The Christmas Tree Guy

by Railyn Stone

  “I wanted to see my kids and I figured the only way to do that was to come here to see them. Plus this is MY family home.”

  “Hey, sweet peas, why don’t you come with Grammie so we can get everything cleaned up in the playroom? You can get your things so you can go home with Mommy,” Leanne chirped, taking the twins’ hands as the trio walked out.

  “You think this is funny?” Matt glanced over to see Sydnee glowering at him as he tried to straighten his shirt and wipe some of the marker stains off.

  “Extremely. Maybe now you understand what I go through on a daily basis, but I still wish you would have asked before just showing up.” Why couldn’t he understand he was doing nothing but confusing them? Sydnee knew she was going to have to deal with the barrage of questions she was sure were coming.

  “Why? Don’t I have a right to see my kids?”

  “But, you’re doing nothing but confusing them.”

  “Look, Sydnee, I told you I want this. I want to be a part of Travis and Charlie’s lives. I have a right to see them.”

  Pausing for a moment, she nodded as she shifted her weight to one side and crossed her arms. “I’ll give you that. They are yours, but not for you to just treat any kind of way you want, and to desert whenever you feel like it.”

  “I know that. I told you I want to be there for them. And to show you how much I want this, I told them I would take them to a baseball game on Saturday. But only if you said yes.” The deceitful smug look on his face made her want to smash his pearly white teeth in.

  “YOU WHAT?!” Sydnee could feel the familiar throb of a headache starting at the base of her neck. “How dare you do that without consulting me first? What do you think you’re doing, Matt?” Classic. It was just like him to do something so selfish and impulsive. Do you ever think about anyone else but yourself?

  “Hey, I thought it would be a good way to rebuild my relationship with my sons.”

  She was trying her best to calm down because the last thing she wanted was for the boys to hear her screaming at their father. Clenching her hands into fists, she paused and struggled to keep her voice as level as possible. “Only when it’s convenient for you. How dare you get their hopes up without asking me? How do you know we don’t already have plans?”

  “Oh, with your little boyfriend?” His pompous attitude dug deep into her skin and she rolled her eyes.

  “Look, Matt, I don’t make comments about Cassidy, so I would expect you to have the same respect for me when it comes to Quinn.” She could feel the heat rolling off of her. Matt had to be the most selfish man she’d ever known in her life and it was burning her up inside and out.

  “Do you know how tired I am of hearing that name? That’s all I heard all day from them. Quinn this, and Quinn that. What, did you brainwash them against me?”

  “No. They know who spends time with them and who doesn’t. They are children, Matt, they are not stupid.”

  “Look, I want to spend time with them, but you’re trying to stand in the way of that. Do you want them to grow up resenting you for this?” And now the manipulation starts.

  “You conniving bastard.” A sudden chill ran through her as she started to remember just how manipulative and underhanded Matt could be. Not only was he trying to manipulate the boys, he wanted to make her out to be the bad guy. “You have had unlimited opportunities to spend time with your sons, and you never took them. You’ve been gone for over two years. They have no clue who you even are. Now, you are miraculously back and you want me to just roll over and let you do whatever you want with them?”

  “Well, isn’t that what you’re trying to do?”

  “What are you talking about, Matt?” Sydnee couldn’t begin to fathom what he was alluding to and she was ready to end their conversation, take her boys and head home. “What am I doing?”

  “You are purposely trying to keep them from me and push them off on that white guy?”

  “His name is Quinn,” she seethed through clenched teeth. She was so tired of everyone just looking at Quinn’s outward appearance and not taking the time to get to know him as a human being. For it being the 21st century, there were a whole lot of people in her life with a 19th century mindset. “And no. What I am trying to do is protect them from being hurt by you, and to be able to trust a male figure in their life. I’m trying to teach them how to be respectable and to grow up to be responsible men, so they don’t do to any woman what you did to me.”

