grandmother, of course, a grandmother who is trying to tear them away from the only person they know and trust.

“What time is this lawyer coming?” Logan asks as he stuffs his books into his backpack for tomorrow.

“He should be here soon. He said after work, so…”

“And is he coming to our house?” Mason looks puzzled.

“He did it for you,” I quickly clarify. “So we could talk in a familiar environment. That was thoughtful of him.”

“Thoughtful…” Logan insinuates, with that tone and frown that reminds me so much of Mark.

“That’s what I said.”

I help Emily with her backpack while her brothers’ eyes rest on me.

“And is he cute too, by any chance?” Logan asks again.

“I don’t see how this is relevant.”

“It means that he is,” Logan continues.

“Does it matter if he’s cute or not? The important thing is that he helps us win this case. And he will.”

“Are you sure?” Emily asks, her tone is subtle.

“I am sure he will do his best. We have to rely on his hands.”

Mason and Logan do not hold back a laugh.

At least their spirit is still positive.

“I even tried to invite him to dinner, given the time, but he politely declined.”

“You wanted to impress him with your culinary skills?” Logan mocks me.

I laugh, grateful for this newfound serenity. I feared the news would throw them into dejection, but fortunately, the situation still seems under control.

“Maybe you can invite him next time,” Emily suggests. She is always the most positive and kind.

“I could, but I don’t want to let him escape. We need his help.”

“I’m sure he would appreciate it,” Emily says again.

I smile at her. “Thanks for the encouragement, darling, but I think keeping things professional is best.”

“I don’t think I understand.”

“Uncle Seth prefers not to mess it up by trying to… Win over our lawyer,” Logan explains to her in simple, understandable words.

“Now I think I understand.”

“Can we avoid talking about our lawyer in terms that are not strictly related to the case from now on?”

“Why? Does that make you nervous?” Mason insinuates.

“What are you saying… Why would he…” Someone knocks on the door, and I immediately leap to my feet. “Oh bloody hell, that must be him.” I look at the kids. “How do I look?” I ask na?vely.

All three give me the same look.

I screwed myself.

“Thank God things were supposed to remain professional!” Logan reminds me.

“Maybe if you take off your apron,” Emily suggests.

“Oh, you are right.”

Quickly removing my apron, I toss it into the kitchen. With a nervousness stemming more from my heart racing uncontrollably than from the pending lawsuit, I head to the entrance to greet our lawyer, hoping not to make a mess as usual.