Ash (20 page)

“Mom, come on, it was one night with someone. That’s not exactly the foundations of everlasting love, ya know?” I tried to steer the conversation somewhere else. “Besides, I’ve got a little trouble brewing.”

“Like what?”

“Marcy.”

My mother helped herself to a piece of orange and chewed on it before replying. “I’ve always had an awful feeling when it comes to that woman.”

“You and me both.” I sighed and popped a piece of orange into my mouth. Danny and Jake’s laughter filled the air. “She’s demanding access to Jake.”

“That’s absurd,” my mother scoffed. “She has no maternal rights to him. She carried him, and signed all rights away. What does she expect?”

“She’s playing games, trying to drive a wedge between Danny and me.”

“Should I have a word with her?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I chuckled and replied, “No, Mom, I will deal with this. If she doesn’t stop, I’ll go the legal route.”

She turned her head, looked at Jake, and then back at me. “Some women let a little power go to their heads. In her case, her head is up her ass.”

The two of us laughed hard, drawing Jake’s attention.

He ran down the hallway, straight to my legs. His little eyes were like windows to another world, and I could have easily lost myself in them.

“What’s funny?” he asked, scratching his nose.

“Your grandmother has a wicked sense of humor,” I replied, and winked at my mother.

“And your grandmother has to leave and go tend to your grandfather,” she said, sliding off the stool. “There’s fresh lasagne in the refrigerator, and I made Jake’s favourite.” She grinned at Jake.

“Strawberry cheesecake?” he asked gleefully, and ran straight to the refrigerator.

I loved how excited he got over dessert. My mother had gone the extra mile simply because she adored him.

Danny came in and wrapped his arms around my mother’s neck. He planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek and held onto her.

She playfully patted his arm. “And what badness have you been up to?” she inquired.

“I’m a saint, or have you forgotten?” he replied.

My mother stared back at him and nudged him in the ribs before laughing. “Yes, Danny, as long as you believe that, then that’s all that matters.”

“I love you, too, Mrs. B.” He kissed her again and let her go.

My family was the most important thing to me. I observed my mother with my son and best friend. I had never felt more content. Given everything that had happened in my life, one thing was for certain. Family was everything. I wasn’t going to let Marcy and her evil intentions get in the way of that.

“Yes?” I gazed at him.

“Guess what?”

“What?” I replied, and chuckled.

“I slept all on my own last night.”

He beamed. A huge smile spread across his face.

I playfully pinched his nose. “I know. Grandma told me. We are all so proud of you.”

“If I keep sleeping on my own, Maw-Maw will get me the puppy for sure.”

“That was the deal,” I said, and pulled the covers up to his chin.

“Daddy!”

“What, buddy?”

“Do you think Mommy will be proud of me, too?”

A hard lump formed at the back of my throat. It took every inch of my willpower not to succumb to the tremendous ache in my chest.

Jake waited for me to reply.

I took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Of course, she would. In fact, I know she is looking down on you right now. Her heart is full of so much love and pride for her blue-eyed boy.”

Jake stared up at the ceiling and smiled. “I love you, Mommy.”

Jesus Christ, just when I thought I had the whole thing under control, my kid had to go and rip my heart out. I became a mess as my eyes filled with tears. A useless fool who wanted to crawl under his covers and bawl like a baby.

I cleared my throat. “And now it’s lights out, buddy. Sleep tight,” I whispered, and kissed his cheek. “I love you, little man.”

He wrapped his arms around my neck and hugged me. “I love you to the moon and back, Daddy.”

I switched off the light and left the room. My heart thumped hard. My palms grew sweaty. I stood outside his bedroom door and rested my back against the wall, feeling every inch the broken man.

Danny popped his head out from the kitchen door. “You okay?”

“I just need a minute.”

I turned my back on him and went into my room. Sometimes, there was no denying the pain inside me. The deep-rooted anguish seemed to raise its ugly head when I least expected it.

I sat down on the edge of my bed and closed my eyes. Jake didn’t mean to upset me, but hearing his innocent voice crippled me internally. He was so little and hadn’t a clue about the long-term effect of his mother’s death. He didn’t understand the finality of it all, and that was the worst part. I must have sat there for the longest while because the door to the room opened slightly.

Danny stood in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”

“Same old story.”

He strolled over to the bed and sat down beside me. “You know what your problem is, Benton? You think too much.”

“Ah, this one I’m blaming on the kid,” I replied.

“What did he say?”

I shrugged. “He just doesn’t get it, you know? I’m trying so hard to give him all the answers he’s searching for, but every single time, I feel like a part of me breaks a little more. Not exactly macho, is it?”

“Dude,” he said. “The kid is going to continue asking questions, and the road is going to get a whole lot bumpier. But not every day is going to feel like this. Connie’s death is still pretty new. You just don’t bounce back from that and carry on, regardless. None of us are made that way. Well, maybe the real stone cold bastards of the world, but either way, it will get easier as time goes on. You will learn to live with the kinds of questions Jake will ask. And believe it or not, you are doing a pretty good job so far.”

“Why do you get to be the wise one?” I asked, and tried to force a smile.

