“Okay son, if you’re sure that you’re okay with things the way they are I won’t say anything more about it.”
“Thanks, and please don’t do this again. I know you care but I don’t ever want to hear anything negative about my relationship with Caitlin, that’s a no-no, we’re doing just fine. I’ll talk to you later.”
I hung up the phone before she could say anything else. Why did she choose today of all days to do that shit? The last time we spoke she was excited about me coming home to see my girl. She was the one who got rid of the renters when I said I’d find an alternative, because she said this way I’d be closer to Caitie. So why is she acting this way now?
“What did I come up here for again?” Oh yeah, the slow cooker. I saw it on the shelf right where Mrs. Lyon said it would be. I’d only been gone about five or six minutes but it felt much longer because of the content of that messed up conversation.
She’d taken some of the shine off of a day that had been going so well. Caitlin had told me how great things had gone with her dad and though she seemed a bit suspicious when she found me in the den with Mancini she hadn’t made a big deal out of it.
We’d used the excuse of watching Cody together to take her off the scent and it seemed to work. She was acting more like her old self, happy and without that look of fear and distress on her face. I too was feeling better now that I know what is going on. At least now I can focus my attention on what needs to be done.
It showed in part how far we’d come, her dad and I, that he’d been willing to share what he had with me the night before, and I was sure that after spending time with his daughter he’d be feeling a lot more relaxed. Now I have my mother’s depressing words in my head overshadowing everything that had been good about the day.
I headed back downstairs not as happy as I was when I went up. The phone rang when I reached the bottom step and I almost didn’t answer when I saw that it was mom again. But I’ve never been able to do that to her no matter how mad she’s made me.
“Yeah mom.”
“I’m sorry Todd, I had some time to think and you’re right. This is your life and you’re old enough to know what you want. I guess I was just afraid that you were unhappy, no parent wants their kid to be unhappy.”
“I know you meant well mom.”
“Yeah and all that stuff I said about Mr. Lyon you know I don’t mean it. I think it’s great the way he looks out for his daughter. I like the fact that he’s raised her to be a lady; that means I’m getting a gem for a daughter in law. So as long as you’re happy I’m happy too okay; forgive me?”
“”You’re forgiven.” Are women always this topsy-turvy? She’d sounded so firm just a few short minutes ago. How could she have a change of heart that fast? “I love you son.”
“Love you too mom.” We hung up and I carried the cooker into the kitchen.
Mrs. Lyon looked up from what she was doing and saw the look on my face. “Everything okay Todd? You look….did you and Caitlin have a fight? Oh no, it’s Colton isn’t it? What did he do now?” I could only shake my head no. “I’m fine Mrs. Lyon, just have some stuff on my mind, nothing to worry about.” I left the room as fast as I came because I didn’t want to step into the murky soup of lying to my mother in law to be.
LYON
The fuck! I’d heard the kid’s voice coming from my attic and was about to freak the fuck out thinking he and my daughter had snuck up there to do some shit that was sure to get his ass dead. Good thing I didn’t say shit as I snuck up on the door.
I stopped in my tracks when I realized what was going on and got more than I bargained for. I had to tiptoe down the stairs in my own damn house before he caught me when he hung up the phone. Shit, Kat’s cooker. I need a minute.
I headed to my office to take a seat and a breather. Now if the kid had known I was there I could say maybe he was putting on a show for my benefit, but he didn’t. He really loves my kid and what’s more, he doesn’t hate me as much as he should. Fucker seems to understand me.