Chapter Twenty-One
Ryder
“I wanna put the star on top of the tree!” Aiden screams from across the room, his legs dangling out of the box as he digs for the star underneath the other ornaments.
I walk over to him and grab him by the waist, planting him on the floor. “You can put the star on after we finish decorating the tree. It goes on last.”
“Why can’t it go on first?”
I open my mouth and snap it shut. That’s certainly a good question. One I’d like to know the answer to myself. According to my mother it always went on last and even Madison had said the same thing when Aiden asked to put the star on as soon as we set up the tree. “Why don’t you ask your mom?”
“Mom!”
“Yeah?” Madison yells from the kitchen.
“Why can’t we put the star on the tree first?”
“Because I said so, that’s why.”
And there you have it, every mother’s response to deflect their nerve wracking child’s question. Aiden peers up at me with a questioning gaze and whispers so his mother doesn’t hear him. “I don’t think she answered my question.”
I shrug. “I don’t think so either, but I don’t want to get in trouble, so we better do what she says.” I tickle his ribs and he giggles until he falls to the floor. “Let’s finish decorating the tree so we can have some gingerbread cookies and watch a movie.”
He runs over to the cardboard box and practically throws the rest of the ornaments on to the tree to get done as soon as possible to get to dessert. “Aiden, don’t do that. You’re gonna break them. Take it easy. We have plenty of time before bed. There’s no need to rush.” I take an ornament out of the box and hold it up to inspect it further as glitter falls from the construction paper onto my shoe and all over the floor. It’s a tiny red handprint covered in green glitter hanging by a thin ribbon through the middle finger.
Aiden places an ornament on the lower part of the tree and points at the paper in my hand. “That’s Caleb’s hand. We made that for Mommy last year.”
I turn it to the left, then to the right. It’s half crumpled from not being put away properly and most of the glitter has fallen off. I hang it on the tree, making sure it’s front and center. Aiden seemed proud of the work he and his brother did and I want him to know it’s important enough to put it in a place where everyone can see it. “You guys did an awesome job. Maybe you can make me one for my tree at home.”
“Okay.”
The doorbell rings and I glance over to the kitchen. Madison has her hands full holding Caleb in her arms as she puts the cookies that are cooled on a plate. “I’ll get it. It’s probably Tyler.” I get to the front door and swing it open. “He said he might stop…” My voice trails off at the sight of the man standing in the doorway. He is not Tyler. Although I’ve never met this man in my life, I know who he is. Aiden has his dark hair, his nose, the shape of his face, his lips; there is no doubt in my mind this man is Aiden’s father. My blood boils at the sight of him. I want to punch him in the fucking face for all the hurt and pain he’s caused Madison and Aiden. I may do just that if he doesn’t turn the fuck around and leave in the next few seconds. He attempts to take a step into the house and I block him from entering. “Can I help you?”
“Who the Hell are you?”
He tries to sidestep me, but I block him again. “I could ask you the same thing.”
“This is my damn house, now get out of my way.”
“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me who you are first.”
“Daddy?” Aiden says, taking a tentative step into the foyer.
“Satisfied? I’m the boy’s father, now move out of my way before I call the police and you wind up in the back of a squad car.”
“Are you threatening me?” I take a step forward, causing him to lose his balance as he stumbles backward. That’s right asshole, be afraid, be very afraid.
He rights himself, raising his voice at me. “This is my house. Those are my kids.”
“Really, because I’ve been here for months and I haven’t seen you once or heard the phone ring so you could speak to the boys. You’re just as much a stranger to them as you are to me.” My anger is quickly rising to the surface, peeking to an all-time high. “Who the fuck do you think you are coming here…”
“Ryder!” Madison screams, running over to me with Caleb still in her arms.
She squeezes her body between me and the dickhead, shoving the baby into my chest. That was a dirty trick. I want to rip this motherfucker’s head off, but she knows my first thoughts are for Caleb’s concern. I inhale a deep, ragged breath and take a few steps back, caressing the baby’s back as he rests his head in the crook of my neck just as he always does.
“What are you doing here Mitch?” Madison asks, one hand settled angrily on her hip.
“I came to see the boys.”
She huffs. “Pfft. Since when?” You haven’t seen them in over six months and haven’t spoken to them on the phone more than once in that time. You can’t just come barging in my house demanding to see them whenever you want without notice first.”
He advances toward her and Madison flinches, taking a step back from him. “The Hell I can’t.”
