Joy & Pain by Franklin White

Author:Franklin White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2008-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

The adjustment period of living without Keith in my life still hasn’t permeated one-hundred percent. The reality of not being together anymore has sunk in, but totally adapting to taking on major issues alone is definitely taking some time getting used to. Life is tricky, if not downright deceiving. Who would have believed that six months earlier, I would be deeply involved trying to get myself back on track after a breakup, attempting to reunite a mother with her family, and to top it off, in a position to have to tell a man that I almost slept with that his wife is seriously thinking about leaving his ass? Stress that I had not been used to was building. I really didn’t know how to take all of the sudden intrusions in my life. I had been drama free with Keith; at least unknowingly until I realized life was more complicated than the only issues I believed I had while I lived with him. The funny thing about it; they all had to be dealt with.

I had only hoped that Sean would be at the center the next time I visited. It’s been close to two weeks and I haven’t spoken with him since Mark had been so forceful with me concerning Dee. I felt I should ease any tension that may be lingering in the household due to my intervention, so I initially, for the sake of Sean, left well enough alone.

It is around eleven on a Saturday morning, there are a lot of kids running throughout the center enjoying their time to play. Most of them are having the best time with the new arts and crafts that have been brought in. I am on my way to Lorenzo’s office and I hear Sean call my name.

I bend down to give him a hug. “Hey, man!”

He returns a tight, loving hug. There’s no doubt he has missed me as much as I’ve missed him. “Where you been?” he asks without hesitation.

“Aww, honey, I’ve been a little busy lately, but I’ve been really thinking about you,” I let him know.

“Why haven’t you called me?”

It is so damn hard to lie to kids—at least for me. “I just thought I’d give you a little time to spend with your family. How’s everything?”

“Fine…”

“You sure?”

“Yes.” He smiles. “Guess what? My dog came back home.”

“Really? That’s wonderful.”

“But he’s gone again,” he says.

“Gone…?”

“Yup, he left. He stayed with me one day and the next day he ran out the house again when my sister opened the door.”

“Well, I’m sure he’ll be back.”

Sean thinks for a while, then smiles.

“So how are your sisters?”

Sean steps back a bit, then looks at the ground.

“How are they doin’? Everyone’s okay?” I try to find out.

“My daddy told me not to talk about them.”

Sean’s whole demeanor has changed. Almost as though the thought of his sisters draws the air out of him. I kneel down at his level and reach out to him for another hug. “Well, if that’s what he told you, that’s fine with me, okay?

It takes Sean longer than normal to answer.

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