The Forever Girl

by Jordan Silver

  “It was just a stupid mistake, how was I to know that Jack Jr. would come out of his room? It was one time it won’t happen again.” I didn’t believe her ass for one second.

  “You’re a fucking liar. I knew you were screwing around all this time, people talk. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t care. What you do is none of my business, but when you bring that shit in my house in front of my kids, all bets are off.”

  “I’m calling my lawyer.”

  “You do that, maybe she can remind your dumb ass of what we agreed to.”

  “You can’t just throw me out on the street. The kids…”

  “You’re not using my kids in this shit. You know what, I don’t give a fuck who you call get out. My kids aren’t going to be any more scarred than they already are and they’re the only reason I went along with you staying here this long.”

  I pulled my phone and she rushed me. “Who’re you calling?”

  “Back the fuck off. I’m calling the sheriff to get you the fuck outta my face because if I have to do it, you’re leaving on a stretcher.”

  “You can’t threaten me, I have every right to be here. I’m not leaving…”

  I came this close to grabbing her and throwing her ass across the room.

  “You lost all rights when you fucked someone else with my ring on your finger. You’re less than nothing to me. If I cared anything about you, I would’ve given you a chance one of the million times you asked before. I don’t so I won’t. I don’t even hate you. You do not exist for me. Once you’re gone I won’t even remember a damn thing about you.” I saw from the way her face paled that she finally got it. I don’t know how the fuck she’d missed it with the divorce.

  “I’m the mother of your children you can’t just write me off. You just don’t understand…”

  “I’m not having this argument with you again it’s pointless. I’ve moved on do the same, just not in my fucking house.”

  I hung up the phone because who needed the fucking headache. Instead I made my way down the hallway to the closet where she kept her stuff. She followed me of course pleading her case with every step. I guess she still didn’t get it. I grabbed a few of the bags she was living out of and headed out of the room.

  “What the hell are you doing?” She tried snatching the bags from my hand but I ignored her and walked out the door to her car. I made three trips and got her shit out of my house with her on my heels the whole time ranting and raving like a lunatic.

  She knew she was beat, knew that the judge would make her ass leave my house because the only thing I’d asked was that she keep her men out of my fucking house.

  The first thing I’d done when money started coming in was to pay that shit off and sock most of what was left in trust for my kids. She was dying to get her hands on my money now that I had some. Too bad for her she’d fucked up. I didn’t owe her a dime.

  I called the guys to let them know I was going to be late and when Craig pressed me with this nosy ass I told him what was going on. Of course he knew something was up because she was screaming in the background.

  My next call was to a locksmith. I offered him extra if he’d come out right away and he agreed. I went to my room and slammed the door as I looked for the court papers just in case. I knew her style, knew she wasn’t going to leave without a fight and I might have to call the law anyway before this shit was done.

  Shit, what did this mean for Casey and me? I’d planned to introduce her to the kids tonight, but with their mother gone they may not be ready for that shit. If I put it off again after promising her she’d fucking freak. What a fucking mess.

  I wasn’t surprised when I saw the boys pull up. I was standing on the porch watching my ex lose her shit. Whatever neighbors were home were enjoying the show, I give a fuck. She was yelling threats, which were all going over my head. She didn’t have a leg to stand on.

  The guys barely spared her a glance before climbing up on the porch. “What are y’all doing here? We have to finish that job before the holidays.”

  “The job can wait, you okay?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” They all looked at her and back at me.

  “What set her off this time?”

  I gave them the condensed version just as the sheriff’ deputy was pulling up.

  “Who the fuck called them?” Russell had no love for the law and wasn’t shy about letting it be known.

  “Probably one of the neighbors.” The deputy got out and went over to her and she cried and pointed back at me but I couldn’t hear what was being said. When he finally made his way to me I was ready for him.

  I pulled the papers from my back pocket and held them out to him. “Go down to about the tenth line.” He read and then looked back at me. “You have proof of this?”

  “Yeah, my seven year old son saw the whole thing. I suggest you get her the hell off my property before I do something you’ll have to arrest me for.”

  “Damn.” He shook his head and looked back at her before stepping down off the porch and going back to her with the papers in his hand.

  True to his word the locksmith showed up and I showed him what I wanted done. I left the guys out there keeping an eye and breathed a sigh of relief when I heard her car peel out of my driveway.

  I called the school and let them know that no one but me was supposed to pick my kids up, made sure all the locks were indeed changed and went to work.

  All morning I thought about the coming night and how I was going to handle it. One thing was for certain I can’t keep disappointing Casey. I’ll just roll the dice and see where they land. I had faith in my kids, and if they didn’t know how much I loved them by now, well then I’d failed miserably as a dad and there was no hope for it.

  Once I got past the worry of how they’d take it, I felt a sense of relief and just a little touch of excitement. This was a giant leap forward for us. The next chapter in our lives. It was something to celebrate and I’d be damned if I let my fuck up of an ex spoil it.

  I didn’t give my ex much thought for the rest of the morning. Tomorrow I’ll call the lawyer and see what if anything I needed to do to keep her the fuck out of my house and my life permanently.

