Page 127 of Love By The Falls

“Later, when? Tonight? Next week? Next year?”

He doesn’t answer and my muscles tense. The asshole better not run out on Charlie now that he’s finally grown closer to him.

I hand Kitt back to Charlotte and turn to Jason. “Why don’t we have a chat in the backyard?”

“I don’t think so, man. I have nothing to say to you.”

“Well, I’ve got something to say to you.”

Despite his belligerent stance, he follows me outside. I pull out a chair from the plush new patio set Charlotte bought and take a seat. Jason prefers to stand, it seems.

“What’s going on, Jason?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re running again.”

“I’m not running.”

“Fine. You’re abandoning your family again.”

“Fuck you. You think you’re so righteous because you’ve got it all figured out. But you’re not.”

“I don’t have it all figured out. I’m figuring it out as I go. But just because I don’t have the answers to all my problems doesn’t mean I get to run out on my family.”

“There, you have it. This is your family. Not mine. You won, okay?”

I tilt my head back and inhale sharply. “You’re such an asshole.”

“Fuck you, I’m leaving.”

“Well, that is what you’re good at.”

He stalks back over and points his finger at me. “Just because you have more money doesn’t make you a better man than me.”

“I didn’t say that. And I don’t believe it, either. I just think you leaving makes you an asshole.”

“What’s my place here? You’ve taken it. I’ve lost Charlotte. I’ve lost Charlie. What’s the point?”

“The point is, you’re still his father. I may be here for the everyday stuff, but that doesn’t mean he won’t need you. How do you think he’ll feel when he finds out you’ve left? How will he feel knowing that his father isalive, yet doesn’t want to spend any time with him? Yes, you’ve lost Charlotte, and don’t ever fucking think about getting her back. But I can never take Charlie from you. So don’t give him up.”

Jason’s hands are on his hips, but he sniffs and turns away. “I don’t know how to be a father.”

“And I do? But being here is already half the battle.”

“I can’t compete with you.”

“It’s not a competition. He’s yours. I will take care of him and be there for him as much as I can, but I can’t replace you unless you let me. Don’t let me.”

“He’s got tryouts tonight.”

“I know. And you’ll be there.”

He rubs his face and sucks in his breath before exhaling loudly. “Yeah. I’ll be there.”

I stand up. “Good. I’ll bring the beers.”

I shake Jason’s hand, and his face is drawn. I’ve met people like him my whole life. They quit before they even get started. But Charlotte’s never quit and Charlie isn’t backing down from tryouts, so I’m not gonna let this man give up on them. Not if I can help it.

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