Closing Time

Closing Time

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher or author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

Copyright © 2014
by E. L. Todd

All Rights Reserved

ISBN-13: 978-1497369122

ISBN-10: 1497369126

Closing Time

Book Twenty-One of the Forever and Always Series

E. L. Todd

“In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

The End
–The Beatles-

1

Mike

I didn’t want kids until recently. Before that, being single until my dying day sounded just fine. And I never thought about spreading my seed and fulfilling my biological purpose. In fact, when I thought I knocked up a few women, I practically had a heart attack. I couldn’t be a dad. No way. Fuck that.

But now everything was different. I lived in a country house with a beautiful wife who carried my baby. So much had changed so quickly that it was hard to believe. It made me wonder if I was in denial for all those years in the past. Maybe I was.

But now that Cassandra was in her final month, I started to have doubts. Would I be a good dad? I didn’t know anything about kids. How do you change their diaper? How do you feed them? What would I do when Cassandra napped and I was solely responsible for our baby? What if I accidentally dropped it? What if my baby hated me…?

Was I a jackass for thinking these things?

Cassandra was constantly in a sour mood. The glow that usually radiated on her face was absent. Now she just wanted to have the baby and no longer be in pain. She was always hot, her brow covered in sweat, and she was hardly in a good mood.

“What do you want to watch?” I asked.

She moved away from me on the couch, clearly too warm by my presence. “I don’t care,” she snapped.

Judging her clipped tone, I knew I needed to keep my mouth shut. I turned on the TV and put on a rerun of
Seinfeld
.

“I don’t want to watch this.” She sighed in annoyance.

I held my tongue. “Then what would you like to watch?”

“I don’t care.”

I loved my wife, but she was driving me up the wall. I handed the remote to her. “It’s all yours.”

She swatted it away. “No.”

No? God, she was annoying.
I flipped through the channels and turned on a basketball game.

“Seriously? Of all things to choose, you pick sports?” The disdain was heavy in her voice.

I wanted to snap at her but I didn’t. She was in pain and I had to keep that in mind. If I didn’t love her so damn much, I wouldn’t be so accommodating. I flipped the channel and stopped when
Titanic
was on. This movie was a total chick flick. It should be safe.

“This movie is too depressing. Change it.”

Why couldn’t she just take the remote?
I clenched my jaw then put on a documentary about snakes. Or would she hate this too?

“No.”

I changed the channel again.

“I’m not watching a rerun of Oprah.”

I tossed the remote to her side. “Then you pick,” I snapped.

She glared at me then snatched the remote. “Don’t be a jerk.”

“Me?” I asked incredulously. “You’re the one who’s…you know what? Forget it. Just pick something.”

“No, what were you going to say?” The heat was in her eyes.

We’d been arguing quite a bit since she hit her last month. And it was getting on my nerves. “I’m just tired.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I’m just…baby, pick something.”

“Don’t baby me
.” Her eyes were wide like she would throw the remote at my head.

I stared at the screen and ignored her. “I’m sorry.” I wasn’
t but I wanted to keep the peace.

“You should be,” she said with a sigh.

What? Is she joking?
“I should be? I’ve been a damn servant to you for the past three months and you’re treating me like garbage. You won’t even give me sex.”

“I don’t owe you anything!”

I rubbed my temple, annoyed.

“If you weren’t so indecisive this wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Yeah, I’m the problem,” I said sarcastically.

She hissed then threw a pillow at my head. “Fuck you, Mike.”

There was no reasoning with her. “I’m leaving.”

“Excuse me?”

I stood up and grabbed my wallet and keys. “I said I’m leaving.”

“As soon as there’s a bump in the road, you take off?”

She was really pushing my buttons tonight. “No. That’s what you’re known for.”

Her eyes were bigger than I’d ever see them. “Go fuck yourself.”

“Keep it up for the baby,” I said sarcastically.

“Just get out and don’t come home.”

“Maybe I won’t,” I snapped.

“Good.”

I walked out and slammed the door. Once I was outside, paranoia set in. What if she didn’t set the alarm? I was pissed, but I couldn’t leave unless I knew she was safe. After a heavy sigh, I walked back inside then set the alarm.

“I’m perfectly capable of doing that myself.”

I ignored her then walked out again. Once I got into my car, I peeled out and headed down the road. I was so angry I was gripping the steering wheel. I knew her hormones were all over the place and she was having a hard time, but her catty attitude was really getting on my nerves.

I called Sean from my Bluetooth.

“What?” he said.

My brother and I weren’t exactly nice to each other if we called after five
in the evening. “Let’s get a drink.”

“Everything okay?”

“No.”

Sean dropped his attitude. “Where?”

“Staley’s.”

“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

I hung up then headed to the bar in town. I preferred the city but I didn’t want to be that far away from the house. I was angry with Cassandra, but my need to protect her couldn’t be shaken.

After I ordered my whiskey, Sean walked in and sat in the chair beside me. He ordered a beer then stared at the flat screen on the wall.

Neither one of us spoke. I let the cool liquid move to my belly, where it suddenly became hot. It burned my throat but it felt good at the same time. I just needed a break from Cassandra. I could only take her abrasive personality for so long.

“So…what’s up?” Sean asked.

“Just going through a hard time.”

He sipped his beer then played with his wedding band. It was a habit we both shared. “In what way?”

