A Son's Tale

“He’s supposed to be on a fishing trip this week. I might have mentioned that. I paid for the whole thing in advance, arranged transportation for him, bought him everything he needed, helped him pack, and at the last minute he refused to go.”

“What makes you think spending time with Sammie will be any different?”

“I told you my father used to be a teacher. He was actually the headmaster at an affluent all-boys school. He was also their basketball coach, and in just two years got them their first winning season in a very long time. You said Sammie lives and breathes basketball.”

Could life really work out so well? Was she missing something here? Was she lacking good judgment again?

She didn’t think so. It seemed to her that the lapse in judgment would be to turn down her one hope of proving to the court that she could give Sammie every opportunity he needed. Even on short notice.

But…her mind raced. What would the risks be?

“Does your father have a temper?”

“As much as anyone. He’s not violent, if that’s what you’re asking.” He didn’t sound the least bit put out by her question. “And his professional record is completely clean. Not a single complaint.”

“Can I be there? Can I meet your dad and see how Sammie takes to him? And then I’d go. I know this is supposed to be guy time.”

“Of course you can be there.” Cal’s voice was soft. Understanding. It soothed her tattered nerves until she wanted nothing more than to curl up with her head on his chest and go to sleep. “We’ve got some curtains that need to be replaced. I could use your opinion on what to buy.”

She didn’t know a whole lot about curtains, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. “Sure! When were you thinking?”

“You busy Saturday morning?”

“Nope.”

“The first time I meet Sammie, I’d like it to be on his own turf. My place is kind of hard to find anyway, so how about I pick you two up, say, around ten, and we’ll see what happens.”

“Sounds good.” She was grinning from ear to ear. Feeling blessed. And stupid as hell for feeling so good.

He was being a friend. It wasn’t as if she’d never had one of those before.

* * *

“I DON’T WANT TO GO over to some stupid teacher’s house! It’s Saturday morning. You’re supposed to give me computer time.”

“I’ll give you computer time this afternoon, Sammie. We’ll skip Saturday afternoon chores this week.” She’d do all the dusting and vacuuming by herself while Sammie visited with her folks tomorrow.

A visit that had been recommended by Leslie Dinsmore so, of course, Morgan had to agree to it.

Prior to her father’s lawsuit, she’d have allowed the visit anyway. She never got in the way of her parents’ relationship with their grandson. Her father’s lack of time spent with Sammie was strictly her father’s doing.

Not that she expected anyone in the court system to believe her word against his on that one.

“I’m not going.” Sammie was speaking to her through the bathroom door again. If this kept up, she was going to take the handle out of the door.

“Professor Whittier will be here in fifteen minutes,” she said, trying not to lose her temper with her son, reminding herself that if Cal weren’t involved, she wouldn’t care how this looked. She’d be thinking about what Sammie was thinking and feeling and trying to communicate.

“I don’t care.” His anger was obvious, if a bit less intimidating for the fact that he wasn’t all that close. She’d bet he was sitting on the toilet.

“Look, Sammie, I’m doing the best I know how to be a good mother to you. I know you aren’t real happy with me right now and I’m sorry about that. But the bottom line is I am the parent here. By law, you have to have a guardian. You’re only ten. You aren’t permitted to be your own boss. And right now, I am that guardian. If you want that to change, I guess you just have to tell Leslie that.” No point in splitting hairs here. Sammie wasn’t stupid. For all she knew he’d already told his counselor that she sucked as a parent and he wanted out.

“In the meantime, I’m the boss and I say you need to spend some time around men. You’re so insistent that you are one and it’s time you see how real men act so you can be one, too.”

“I see men at school.”

r /> “They’re at work then. You should get to know some men outside of work situations.”

“These guys don’t know me. They’ll just be doing a job.”