“Because I’m your man when you forget to think straight, and besides, how many times have you had my back in the past?”

Danny raised a good point. There was a time in his life when he needed protecting from those he loved the most. Replaying those days in my head, I wondered how he ever found the strength to break free and straighten himself out. Then, I remembered the catalyst.

Danny’s father had been drinking. When David McGregor hit the bottle, all hell broke loose in the McGregor household.

Danny had been absent from school for three days straight. He wasn’t answering my calls. Even though I would be walking into the lion’s den, I couldn’t resist it a moment longer.

“You do know his father will probably kick your ass,” Connie said as we walked down the street.

“Yeah, well, as long as I get a few punches in, I’m good.”

Connie hit my arm and scowled at me. “So not funny, you jackass.”

“What am I meant to do? He’s my bro. I can’t let his useless piece of shit father knock him about.”

“I know, but Jesus, Ash, his father wouldn’t think twice about taking his gun and shooting you in the head.”

Connie made a valid point. David was an ex-cop, fired from the line of duty due to his alcohol dependency. Life for him went down the drain once the booze took hold of him. Danny was embarrassed by him, and for the most part, avoided going home. There was no way Danny could escape the onslaught of abuse, not when his mother needed him.

“What if one day, David takes it too far and does something he will regret?” I asked. “I couldn’t live with myself for not trying.”

“But Ash, if you get caught up in some domestic problem, you could get picked up, and you’re already on probation.”

“Fuck it.” I sighed. “I’m beyond caring.”

“That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard you say, but so be it. If you want to get your ass thrown in jail, off you go.”

I didn’t respond and swallowed the anger welling in my stomach, setting my sights on the house at the end of the block. By the time we reached the door, hell had already broken loose.

“Stay here.” I turned and pointed at Connie. “I mean it, okay?”

She nodded.

I turned the door handle.

Chloe, Danny’s mom, stood in between David and Danny. Her hands trembled as she reached out toward her husband. Danny’s mouth was bleeding.

“David, please, stop this,” Chloe cried.

Danny’s eyes met mine, and he looked away, ashamed.

Furniture was turned over. Beer bottles were scattered across the floor. The strong odour of nicotine filled the air.

David turned his head and saw me. “Oh, look, the cavalry has arrived.”

“Mr. McGregor,” I said as my voice shook. “This isn’t going to solve anything.”

“Get the fuck out of my house, Benton,” he roared.

I stood still. My heart pounded hard, and my mouth went dry. I had made a huge mistake.

“Ashley, please, just leave,” Chloe tearfully mumbled.

Everything in me told me that I had to get out of there, but seeing the pain on Danny’s face stopped me in my tracks. There was no way I could leave him. If he went down, so would I.

Danny stepped forward and put his hands on his mother’s shoulders. He nodded at me.

I moved slightly to the right, leaving the path clear to the front door.

David saw the exchange and laughed menacingly. “You boys are stupid little pricks.”

“David, honey, please, just let Danny go,” Chloe pleaded.

David shook his head and glared at her. He balled his fingers into a fist and drove it forward, slamming it straight into Chloe’s face.

Chloe fell back against Danny. The two of them crashed to the floor.

I couldn’t believe that he’d just hit her like that. She hadn’t done anything wrong.

“What the fuck?” I roared, and ran over to them. I bent down and saw Chloe’s bloodied mouth.

She cried as I helped her to her feet.

Before I had the chance to step in, Danny jumped up, grabbed a beer bottle, and charged at his father.

It was done before I could stop him. He stood staring at his father, crying, and breathing heavily. He held the broken bottle in his hand.

David was visibly stunned. His eyes were glassy as he stared at the ceiling. Blood seeped from his head.

“Jesus Christ!” I shouted, and touched Danny’s arm.

He turned and looked at me. Tears ran down his face.

“He kept hitting me. I got the belt last night, all for asking him to stop beating on Mom. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

David glared at us and stumbled, trying to get to his feet.

“You’ll pay for that, boy,” he slurred.

“No,” I roared, and pushed Danny back. “No, he won’t.”

Without thinking, I lifted my foot and slammed the heel of my boot into his face several times. The bones broke on impact. I hated everything about the man. There was no way I would let Danny spend another night under the same roof as the monster.

Chloe screamed when she saw the blood drip from David’s face. Little did I know, my actions would come round full circle.

The front door flew open. Armed police officers entered the property.

Everything became a haze. Forced to my knees, I held my hands behind my head. I was only doing what any decent person would have done.

“Benton, we meet again,” a cocky officer muttered, tugging my arms behind my back and securing the handcuffs.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Shut it.” He pulled me to my feet. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning.”

“Danny, tell them,” I pleaded.

Danny ran after them as I was escorted to the waiting car.

Connie cried, confused by what was happening. “Ash,” she mumbled, trying to touch me.

“Call my parents,” I shouted at her before I was pushed into the back of the car and the door was slammed shut.

The journey to the precinct passed by in a blur. I had only wanted to help my friend. I hadn’t intended on getting myself mixed up in a domestic dispute. With me, nothing was ever simple.