  “Oh here we go. You will never forgive me will you?” He shook his head in exasperation, like she was the one causing all of the problems. Sydnee gritted her teeth, wondering how he could be so oblivious. He was never going to own up to his shortcomings.

  “Matt, I could try if I thought you were sincere. You hurt us all deeply when you left, and I can’t afford to have to pick up the pieces when you leave again.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Sydnee. I want my sons and I want to be a part of their lives. Can you just please give me that chance?” Before she could respond, the unstoppable balls of energy ran into the room and Travis bubbled over with excitement as Charlie quietly stood at her side.

  “Mommy, Mommy, Daddy said he’s going to take us to the baseball game on Saturday. Can we go, please? Please, Mommy.”

  “Yeah, please, Mommy.” Matt grinned and winked at her.

  Against her better judgment, Sydnee looked at the little innocent faces of her children and the eagerness behind Travis’ eyes to go to a baseball game with his dad. “I guess so,” she relented, leering at Matt. She felt deep down she would live to regret the choice, but as much as she didn’t want to open Pandora’s Box, she had to give Matt a chance. He had her backed into a corner.

  “I guess I’ll see you two on Saturday.” Matt leaned down to say goodbye to them, opening his arms.

  “Okay, Daddy,” Travis bounced over to hug his father.

  “What about you, Charlie? You going to give Daddy a hug?” Holding on even tighter to his mom’s leg, Charlie didn’t budge, staring at Matt’s outstretched arms.

  “All right, you two, let’s go.” Sydnee glared at Matt and ushered the boys towards the door. “Bye, Leanne.” She hugged her before they walked out the door to her car. Waving to the three as they piled in the car, Leanne closed the door as they pulled out of the driveway.

  CHAPTER 14

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this.” Sydnee had mentioned the baseball game to Quinn on their usual phone call and now she was trying to defend letting the boys go with Matt.

  “Quinn, I have no choice.” She was tired of the whole situation and she was really tired of defending her decision. She had talked to Sara after she left Leanne’s and Sara had been quick to say Sydnee shouldn’t have agreed to let Matt take the boys to the baseball game either.

  “You have a choice, Syd. Matt isn’t thinking about what’s best for them. Why are you letting him do this?” Quinn’s overly protective nature emanated through the receiver. He’d made no bones about the fact he didn’t like the idea of Matt seeing the boys. “I don’t trust him.”

  “Quinn, Matt is their father. I can’t just cut them off from him if he’s trying. What happens when they grow up and find out I’m the reason they didn’t spend time with their father? Then what? I become the bad guy, and I don’t want that.”

  “You aren’t going to be the bad guy. Matt made the choice to walk away. Why can’t you see he’s trying to manipulate you?”

  “You know what, Quinn? I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” She was tired and frustrated and it seemed no one was thinking about her in this entire situation. She never left. She had been both Mommy and Daddy when Matt left. Why couldn’t anyone see that? “I’m the one who has to continually reassure them it wasn’t their fault their father left. I’m the one who held them at night when they cried because they wanted a daddy like other kids. So don’t tell me I’m being manipulated. I’m doing the best I can.”

  “Syd, I’m sorry, okay? I just don’t wa
nt to see you, or them, get hurt again. I’m only trying to protect you.” Quinn apologized, and then paused, hearing nothing but her soft whimper. “Syd?”

  “I’m sorry I blew up. I…I just want to make sure I’ve given him the chance to make it up to them. I guess I’m still hopeful there’s some good left in him. Something to validate why I ever fell in love with him in the first place.” At this point, her words were barely above a whisper and she wondered if she would ever stop crying over Matt. She hated arguing with Quinn and it seemed, recently, that’s all they did. She still wondered if he was ever going to tell her about the job offer.

  “I guess you have to do what you have to do, and it’s none of my business. But I care about you and I really want to make sure he doesn’t hurt you guys again. Look, how about you and I go to lunch or something while they are at the game? That way it’ll give you something else to try and focus on rather than what they’re doing.”

  “I would like that.” Gathering herself and wiping her eyes she said, “Quinn?”

