Whatever It Takes by S Jones

Author:S Jones [Jones, S]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-01-06T05:00:00+00:00

Charlotte and Emery were sitting at the kitchen table doing arts and crafts when I walked in. Her eyes were cast down, helping Emery stuff popcorn into clear shaped gloves.

“Hi, Quinn. Do you want to help us make popcorn hands?” Emery’s eyes shifted back and forth between me and the project they were working on.

“Are those for your Halloween party at school tomorrow?” I asked, stepping closer and taking a peek at what they were working on over her shoulder.

“Yep. They’re called popcorn hands. We’re almost done, but you can help us finish if you want.”

“I’d be happy to.”

Emery giggled at my sloppy attempts to slide the candy corn into the tips of the gloves. Apparently, they were supposed to be the fingernails. Arts and crafts were not my strong suit. “Damn it,” I said after my third failed try.

Emery poked her hand in my shoulder. “You said a bad word. You have to put a dollar in the swear jar.”

“What?” I looked up confused. “That’s not a swear word.”

“Well, it’s not a nice one either,” she pointed out.

“Well, shit.” I sighed, pulling my wallet out of my back pocket.

Emery held her hand out with a smirk. “That will be two dollars please.”

I slapped the two singles into her waiting palm and watched her walk away to add my hard-earned cash into a stupid jar. Considering she rode a school bus everyday, I would bet my state pension that she’s heard much worse than that before.

Charlotte still refused to look at me as she stayed focused on her task. It felt like I couldn’t do anything right where she was concerned. Yet, I still tried.

“What time is the Halloween parade at school tomorrow again?” I asked like I didn’t remember, when I knew exactly when it was. This was called making small talk and it sucked.

“Two o’clock.”

“Do you need help with anything?”

“Nope.”

I scrubbed my hand down my face and willed myself not to snap at her. “I planned on taking a half day. I can swing by and pick you up when I’m done so we can ride over to the school together.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m going over early.”

She was being distant and cold, like she was when I showed up at her door weeks ago. I knew I made a mistake, but I was a grown-ass man and she was treating me like a five-year-old child. Her point was made loud and clear.

I swallowed and braced my hands on the edge of the table. “I guess that makes sense, if that’s the real reason.”

“Excuse me?”

I’ve gone out of my way to accommodate her. To be sensitive to her situation, and to hold myself together. But I couldn’t bear this passive-aggressive bullshit any longer. “Are you sure you’re not trying to punish me for yesterday?”

She sighed and walked over to the sink, placing her back to me. She turned the water on and started to rinse off the dishes. I wanted her to talk to me and open up about what she was feeling.

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