I stand in front of Aiden to block his view of the front door and place Caleb on the floor. “Aiden, can you take Caleb to your room for a few minutes please.” He doesn’t ask me why, he just takes his little brother’s hand and leads him to the back of the house. I wait for the door to his room to close before turning around. Good, now the kid won’t have to see me beat the crap out of his father, because that’s exactly what I’m about to do. I pull Madison to the side, stepping in front of Mitch and she grabs me by the arm, holding me back. “You better not even think about touching her, or you may lose the function of your hands.”
“Are you threatening me with bodily harm?”
“You bet your ass I am. Now I suggest you leave before things get really ugly for you.”
“I will do no such thing until I see my boys.” He nods to Madison, glaring at her. “Is this who you have hanging around my children? A common street thug? I can guarantee that’s not going to last. He obviously has turned my sons against me. They wouldn’t even come near me.”
“You did that all on your own Mitch. What did you think was going to happen? How many times did you think you could disappoint them before they finally gave up on you?”
“They are still my kids. You cannot tell me where and when I can see them. You are nothing. What you say or think doesn’t matter.”
Madison cringes at his words and freezes in place. I can see her breaking down right in front of me. Years of verbal abuse from her ex-husband evident through her body language. Well, I’m not about to let him bulldoze over her. Not on my fucking watch. I have her back no matter what. She will always have my support, whether she wants it or not and right now she needs it. I laugh sardonically, pointing at him. “Your kids? You haven’t seen your kids in months and don’t think you can talk to Madison any way you please. She’s not yours anymore. Those kids aren’t yours anymore.” I take a step in his direction and he backs away from me. “You had your chance to be a good husband and father. It’s too late now. Madison is mine. Those boys are mine. You don’t deserve them. What you do deserve is a good ass kicking. Now, I suggest you leave before you say something I may have to justify with bashing your pompous face in.”
“This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. If you won’t let me see my kids then you give me no choice, but to take them away from you.”
Madison lunges forward. “No! Please don’t.”
He gives her an evil smirk like he’s already won this conversation. “Oh, that would get you to cooperate now wouldn’t it?”
Holding Madison around the waist, I pull her to my side to steady her. She’s shaking. Visibly scared out of her mind at the thought of losing her kids. That will never happen. Not while I live and breathe. I know this is just a scare tactic to get what he wants. He knows how much those boys mean to her, so he’s going to use them as leverage to succeed at any cost. She’s just too terror-stricken to see that now. “You would use your own kids as pawns. A real father would protect their child from getting hurt, but not you. No, you’re willing to separate them from their mother knowing how much it will devastate them just so you can win. They are human beings with big hearts and real feelings. Is it worth the heartache your sons will have to endure? The only thing that’s going to happen if you take those kids away from their mother is you’re going to ensure they will hate you for the rest of their lives. Is that what you want? Or don’t you care? I’ll tell you right now, those boys aren’t going anywhere with you because I know you don’t give a shit about them or anyone else for that matter. You’re a spiteful, selfish, cowardly man who doesn’t deserve a caring woman like Madison or two completely amazing little boys. They mean everything to me and there’s no way you’re coming in here thinking you’re going to separate this family. I will never let that happen in a million fucking years.”
He doesn’t make eye contact with me. He’s quite comfortable with picking on women, but when push comes to shove and he’s confronted by an intimidating man such as myself, he’s nothing but a spineless little shit.
He points at Madison. “You keep listening to this Neanderthal and you’ll find yourself childless and alone. I’ll be in touch. Next time be prepared to produce my kids, otherwise you’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”
I relax my hold on Madison, watching him walk down the porch steps and I slam the fucking door. The nerve of some people, acting like they own the fucking world. I turn my attention back to Madison. Her face is pale, her arms are wound around her stomach, and tears brim the lids of her eyes. I gather her in my arms, holding her close to my body and she starts sobbing against my chest. I run my hand up and down her back. “Shhh. Everything will be okay. I promise, everything will be okay.”
“What if it isn’t Ryder? What if everything turns out to be one big mess? What if Mitch decides to take the boys away from me? I don’t know what I’d do without them. They’re my whole world.”
“I know they are. I swear no one will ever take them from you.”
“How can you promise me something like that Ryder? What if he decides to actually go through with it?”
“He doesn’t want to spend two minutes with them, do you really think he’d want to spend twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week with them?”
She peers up at me, takes a calming breath and clears her throat. “I guess you’re right.”
I cradle her face in my hands and rub her cheekbones with the pads of my thumbs, wiping away the last of the salted drops streaked on her soft skin. “Of course I am. Now why don’t you go take a nice, quiet bath and relax for a while. I’ll take care of the boys.”
“I love you Ryder.”
I place a tender kiss on her forehead. “I love you too Peaches.”