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you for caring so much. I really appreciate it.” She was grateful for him. He was so understanding and attentive to all three of them and she treasured it more than he knew. It was a welcome change from the way Matt had discarded her and their children. Quinn continuously made her feel important. Needed. Wanted. Feelings she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

  “That’s really not necessary. You don’t have to thank me for caring about you.”

  ###

  “Hey, Syd, I can’t come pick the boys up for the game. I have to run an errand, so just meet me there. The tickets are at will call. See you then.”

  “Are you kidding me?” She sighed in disgust as she listened to Matt’s message on her voicemail. “AAAAGGGH!” Letting her frustration get the best of her, she turned to see two sets of deep brown eyes looking at her.

  “Mommy, where’s Daddy? Are we going to the game?”

  “Yes. Of course, you’re going to the game. Daddy just left me a message and he’s going to meet us there, so let’s go. We don’t want to be late.” She couldn’t believe Matt’s nerve and she mumbled under her breath, grabbing her purse before walking out to the car. “He’d better have caught himself on fire.” Pulling out of the driveway, she called Quinn and hoped he would understand. “Hey.”

  “Hey, beautiful. What’s up?”

  “Matt just left me a message. I have to meet him at the game to drop the boys off because of some errand he’s running. Can I just meet you at Deuce?”

  “Sure, call me when you’re on your way.” He paused, and she was about to hang up when she heard his voice resonate through the receiver. “Syd?”

  “Yes?”

  “Breathe, okay?”

  “I’m trying.” Realizing she couldn’t just leave her six-year olds at a baseball game alone, Sydnee paid to park in the lot and took them both by the hand to meet Matt at will call.

  “Hi. I’m supposed to pick up tickets for Matt Garrett.”

  “Here you go, ma’am,” the attendant handed her the envelope.

  “Thanks.” She looked to see three tickets and stood waiting for Matt. After about ten minutes, she tried calling him, but got his voicemail. “Matt, the game is about to start and I’m waiting. Call me.” She started fearing the worst, that he was not going to show up, and once again the boys would be disappointed. Matt, I could kill you right now.

  “Mommy, can we go in now?” Travis asked, scuffing his tennis shoe against the pavement. Both boys were growing impatient as she tried to figure out what to do next.

  “Sweetie, your Daddy isn’t here yet and if we go in, he won’t be able to get in to spend time with you.” She tilted her head to look at his little face and his bottom lip starting to protrude like it usually did when he was disappointed. They only had three tickets. If she went in with them, Matt wouldn’t be able to get in. But getting a six-year old to understand that when all he wanted to do was go to the game, was going to be a tough feat.

  “But, we want to go in, Mommy.” Just then she felt her phone vibrate. Looking at it, she saw a text message from Matt. Hey, I’m held up. Go ahead and take them in.

  “You have got to be freaking kidding me.”

  “Mommy, you said a bad word.” Charlie looked up at Sydnee.

  “Ah, you’re right. I’m sorry, honey.” Sydnee said dejectedly while staring at the darkened screen on her phone. “Mommy shouldn’t have said that. Okay, guys, we’re going in to find our seats.”

  “Yay!” they yelled in unison as she took their hands and headed to the gate.

  Working their way through the crowd, Sydnee found their seats and sat the boys down. They were so giddy and excited, and they laughed as they watched the mascot entertain the crowd. Sydnee was incensed. He has some nerve. Suddenly, she thought of Quinn, who was waiting for her to call. She quickly dialed his number and sighed.

  “Hey. You on your way?” The joy in his voice made her stomach clench, knowing she was going to have to tell him what was going on.

  “Uh, no.”

  “Oh-kay, what’s going on?”

  “Matt’s not here. The game has started and I’m sitting here with the boys.” Sydnee scanned the crowd trying to see any sign of Matt possibly coming up the steps to where they were seated. She knew it was futile to think he would hold up his end of a promise.

  “He didn’t show up at all?” She could hear the agitation in his voice and she knew as much as Quinn cared about the boys, he was angry Matt had let them down.

