“That bad?”
“No, that’s good. Like very, very good.”
I smile. “Nothing’s set in stone yet. I’m just putting feelers out there.”
“Dad, you guys have pretty much been my parents. Let’s be real.”
I smirk. “True enough, though I bet Blue won’t let you get away with saying that.”
Bolton rolls his eyes. “She always says Mom did the best she could by me. I think it’s bullshit.”
“Those two got oceans full of baggage between them, kid. It gives her a serious blind spot.”
“You think you can do something about that?” he asks.
“Why you worried about it, kid?”
“I don’t want to see her. She’s gotten enough of my time and energy. I know she’s not going to change, and Aunt Blue, she doesn’t get that.”
I nod. “Well, son, you’re old enough to know what you want to do and don’t. I’m not going to push the issue. I’ll talk it over with her.”
“Good, ’cause I hate feeling like I’m letting her down, you know?” Bolt asks.
“Yeah, your aunt has a way about her.”
“You, um, you really like her?” he asks.
I narrow my eyes. “Spit it out, kid. Say what you want to.”
“It’s not just messing around, right? ’Cause Aunt Blue, uh, she deserves better than that.”
I grin, proud of him for sticking up for his pseudo mother. “Anyone else asked me that and I’d have kicked their ass,” I say with a laugh. “No, this is for keeps shit. No games.”
His shoulders relax.
&nb
sp; “So, we’re square?” I ask.
“Yeah, Dad.”
“Now, I have to tell you the reality. Your aunt is stubborn as shit, and it’s going to take some time to get this hashed out between us. Whatever you hear or see is our business. You try to get in the middle of it, and we’re going to have a problem. All you need to know is I’d never hurt her.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“We’re grownups with big emotions, kiddo. There are going to be some knock down drag outs in this house along with other things. You’re old enough to know the way it is between a man and a woman. I’m not going to lie to you or sugar coat it. I never have.”
“And I’ve always appreciated it,” Bolt replies.
“I want you to trust me, Bolton. Anything you need or want to know, bring it to me. That’s how it should be. But this thing between me and Blue? It’s been building a long time. So, I ask that you respect and trust us while we work this out, okay?”
He pauses.
I can see the wheels in his brain turning. My boy is smart—crazy smart—and empathetic like his aunt, but my boy knew when to turn it off.
“You’re going to talk to her now, aren’t you?”
“Yep, and I imagine it’s going to get pretty loud. But afterwards, we’ll go on that ride I promised you.”