  I forgot to check to see if she’d left anything behind, but I can always do that later. “You doing okay bro?” Russell came up behind me as I was fitting a cabinet door. “I’m all good brother.” I knew they’ve been worried about me, about the situation I’d found myself in.

  One or the other of them had slept on my couch in the beginning when the judge first gave her permission to stay. They were afraid I’d end her in the night or some fuck, but I knew I wouldn’t, no matter how tempted I was.

  “So you taking Casey to meet the kids tonight?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s about damn time.” He clapped me on the shoulder and grinned.

  “You think?”

  “Sure, Casey’s good people. The boys and I have been watching you know, she’s not what she seems at all is she? I mean someone who looks like that, comes from what she came from. I’d expect her to put on airs or be all stuck up and shit, but she’s not. Do you know last week I told her little Andrea was sick with the flu and Leanne was having a time of it with three kids and a sick baby, do you know she went over with a carload of shit?”

  I looked at him in surprise. This was the first I was hearing about it, she hadn’t even mentioned it to me. She’d met the other wives a couple times, but because of my needing to be there for my kids in the evenings there hadn’t really been much time for socializing. “You don’t say.”

  “Yep. She took her every kind of baby medicine they had in the drugstore, even got her soup from Charley’s and then, she got Leanne some kind of sweet smelling bath salts thing and told her to go soak while she watched the little ones. Now all I hear in my house is Casey this and Casey that. I’m telling you bro, she’s a keeper.”

  Huh, well what do you know, my girl is full of surprises. They took tu
rns throughout the day coming to ask me mundane questions but I saw right through them. By knockoff time I called them on it. “Guys you don’t have to check up on me I’m fine. What happened this morning was a long time coming, I feel no way about it.”

  And that was the truth. I’d closed the book on that chapter in my life a long time ago. I could probably get my ex off my ass if I gave her the satisfaction of having it out with her, but not even during the divorce did I ever stoop so low.

  “I’m going after the kids. I’ll be home if anyone needs me.” I called Casey on my way to the truck. “Don’t tell me we’re off for tonight I don’t want to hear I don’t want to hear.” Nuts.

  “Hi baby, no I’m not calling to cancel. Uh, something happened today though that I think you should know about just in case the kids seem a little off.”

  “Oh no, they don’t want to meet me.” She sounded like someone had kicked her puppy.

  “No baby, that’s not it. I had to ask Christine to leave.” I gave it to her straight as I drove to the school.

  “Oh, oh dear. Do you think maybe we should postpone…?”

  “No, no. I’m picking them up now and we’ll talk. Then you’re coming over for dinner and you’re gonna get to know the kids. Oh you’re gonna have to drive yourself over okay.” She didn’t say anything and I knew she was worrying. “We’re fine baby, no worries.”

  “Love you babe, I’ll see you later.” I hung up and waited for my kids to come through the door. They were excited to see their old man waiting for them two days in a row and babbled on like magpies on the way home.

  I guess there were a lot of people wanting my attention. The three of them seemed to be happy with the littlest things. Like me spending the night, or picking them up from school. All things I can do no problem.

  “Are we going for pizza again daddy?”

  “No princess, daddy’s gonna make dinner. I have something to talk to you about when we get home.”

  “Is it something good daddy?” My daughter questioned while my son just studied me head on. I’m sure he was thinking about what he’d told me this morning.

  I reached for his hand and squeezed reassuringly. “It’s okay son.” He relaxed back into his seat and looked out the window at the passing scenery. My little princess, ever oblivious to anything but her dolls and her own imagination didn’t have a clue. Heaven willing she’d stay that will until she’s thirty.

  Even though I haven’t thought of my ex all day, I grew tense as soon as I turned the corner to the house. I wouldn’t put it past her to pull some kind of stunt in front of the kids. She’s tried using them to get to me too many times to count.

  “Okay guys, go clean up and I’ll get you a snack and we’ll talk.” They ran to the house ahead of me and I met them on the porch to open the door. “Remind me to give you the new key tonight Jr.” I looked around to be sure nothing was out of place and headed for the kitchen to get them their snack. Yesterday was pizza today I gave them apples and milk.

  I opened the freezer for the ground chuck I had in there and threw it in the microwave to defrost while grabbing myself a beer.

  “Where’s mom, did she have to go in early?” Mellie climbed up on her chair, still drying her hands. I waited for Jr. to join us at the table before giving her an answer.

  “Listen kids, mom’s not coming home. She found a place this morning. You guys will see her soon. How do you feel about that?” There was a bit of silence after that as they looked at each other. I know they talk to each other, they have their own codes and shit that they use to fuck with me when they’re not trying to kill each other.

  “I’m waiting for an answer here guys. Are you going to be okay?”

  “Yeah dad, we knew she was leaving soon anyway.” He was trying to be brave but I could tell by the slump of his shoulders that he was nowhere near happy. In for a penny, in for a pound. Might as well get it all over with.

  “There’s something else. Remember the lady I told you guys about yesterday?”

