Killing Honor by S. M. Butler

Author:S. M. Butler [Butler, S. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00IITTX1W
Publisher: Soaring Phoenix Press
Published: 2014-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

Devyn

Brody didn’t even turn his head when I spoke. He just pulled Jackie more into his lap. “It was fine.”

I didn’t want to be jealous of my own child, but I’d been having a hard time communicating with Brody, and it seemed that Jackie knew the secret. He had barely looked at me, never mind giving me a hug or a kiss.

“That bad?”

“It was fine, I said. Just felt long.” He cleared his throat. “Jane seems nice.”

“She comes over every Tuesday for lunch.” Not that he needed to know that. But he didn’t really know about my life now, and I wanted to be open with him. I didn’t want him to be the outside.

“That’s good.” The tone of his voice didn’t sound good. “I’m glad you had people here for you, Dev.” Actually, he sounded miserable.

“I’d rather have had you,” I blurted. I hung my head when his eyes shifted to face me. I flushed. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. It wasn’t my intention to try to guilt him.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be here,” was the response. Calm. Even. Cool. I wished I could see his face, but he was facing the television.

“I didn’t mean it to accuse you.”

“I know.”

“Brody—”

“Could we not talk about this?” he interrupted.

“I guess we could stop,” I whispered and leaned back against the couch.

He sighed, deep and mournful. “I’m sorry, but I just spent the day in meetings and… I just… want to relax for a while.”

“Okay,” I said. I sunk back down to the couch. Why was this so difficult? Talking should have been easy. But instead of talking, every time I opened my mouth, my foot got shoved into it. Maybe it would be better if I didn’t say anything at all to him.

“Bird!” Jackie pointed at the TV, where Finding Nemo was playing. It was the scene with the seagulls. “Bird fly!” She put her arms out to her sides, and shook them, no doubt thinking she was flapping them. Brody laughed, a real laugh. He took her hands in two fingers and flapped her arms for her, showing her.

Of course, Riley wanted in on the action as well, even if she was unsure of Brody. She crawled over and climbed in his lap, on his other leg. Riley screamed and pushed Jackie hard. Jackie got mad and pushed Riley. Pretty soon they were trying hard to do it simultaneously.

Brody overruled both screamers. “Stop, you two.” They froze, completely stopped their fight. I’d never seen them just stop like that. Both stared at Brody, awe in their expression. “If you’re going to sit on me, you’re going to be still and quiet, okay?” Both slumped into a pout, but the fight had stopped. “Good.”

Damn, he was good. This just didn’t happen with two year olds.

I sat back on the couch, listening to Riley and Jackie chatter away with their father. No, they weren’t being quiet, but they weren’t screams or fighting, so he allowed it. In fact, he chattered along with them, which I hadn’t expected.

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