Innocence

“Please be careful.”

Tires screeched to a halt on the concrete section of the drive. Ty climbed on my lap. Muffled voices, one was Jaxson and one I wasn’t able to make out. “It’s okay, Ty. Your dad is fine.”

A door slammed and then a woman screamed. “Tyler! Tyler! It’s your mommy! Come see me!”

My defenses instantly kicked in. I was Ty’s mother. Was Crystal out there? No. No. No.

“Get in your car, Crystal! There’s a restraining order!” The hatred in Jaxson’s voice was unlike anything I’d ever heard from him.

Crystal, Ty’s biological mother, was here. She hadn’t seen him since the night she dropped him off. I remembered the stories from Jaxson of how Ty was left on the front porch. I’d seen the pictures one night as Jaxson showed me the restraining order in case I needed to know. She’d been gone for a long time, but Jaxson was cautious.

Ty broke free and ran to the window.

“Ty!” I ran after him as he pulled back the curtain. A bone-thin woman with dirty-blonde hair waved her arms frantically at Jaxson while she spoke. I was unable to make out what she was saying as her words were rushed. Jaxson corralled her back to the driver’s side. My heart thudded in my chest as I saw the out of control female struggling against Jaxson.

She looked dangerous.

The movement caught her attention before I could remove Ty from her view. “Tyler! Tyler! Come with me! It’s your mommy!”

Jaxson looked back our way, worry and anger etched on his face as he talked on the phone and restrained Crystal with one arm against the car. She thrashed against him.

Gasping, Ty sunk to the floor. Crystal’s eyes caught mine. “Jaxson who is she? Who is that bitch? She can’t have my baby! They said she was taking my baby.”

I picked up Ty. “Let’s go upstairs, okay?”

He didn’t answer. We needed away from all the screaming. From Crystal.

Sniffles came from him as I carried him, and my heart broke. At the second floor, I went to his room. He clung to me with a death grip. More sniffles. “Was that my mom?”

“I don’t know. Let’s see what your dad says. You’re safe. I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Jaxson had sole custody. From the looks of Crystal, she wasn’t clean and sober. Ty only clutched me tighter as we waited for Jaxson. I picked up a few books and read to him, but he was lost in thought a million miles away.

I lost track of time until my phone rang. It was Jaxson.

“Jaxson?”

“I’m coming inside and didn’t want to scare you guys. Where are you?”

The door opened as the alarm chimed. “Upstairs. Ty’s room.”

“How is he?

“Upset.”

Jaxson took an audible deep breath. “Okay. I’m on my way.”

I kissed Ty on the head. “Your dad is on his way up.” No response.

Footsteps came up the stairs. Jaxson had a weary look on his face. “Ty, everything is okay. I promise.”

He clutched me tighter. “I don’t want to give London up. She’s my mommy. I don’t want that mean woman as my mom. I want London. Don’t make me give her up because that mean lady wants me now.”

My eyes grew wide as Jaxson looked at me. “Buddy, you’re not giving up London. She’s not leaving. London is still your mom.”

“Then who was that person? She said she was my mom. Dad and moms are supposed to get married. I don’t want you and London not to get married.”

Jaxson sat next to me after pulling Ty to him. “That woman is sick, Ty. Sometimes . . . moms and dads don’t live together. I’ll never let her hurt you or take you away.”