  “Uh-huh.” I had their full attention now. Even Mellie stopped trying to spill her milk to look at me.

  “She’s coming to dinner tonight.” I waited for whatever they were gonna say next, but they went back to eating their apples and kept their thoughts to themselves.

  “Anything? Okay then if you’re sure you don’t have any questions for me I’ll get dinner started.” The microwave beeped and I stood to get the defrosted meet out. I found everything I needed to make my spaghetti special. It was a favorite with both kids and since it was the best thing I knew how to make I figured it should be the first thing I make Case.

  “Can I help daddy?” Crap, that means I’d be spending the better part of tonight cleaning up her mess.

  “Sure princess let’s bring your chair over here. Jr. You okay buddy?”

  “Yeah dad.” It was obvious that there was something on his mind so I gave his sister busy work to keep her out of the way and went to sit with him again.

  “What’s on your mind son?”

  “Does mom know?”

  “Does mom know what?”

  “That I told you about…” So that’s what’s bothering him.

  “Yes she does son, that’s not your fault, you’re supposed to be honest with me no matter what understand?”

  “Okay dad. Is she mad?”

  “Not at you son. Not at you.”

  I wonder how many things he’s kept from me so he wouldn’t make her mad. I went back to dinner prep and fielded questions from both of them about our guest. I figured that was a good sign. At least they were showing an interest.

  “She’s gonna be here soon guys, best behavior you understand?” I got their nods and went to look out the front door for her arrival. She didn’t know where I lived until a few hours ago, that was another shitty thing I’d done, something else I had to make up for.

  I felt my daughter’s little hand slip into mine and looked down at her cuteness. “Is she going to like me daddy?”

  “She’s going to love you pumpkin.”

  Just then I heard her jeep pulling into the drive and opened the door.

  “A hand please sir?” What the hell? She was laden down with bags. “I think I remember telling you not to bring anything but yourself.”

  “I know but I figured you being a man you’d forget dessert and a lady never comes to dinner without bearing gifts. Hi, you must be Melissa. What a pretty shirt. Is that Hello Kitty?” She was talking too fast which she always does when she’s nervous. Mellie slipped around me and went to stand in front of her, holding out the bottom of her shirt.

  “It’s my favorite.”

  “It’s very pretty. You know what was my favorite when I was your age? Belle, from Beauty and the Beast.” They both said the words together and I guess that was all my daughter needed as an invitation to take Casey’s free hand.

  Junior was hanging back on the porch just taking it all in. He’s like his old man. It takes him a while to warm up. I was prepared for the awkward first meeting between her and my son, but once again she surprised me.

  “And you must be Jackson Jr. Your daddy has told me so much about you. I think I have something in here for you. Something about Dungeons and Dragons I think it is.” His eyes lit up but he still said nothing.

  We trooped into the house with the kids leading the way. “You listened.” I’d told her all about my boy’s obsession with that particular video craze a while ago. “Of course.” She looked back over her shoulder with a smile and I took the opportunity to steal a kiss.

  “I missed you sweetheart, how was your day?” I followed her into the kitchen where we off loaded her bags. “Uneventful. The house on Tompkins Lane is almost ready to show.”

  “That’s good, we already have three buyers.”

  “Well you might have to raise your price a little. I was having a bad day yesterday, I took it out on your bank account.”

  “Figures.”

  The kids were eyeing the ba
gs like it was Xmas morning and they’d waited as long as they could stand. “Nope, dinner, homework, then gifts.”

  “Aw dad.” That’s the most life I’ve heard out of my son in a while.

  “Sorry squirt you know the rules.”

  He and his sister set the table without being told and me, and my little family sat down to eat. I forgot to tell her to dress down but then again I doubt she’d know what that meant. I despaired of the outcome of her yellow cashmere sweater. Cashmere and spaghetti sauce don’t actually go together.

  She didn’t seem to mind as she ate in between answering questions from my inquisitive daughter. Junior tried being his usual withdrawn self but she drew him in like a pro. “I can’t get past level seven, you’re going to have to show me how. What level are you on?”

  “I’m in the hundreds.” He said it the way the male of the species have always been saying it to any female who dared venture into the world of gaming.

  I sat back and watched her reel them in, and she did just by listening. “Dad’s no good at it either. I think you can beat him and you’re a girl.”

  “Hey, your old man just hasn’t had the time to hone his skills. But as soon as I get a chance, I’m coming for both of you.” Mellie. Not wanting to be left out put her two cents in.

  All in all the evening was turning out well. The kids were relaxed and my girl was holding her-own. Dinner was a hit as was evident by the clean dishes. “Okay kids time to clear and get ready for homework.”

  “Oh wait, we haven’t had dessert yet. I hope you guys like cupcakes.” She went to the counter where she’d left the fancy box wrapped in a ribbon. Normal people buy their cupcakes in the aisle at the local grocery store. This one probably drove an hour outside of town to find a bakery.

  She brought the box to the table and if she hadn’t won them over already she was sure to now. There were a dozen cupcakes, half with the cat whatever the fuck my daughter was into, and the other half had characters from the video game. Poor kids didn’t know where to start.