Breath Of Life

I reflect on his words and nod. I would never lead a woman on. Not after seeing first-hand the pain that caused my mother. She always tried to hide the pain as best she could, but it was impossible. I watched the life eek out of her green eyes little by little, and heard the sobs and saw the puffy red eyes that came from the ocean of tears she shed when she thought she was alone. It tore me up. It also put me at odds with my father, and by extension, my brothers who seemed to think this matter should remain strictly between our parents. It always made them traitors in my eyes.

While my father was off managing the business, and doing God only knew what else, she raised us. She was the one who carted us to and from school, made our lunches, nurtured, bathed, and clothed us. She damn near drove herself ragged with all the activities Harry and Patrick had. From debate to soccer, baseball, and all the extracurricular activities Dad insisted they needed. I was a lost cause—the kid more interested in his skateboard then school. My grades weren’t bad. I graduated with a 3.5, but it wasn’t up to the standards of Gregory Hemnway.

My lips curl down at the thought of him. I haven’t seen him in over a year at the last awkward as hell family get together where we mutually ignored one another to keep the peace. I didn’t want to come, but I couldn’t let him run me away from my niece and nephew. Payton and Ashely were my heart until Rolly came along.

They never judged me or questioned why I didn’t wear suits and short hair. They embraced me ... tattoos, long hair, and all. It helped heal the relationship between me and my brothers, Patrick and Harry. Agreeing to disagree became a bridge we could build upon. They stopped trying to force a reconciliation between me and my father, and I stopped defaming him in front of them. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked.

“Yeah, that’s true.” I grab a black T-shirt off the sink and carefully pull it on over my head. My body jerks as the wound is tweaked.

“You all right, bro?”

I nod my head and breathe through the pain. “Kind of one big bruise when it comes to my chest, which is unfortunate because trust me, brother, you use it more than you know.”

“Dude, I can only imagine. I’m not one-hundred percent sure you should be on your own right now, to be honest.” He frowns.

I snarl at him, “Don’t start.”

“I see I’m not the only one trying to talk reason into you,” he replies dryly.

“You know how my mom is, always worrying about me. It’s been all I can do to keep her from setting up shop in my house and personally nursing me back to health. A gunshot takes a long time to heal. Six months to a year. Hell no. I’m not going back to living with my mother no matter how much I love her.”

He chuckles. “Might put a damper in some of your future plans.”

If I wasn’t healing, I know he’d be teasing me about my close bond with my mother.

“Other than the bandage changes, how are you really?”

“Sore, thinking too much, and wondering what my life is going to look like now.”

“You thinking of leaving the shop?”

“Naw, man, nothing that drastic. The bullet didn’t rattle loose my brains.”

“It’s called growing pains, bro. We all get them after an event makes our world open up and suddenly everything looks different. I had my first huge one when I found out Rain was pregnant after we started the shop. It got real quick.”

“What does that say about me as a father?” I mumble.

“Nothing, bro. You’re an awesome dad, believe me. I’d be here kicking your ass if you weren’t.”

I accept his words as truth, knowing he’d never lie. That’s one of the best things about having a friend pretty much from the cradle, the undeniable realness that exists between us.

We move out of the bathroom and into the living room.

“Everything good at home?” I ask, thinking of his chubby-cheeked son. Ryder is part Houston, part Liv, his wife, and all cuteness. The one and half year old is going to break hearts.

“Yeah, the usual Maloney chaos is happening, but Liv is so worried she almost booted me out the front door.”

“Aww, your wife loves me,” I say with a grin.

“Yes, though I don’t know why.”

“You jealous, bro?” I ask.

“Hell no, she’s got my last name and number two on the way.”

“Jesus. You going to move?” I tease.

“No, that’s why we started renovating. It’ll be done in plenty of time before the newest bundle comes. Liv is only ten weeks.”