  “He sent me a text message saying he was held up and for me to take the boys in.” It was the sorriest excuse she’d heard, even for Matt’s standards. Something told her she had made a big mistake by trusting him. How could she be so gullible once again?

  “This guy is unbelievable.”

  “I had to bring them in. They were so excited about this. I’m so sorry.”

  “No worries. I understand.”

  “I’m sure they’ll get restless soon enough. Maybe we can leave early and all go get a pizza or something together later?” She was trying desperately to salvage at least some time with Quinn. Even if it was all four of them, she still wanted to see him.

  “Hey, just keep me updated.” The slight agitation in Quinn’s voice stabbed her in the heart, and she hated being caught in Matt’s web of deceit, which was spilling over into her relationship with Quinn.

  “Are you sure?” She hated doing this to Quinn, but she didn’t have a choice. She was looking forward to an afternoon with him just relaxing and spending quality time without the kids. It was something they hadn’t done in a while and it was something she seriously needed.

  “Yes. Just call me when you leave.”

  Sydnee sat watching the game and talking with the boys for more than an hour before she looked up to see Matt, grinning and ambling towards them. Suddenly, Sydnee realized she’d been played like a fiddle. The jerk had set her up. There was a reason the seat beside them was empty and now it all made sense.

  “Daddy!” Travis called out as Matt got to his seat.

  “Hey, little man, are you having fun?” He smiled over at Sydnee.

  “Where have you been?” Sydnee’s jaws hurt from how tightly she clenched her teeth.

  “I told you I had some things to handle. I’m sorry, it couldn’t be helped, but it looks like you have been having fun.” Matt reached over to tickle both Travis and Charlie who burst out giggling.

  “You said you were on your way over an hour ago. Matt, I had plans.” She tried keeping her voice quiet as the boys chattered about the mascot. They were more enthralled with what he was doing than watching the game. Sydnee only wished she could be as happy as they seemed to be.

  “Syd, look. The boys are having fun. You still haven’t learned how to relax, have you?”

  “I’ve got to go.” She snatched up her purse to leave.

  “Hey, no, guys don’t we want Mommy to stay?” Matt asked. Are you freakin
g kidding me? Her eyes went wide as Matt turned to the twins, waiting for their response.

  “Mommy, please don’t go.” Charlie looked at her with tears immediately pooling in his eyes and her heart melted. Sitting down beside him, she lifted his chin.

  “Charlie, you guys were supposed to spend time with Daddy. Mommy’s going to go so you can have him all to yourselves.” She knew it was useless to try and convince him to let her go. Charlie was hesitant to spend time with Matt and she couldn’t blame him. He wasn’t used to being around him and it took Charlie a while to warm up to people most of the time. She was pleasantly surprised how quickly he had taken to Quinn. Of course, Travis was a different story. He was excited to spend time with Matt and it was like he’d never left. She knew if Matt left again it would devastate him, and she hated the thought of it.

  “But, Mommy, I want you to stay. Please.” Sydnee looked over to see Matt looking pretty pleased with himself. She knew he’d done it on purpose because he was well aware Charlie would have a meltdown if she left. Oh, what she would do for the eye scratching session she wanted with Matt for manipulating her and the boys, but she had to be civil for their sakes.

  “You really want me to stay huh?”

  “Please.”

  “Okay, sweetie, Mommy will stay.” She felt horrible seeing the sense of relief wash over his face and she wondered if everyone was right. Should she have let the boys come to the game in the first place?

  “Yay! Mommy’s staying.” Matt threw Sydnee his slickest, sly grin and high-fived Travis, who was sitting beside him.

  “Your horns are showing, Matt,” she murmured under her breath. “You planned this all along.” By this point, her nerves were plucked and she sat, seething, with her arms crossed. Why did she fall for his song and dance? She should have known Matt hadn’t changed and never would. He was determined to get what he wanted, when he wanted it, regardless of anyone else’s feelings.