A Fighting Chance (Bridge to Abingdon Book 2) by Tatum West

Author:Tatum West [West, Tatum]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Written Rainbow Publishing
Published: 2018-11-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Jack

My mother was thrilled—beside herself, really—when I pitched the idea of her joining us on the cruise. My thinking was that it would give us all an opportunity to get together on neutral territory in what’s certain to be a positive environment focused mostly on the kids. When I first came out to her, her biggest fear was that I’d become a leather wearing, muscle-bound side show, sleeping around and catching diseases. I told her that I didn’t think being gay was about that—and it never was. She shook her head, and she bemoaned the idea that I’d never have a family of my own with kids.

We haven’t seen one another many times since then. I kept my distance out of fear of more rejection and good old-fashioned resentment. She had a miserable marriage. My father was an abusive, domineering jerk who made our lives a nightmare. They fought constantly; he got physical with her and with me too when I got big enough to defend her. The idea that she’d judge me pissed me off.

The passing of time and, let’s face it, the positive turn my life has taken with the addition of Dillon and the kids into my world, has eased my resentment and given me space to forgive. The fact that she kicked her boy toy to the curb when she realized he was just there to stroke her ego and lighten the balance in her bank account gave me hope that maybe she’s gotten some wisdom in the decade since I left, and my father died.

What I didn’t expect when I invited mother, is that her inner Grandma would emerge. My father, for all his faults, left her well-fixed financially. She insisted on contributing to our already great vacation package by upgrading us to the best state room available on the ship and adding a second, adjoining room for herself and the kids, which almost doubles the space we’ll have for the six days we’re on board.

She’s picking up the tab for a luxury, fully upgraded cruise that promises to give the kids a real taste of how the other half lives. For what it’s worth, Dillon and I are looking forward to being spoiled rotten too. But first, we have to get there.

It’s amazing how much stuff is required when traveling with kids. I’m used to packing a backpack and that being all I need for a week or more on the road. Traveling with kids is another whole ball of wax. It’s all well and good until we get to the airport in Roanoke and the lady at the check-in counter starts throwing shade at Dillon and me trying to wrangle five bags, three kids, a bunch of carry-ons, and paperwork for all of us.

Just to be extra cautious, we got passports for all three kids. Dillon lays everything down for check-in, but when the lady starts going through the documents she stops cold.

“Sir, whose children are these? They don’t share your last name.

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