Jackson
“WHY DO I HAVE TO go to Grandma’s tonight? I want to stay home and play with Jess. I’ll see them on Sunday.” Kayla had been complaining since we got home from school, which had made trying to get her packed up, and myself ready for my date, extremely difficult.
I looked at my daughter, hoping what I was about to say next was the right thing. We didn’t keep secrets from each other, unless it was something I thought she was too young to know, so I took in her scowling face and made a decision.
“Dad’s got a date tonight, so Mama and Papa said they’d watch you. They said something about popcorn and movie night; I know you’ll love that,” I said, watching her closely as I spoke.
Because she had my undivided attention, I saw her scowl deepen and eyes narrow.
“A date?” she bit out, sounding more like Julie than ever.
“Yes, sweetheart, a date. I’m taking Millie out for dinner at Prime Beef.”
“Millie, from my birthday party?” Kayla asked, her hands going to her hips as her lower lip jutted out in a pout.
“Yup, you liked her, remember?” I asked hopefully, not sure how to deal with this new version of my child.
“You can’t go out with her . . . you’re married, remember? Besides, I didn’t like her. She’s stupid.”
“Kayla Ann Heeler,” I warned, my voice low and firm. “You don’t talk about people that way, and you certainly don’t swear. Your mom has been gone for almost a year now, don’t you think it’s time for me to move on, have some fun, be happy?” I paused, hoping she’d give me something, but when she just kept scowling, I frowned at her and said, “We have to go, but we’ll talk about your behavior later. Now, go get your bag and meet me at the car.”
“Whatever,” my normally sweet, angelic girl said under her breath as she whirled and stomped off toward her room.
I stood there for a moment, watching after her and running a hand through my hair in frustration.
I deserve a little happiness, don’t I? It’s not the end of the world for a man to go on a date with a beautiful woman, enjoy some steak, and hopefully get to kiss her luscious lips again, right?
With a sigh, I turned to gather my things, then went to the door and paused, cocking my head to the side as I listened for movement.
When I didn’t hear any, I bellowed, “Kayla, let’s go!”
“Fine!” she shouted back, then I heard her door slam and her footsteps pounding down the hall as she came toward the door.
“You’re really asking for it,” I muttered as she moved past me and out the door.
She didn’t reply, just got into the backseat and sunk low in the seat. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her belligerence as I locked up and rounded my truck. Kayla only ever sat in the back seat when she was in a snit about something. It was one of her passive aggressive ways of letting me know she was mad at me.
I turned up the radio, since I knew the short drive would be filled with angry silence. When we arrived at her grandparents’ house, Kayla jumped out and ran up the steps, disappearing into the house without saying goodbye.
I left the truck running, but got out to go say hello to my mother-in-law and let her know that Kayla was in a mood.
I knew she’d already figured that out when she stepped out onto the porch and asked, “What’s up with Kayla?”
I waited until I was a few feet in front of her before replying gently, “I told her I was going on a date tonight.”
The look on her face was sad, but understanding.
“I’ll speak with her, Jackson,” she said softly, then looked like she was trying to figure out what to say next, when she added, “It’s time, son.”
My heart clenched as the love I had for this woman filled me and I leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek.
When I pulled back, I asked, “Have you heard from her?”
My mother-in-law shook her head sadly.
“I’m sorry, Ruth. I’m going to hire someone to find her, so I can get her served with divorce papers.”
I watched her eyes fill and felt her pain right in my gut.
“Please,” she whispered. “Let us know if you find her.”
“I will, Ruth. Of course I will.”
She nodded, wiped her cheeks, and managed a smile.
“I’ll talk to Kayla, you go and have a good time. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Ruth. Love you.”
“Love you, too, Jackson,” Ruth said, and I stood there until she shuffled back into the house and shut the door.
I hated Julie more in that moment than I had in months. I didn’t understand how the woman that I’d known, the woman I’d married and had a child with, could turn out to be someone so totally different than I thought.
Pushing thoughts of Julie, Ruth, and Kayla from my mind, I got back in my truck and headed to Three Sisters Catering to pick up Millie. Although, Kayla and her unusual behavior kept inching its way back into my thoughts.
I prayed she wasn’t still harboring hope of Julie coming home and us being a family again, but even as I thought it, I knew that was it, and my heart sank.
I’m going to have to break my daughter’s heart all over again.
Fucking Julie.