“I don’t know…the baby is almost here.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“It is.” I shrugged. The excitement I used to feel was gone. Now all I felt was dread.

“You don’t seem too excited…”

“To be honest, I’m scared.” I stared at my glass, counting the ice cubes inside. “I don’t know how to take care of another person. I don’t know the first thing about babies. I used to look forward to this when it was theoretical. In just a few weeks I’m going to be a dad. My life will never be the same again. It’s just…hitting me for the first time.”

Sean faced me, his look hard. “You better not run.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course not. That’s not what I’m thinking at all. I would never abandon my wife and baby.”

He breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m just scared. Am I a pussy for admitting that? I knew I wanted to have kids, but I didn’t expect to have an accident like that. It was totally unplanned. I’m not prepared at all.”

“Most pregnancies aren’t planned.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better. What if I’m a shitty dad?”

“You won’t be,” he said simply.

“How do you know?” I challenged.

“I just do. You do a great job taking care of Cassandra.”

“Which is why I’m sitting in a bar while she’s home alone,” I said bitterly.

“You just need a break.”

I rested my head in my hand. “I don’t know, man…”

“What don’t you know?”

“I just don’t want to mess this up. How did Dad do such a good job?”

Sean shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you. But honestly, you will mess it up. Every first time parent goes through this. Just do your best and it will be enough.”

“What if my son is a murderer or something?”

“Well, don’t piss him
off,” he teased.

I glared at him.

“Okay, you aren’t in the mood for jokes…”

“And Cassandra is being a fucking bitch.”

“Whoa…you really shouldn’t call your wife that.”

I growled. “You’re right. See? I’m a piece of shit husband too.”

“I wouldn’t say that. What’s Cassandra doing?”

“She’s been in a pissy mood since she hit her last month. She screams at me over every little thing
. All we do is fight. When I try to make her feel better it just blows up in my face. And she isn’t putting out. She says she’s not in the mood and makes me sleep on the couch.”

“Damn…”

“I’m trying to be understanding but it’s been hard.”

“I get that.”

I sighed. “Cassandra and I have fought before, but not like this.”

“You’re just both stressed out.”

“But I’m not lashing out at her every second,” I snapped.

“Sit her down and talk to her.”

“That’s like asking a wild bear to chill.”

“You want me to ask Scarlet to talk to her?”

I shook my head. “I have a feeling that would piss her off even more.”

“Do you want me to talk to her…?”

“Not if you don’t want to be slapped.”

“My wife wouldn’t like that much.”

“Then let me handle the grizzly.”

“Did you just call your wife a bear?”

“Well, she’s acting like one.”

He smirked. “I’m going to keep that knowledge between you and I. I doubt she’d be pleased if she knew that’s what you nicknamed her.”

I downed my whiskey and ordered another. “Are you scared?”

“To be a father?”

“What else would I be talking about?” I snapped.

“A little,” he admitted. “But I know Scarlet and I will do the best we can. Keep in mind that you won’t be alone. This is a team effort. Cassandra will always be there to help you.”

“If she isn’t scratching my eyes out…”

“She’ll be back to normal when the pregnancy is over. Her body is going through a lot right now. She’s entitled to be a little rude.”

“A little? You need to stop by the house and see for yourself.”

Sean laughed. “I’ll pass.”

After I drank my second glass, I cut myself off. “I don’t want to go home…”

Sean patted my back. “I know it’s hard right now, but you’re the husband. You need to be patient with her no matter how bitchy she is.”

“I know…” My brother wasn’t telling me brand new information.

“Do you need me to take you home?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Okay.”

We threw our money on the table then walked to our cars.

“Let me know how it works out,” Sean said.

“Yeah.” I got into my car then headed back home.

I hadn’t gotten laid in almost two weeks. Cassandra insisted she was hideous and
claimed she wasn’t in the mood. She was always hot and sweaty. We didn’t cuddle anymore because of the heat. Pregnancy was supposed to be a magical time, but if you asked me, it was pretty shitty. I wanted to hold my wife and make love to her. I wanted her to shut her mouth and be nice to me.

When I came home, I disable
d the alarm before I armed it again. The lights were off so I assumed Cassandra was already in bed. After a sigh, I flicked on the lights then headed to the refrigerator.

“Mike?”

I stilled when I heard her voice. I didn’t notice her standing by the couch. “What?” I wasn’t usually cold like that. As much as I loved my wife, she was really pissing me off.

She rested her hands on her
stomach then looked at the ground. She looked conflicted, like something was paining her.

“Are you okay?” I stepped toward her, eyeing her stomach. “Do you need to see the doctor?”

“No,” she said quickly. “It’s nothing like that.”

“What’s up?” I returned to my indifferent façade.

“You’ve never left the house before…”

Now she was mad at me for that too?
“I just needed a break, Cassandra.”

“And you never call me by my name.” Her voice cracked a little.

I stared at her, waiting for her to tell me what was on her mind.

“I’m sorry I chased you away…I didn’t mean to.” She looked down at the ground, no long
er able to meet my gaze. “You’ve been so wonderful and I’ve been snapping at you every second.”

“Is that an apology?”

She nodded. “Please don’t leave the house again. You scared me.”

Now I felt like an asshole. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“Thank you.” She took a deep breath.

I came closer to her. “I’ve just been fed up with your attitude and treatment of me. Nothing I do makes you happy. You yell and scream at me constantly. I don’t know what to do to be better.”