Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66516 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66516 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“That’s, uh, wow.” She pursed her lips in thought, arched her eyebrows, and nodded to herself. “Wow.”
Rather than being grateful for the reprieve, Jason seemingly had no ability to walk away from what was sure to be a topic he’d regret. “What?” he asked. “What do you mean by that?”
Raising her hands to shoulder height, Angela said, “I’m surprised you’re able to keep it up, that’s all.”
“I have no trouble getting it up,” Jason hissed.
Angela threw her head back and laughed.
“What?” Jason said, annoyed that he kept asking the same thing and never got closer to an answer.
“Nothing,” Angela said, wiping away tears at the corners of her eyes. “That was just so typical.”
She kept laughing and Jason sighed. “Do you think you can finish insulting me sometime in the next few minutes so we can go back to the point of this meeting?”
“Honestly, Jason, I have no idea what you want from me,” Angel said, suddenly sounding tired. She picked up her glass and sucked on the straw.
“I want to know what’s going on with my kids.”
“Then try spending time with your kids,” she snapped.
“That’s not fair!”
“Isn’t it?” Angela said calmly.
The conversation was like an emotional roller coaster. Or his marriage.
She took another sip. “How often do you see them?”
“Every week.”
She arched her eyebrows disbelievingly.
“Fine. I seem them at least every other week.”
“And how much time do you spend with them?”
He hated answering questions that weren’t really questions. “You know the answer to that.”
“Yes, I do. You see them more often now than you used to, but it’s still only for a night or two at a time.”
“That’s not true! I took them for a week.”
“You took them for a week once.” She set her glass down and leaned forward. “And that’s the longest period of time you’ve spent with them consecutively, both before and after our divorce.”
“That’s because I have to work!” Jason said.
“So do I!”
“Dammit, Angela, it isn’t the same and you know it.”
“No, I don’t know it. Why isn’t it the same?” she asked. “Please enlighten me.”
Hating to be backed into a corner, he shouted, “Because you’re their mother!”
“And you’re their father. Isn’t that what you just said? They’re your kids, and you want to know what’s going on in their lives. Be a part of their damn lives and you’ll see that, yes—” She raised one finger. “Donny’s angry. And yes—” She raised another finger. “Kristen is scared. Who can blame her? There are times he scares me.”
“Why?” Jason asked, more concerned about Angela’s fear than her accusations.
“Because Kristen is my size. Donny’s bigger than both of us and he’s nowhere near done growing. He’s five foot five and he weighs a hundred and twenty-five pounds. When he gets mad about something, he’s loud and in our faces and—” she sighed. “It’s not good. I don’t think he’d ever actually hurt us, but his temper is frightening and I don’t know how to help him.” She slumped in her chair and lifted her soda, her hand trembling. “Are you happy now? You have your answers. Short of getting more involved in their lives, I don’t know what you can do about any of it.”
Jason picked up his glass and slowly drank, more to have something to do than because he was thirsty. When ice hit his lips, indicating that his tea was gone, he sighed and set the glass down. “I never planned to raise kids on my own,” he said quietly.
“Right back at you.” Angela raised her own glass in a cheer. “I never planned to have kids at all.” She took another sip and then set her soda down. “But we did, two of them. The good news is neither of us is on our own. I wish you’d spend more time with them and get involved with their day-to-day lives, but that doesn’t mean I want you to take them full-time.”
“What do you want?” Jason asked tiredly. “And where the fuck is our lunch?” He looked around, hoping to catch sight of the waiter.
“I want bigger breasts, an unlimited shoe budget, and more free time.”
Chuckling weakly, Jason said, “I guess I could do something about the last one.”
“You could. But it’s not just about me having time to breathe or go to the bathroom without interruptions.” She reached out and held Jason’s hand. “They want to see you more. I know they don’t say it and Donny would deny it, but it’s true. You’re their father and they need you. Donny’s probably hurting more than Kristen, but they both need you.”
He had already failed as a husband. He didn’t want to fail as a father. “Okay.” Jason nodded, awash with concern and guilt. “I’ll do better. Maybe we can make a schedule?” He looked at Angela questioningly.
“That’s a good idea.” She nodded. “And if they’re with you, Abe will spend time with Donny and maybe he’ll have some ideas about what’s going on with him and how we can help.”