Graham

"This is so cool!" Milo exclaimed for the tenth time, inspecting the miniature carton warehouse a week later. We'd been working on his school project for days.

"I'm sure it'll earn you first place." I'd been tinkering with it every evening, and I was proud of it.

"Boys, you ready? Milo, we have to leave or you'll be late to school," Lori called.

"Ready, Mom!"

He slung his backpack over his shoulder, then walked to the front door, holding the project carefully in both hands. Lori was waiting for him there.

After Milo skidded out the door, I closed the distance to Lori and kissed her.

"Now that's what I call a good morning kiss," she murmured.

"Want to have lunch together?"

"Can't. A handsome man is taking me to a fancy dinner in two weeks, so I need to go shopping. Today is the only day I have time."

"A handsome man, huh?"

"Handsome and charming."

"Sounds like you like him."

"Oh, I really, really do."

"You looking forward to the dinner?" It wasn't just a fancy dinner; it was a party hosted by the club to celebrate this season's results. Everyone was bringing their partners, and I wanted Lori by my side.

"Very much. I plan to blow that certain handsome man's mind with my outfit, hence why I need time to hunt down a fancy dress."

"Have fun." 

***

When I stepped inside the club one hour later, the receptionist pointed to the waiting area after greeting me. "That guy sitting there has been asking for you. His name is—"

"Jeff Finn." What the hell? "I'll take care of this." I crossed the lobby to him. He rose to his feet when he saw me.

"What are you doing here?" I barked. Lori had been on edge since the meeting with that fucker last week, and nothing I did seemed to take that edge away completely.

"Waiting for you. We need to talk."

"Lori told you to contact her lawyer."

"I'm not talking to Lori though, am I? Here to talk to you."

I had no interest in what he had to say, but I didn't want to attract any attention by having him thrown out. I also didn't want him to bother Lori. 

"Let's go to my office."

I led us to the upper floor, closing the door behind me once we were in my office. I stood behind my desk and didn't bother asking him to sit down.

"What do you want?"

"I didn't like the outcome of our last meeting."

"Tough luck. Maybe you shouldn't have insulted Lori, just like you shouldn't have been an ass for the last seven years and paid the child support. Then you wouldn't have to ask Lori to lie for you."

"I didn't ask to be a father. Don't see why I had to pay anything."

"You're a fucking coward." I clenched my fists and my jaw. I detested people like him, who shunned responsibility. "If you think I'll put in a good word for you with Lori, you're wrong."

"A good word? No, that's not why I'm here.”

“So why are you here?”

“You and Lori looked... cozy in that coffee shop. I bet you wouldn’t want me to stick around and cause trouble.”

“You can’t cause any.”

“That’s debatable. If I showed up at Milo’s school to introduce myself, or at Lori’s house...”

My throat tightened. I forced myself to take in deep breaths and expel the air slowly. It didn’t help calm me down.

“You go anywhere near them, and you’re going to be very sorry.”

He sat on the chair in front of my desk uninvited. “But imagine how unpleasant that would be for Lori, and confusing for the boy too. You wouldn’t want that. I imagine Lori wouldn’t be too happy with you if you let that happen.”

“Get to the point. Why are you here?” I was talking through gritted teeth, and the idiot was smiling.

“I’ve got your attention. Good. Let’s talk about what you’re willing to do so I don’t pay anyone any... confusing visits.”

“What do you want?”  

“I realized I can get a lot more out of this than a declaration from Lori. I want money."

"What?"

"My insurance will pay for the malpractice damage, but since I won't be able to practice anymore, I won't have an income."

"How the fuck is that my problem?" I stuffed my hands in my pockets to keep from throttling the idiot.

"I can become a problem, make Lori's life difficult, claiming paternity rights and so on."

"If she takes you to court for that child support—"

"She can get in line behind other people I owe money to." He shrugged. "You write me a check, I'll make myself scarce."

"You have some nerve, showing up here."

"The lawsuit is ruining me. I've put in one-hundred-twenty-hour weeks for years. I don't have much to lose here. I'm a desperate man. I have the nerve for much more."

It was all I could do not to physically drag him out of the club. Doing that wouldn't solve anything. Sure, Lori had a case against him in court. But I didn't want her to have to see his face ever again. That meeting was hard for her. I didn't want her to go through it again. This idiot had caused her enough pain over the years. And what if he did try to contact Milo? What if he showed up at the school? Giving him money felt like rewarding him, but if it meant he'd be out of Lori's life, I was happy to do it.

I took out the checkbook I kept in the top drawer of my desk and wrote down a six-figure amount. I handed it to him over the table. He jerked his head back when he read the sum.

"You ever contact Lori again, I'll get a restraining order against you," I said calmly.

He snorted, pointing at the photograph of Lori, Milo, and me that sat on my desk.

"Any comments, and I'll give you a black eye to go with that jaw."

"I got what I came for." He fluttered the check in the air, then turned around and left my office. My pulse was hammering in my eardrums. I was clenching my fists. I had to calm down, because I was attending a team practice and didn't want the players to see me like this. I descended to the team's training grounds, still feeling very much on edge. I was the first to arrive, but Jace stormed in seconds later.

"That Jeff jackass was here."

"Came to see me. Got rid of him."

"What did he want? I swear to God, if he doesn't leave Lori alone...." He sputtered. I hadn't ever seen Jace lose his cool. He was the most levelheaded on the team, which was why he had great potential for captain. When one of his teammates became hotheaded, I could count on Jace to calm him down before a referee had to step in.

"I took care of it. He won't be bothering Lori again."

He glanced at my hand. "Lori said you punched him the other day." 

"Yeah."

After a pause, Jace extended his hand, shaking mine. "Welcome to the family."

When the coach and the rest of the team filtered in, I went to sit on the sidelines, in my usual spot. I barely managed to pay attention to the coach’s strategic indications. I replayed the meeting in my mind. Damn it, I should have called a lawyer first, have papers drawn up so I’d have it in writing that Jeff Finn would never bother Lori and Milo again. I was usually good at analyzing situations from all angles. But upstairs, I’d acted on impulse.

My thoughts remained on Lori and Milo during the entire practice.

I hoped I did the right thing to protect the woman I loved and the boy I'd come to think of as my own son.