Cole was in his room, shoving his few belongings into his pack when the door opened. He turned and looked over his shoulder. Natalie.
“Cole, I’m so sorry.”
“We both knew this was how it was going to end, right?”
Natalie shook her head. “She’ll calm down. Don’t leave, please. She’s just hurting. Don’t let her push you away. She needs you. The kids need you.”
Cole shook his head. “No, she’s right. I don’t belong here.”
“Yes. You do.”
He grabbed the pack up and headed toward the door. Stopping in front of her, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. He pushed it into Natalie’s hand. “I’ll send more. Every month. You don’t have to tell her. I’m sure she’d be stubborn and refuse to take it, and we both know her and the kids need it.”
“Cole. Please. Don’t leave. Not like this.”
He pushed past her and walked down the hall to TJ’s room. He opened the door and quietly slipped inside. He stood by the bed, looking down at his son, wondering how long it would be before he saw him again, wondering if TJ would miss him or how long it would take before he forgot all about Cole.
Natalie stood in the doorway, watching as he leaned down and kissed TJ on the forehead.
He straightened and adjusted the pack on his shoulder. “Goodbye, son,” he whispered. He turned to leave and saw Natalie standing there. “Maybe you could have him call me now and then.”
“Of course,” she whispered, tearing up.
He walked past her down the hall and out the front door.
Angel lay on her bed, sobbing. She heard the front door close, and a moment later she heard his bike roar to life. She wanted to run to him and tell him not to go, but she couldn’t. Her pride wouldn’t let her. She heard the bike pull out and then the engine sound fading down the street.