Letting Go (Thatch 1)

Mom’s smile faltered, but her voice was still deceivingly calm. “I don’t know what you could possibly be talking about.”

“Don’t try to act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. I saw her checkbook; I saw the goddamn duplicates of the checks she made out to you!”

“Jagger, you couldn’t possibly think I would take money from her.” Turning around, she glanced at Charlie. “Go to your room, sweetheart.”

Charlie didn’t move, and I was past caring. It was time she knew too. “Don’t bullshit me just because Charlie is here!” I looked at Charlie as I pointed toward Mom. “She’s been trying to force me into giving her money for years. That’s why I buy everything for Keith—because what I did give to her went to her, and her alone. This whole I-love-everything-and-am-always-carefree-and-happy attitude is just an act. She’s made Grey give her five grand!”

“Don’t be ridi—”

“I told you I saw the damn duplicates!” I yelled at my mom, and Grey placed a hand on my back and gripped the hand closest to her with the other. Instead of flinching away again, I squeezed her hand and tried to remind myself that even though I was hurt that Grey had kept this secret from me, in Grey’s own mind, Mom really had given her no choice. “Grey told me everything. How at first you told her you’d been laid off and Mike took everything. Whether or not some douche named Mike took all your money, I know you sure as shit didn’t get laid off because you don’t work, and your SUV is still in the fucking driveway.”

“Jag—”

“There was never a Mike,” Charlie said softly, her eyes touching on Mom before looking at me. “Mom got married again three months ago to Robby, you met him here when you came to talk to me this summer.”

“What a surprise,” I growled, my gaze going back to my mom. “But that’s not it, is it, Mom? That’s not the worst part. You tried to use Keith as a way of getting money, didn’t you? You tried to say he was LeAnn’s and my son? I don’t even need to talk to LeAnn to know that is the biggest bullshit I’ve ever heard! If it was true, you can be sure she would have been the first person to use it against me.”

“Jagger, that girl is lying to you to make you think—”

A harsh huff left Grey, but she didn’t say anything as her hitched breathing started again. “Really? You’re really going to try to utter that bullshit when she’s standing right here? Tell me who Keith’s parents are.”

“You and LeAnn,” Mom said immediately, and Charlie turned quickly to look at her—her eyes wide.

“Tell. Me. Who. Keith’s. Parents. Are,” I gritted out. As soon as Mom started repeating herself, I yelled, “Stop fucking lying to me! I know LeAnn would have said something! Charlie,” I barked, and turned my attention to her. “If Keith isn’t Mom’s, then who are his parents?”

Charlie didn’t say anything; she just stood there with a ghost-white face and eyes wider than I’d ever seen.

“Don’t try to pull your sister into this,” Mom hissed.

“You don’t want me to pull her into this? You did that all on your own when you told Grey to ask Charlie about Keith!”

Charlie’s eyes flashed to Grey before going back to Mom. “What did you say?” she whispered, her tone full of horror.

“I told Grey the truth,” Mom said simply.

“What truth?” Charlie asked louder.

“That I’ve been taking care of LeAnn’s son since day one, and it was time Jagger started paying.” Mom finally looked over at Charlie with a challenging stare, and immediately I knew she was lying again.

“Bullshit! You think I don’t know your manipulative looks by now? Charlie! Tell me who Keith’s parents are. Now!”

“I can’t!” she responded, her answer sounding more like a plea.

“Jagger, let’s just go. Please,” Grey begged. “She’s not going to tell us, this is just going to keep going in circles and getting worse.”

“Listen to your whore, son, she’s smarter than you are, and maybe this one will actually tell you when she gets pregnant with your child.”

“Shut the fuck up!” I roared, and took a step inside, but Grey pulled me back. “If this is how you’re going to be, and if Keith really is mine, then I want him.”

“You can’t have him,” Mom shot back, and held up a silencing hand when Charlie started to talk.

“You can’t even take care of him! I’ve been taking care of him since he was born anyway. Now I’m taking him, or I will go to court to get him from you.”

“You really think I’ll just give up custody of him because you finally decided to acknowledge that he’s yours?”

“I still don’t even think he’s mine! But I can be a better fucking parent than you’ve ever been!”

“You can’t take—” Mom began, but was cut off.