Page 135 of Paper Hearts

She doesn’t reply as Theo opens the door to his truck and slides out. I scan his face, watchful of his demeanor. He’s drunk. Probably just left the hospital and drunk already. The side of his face is swollen and black with puffy purple marks under blood red eyes. He sniffs, straightens his shoulders, and takes the ten steps toward us.

At first, he doesn’t say anything to Ender, but I know what’s coming. His eyes are cold, detached like the expression Ender wears most of the time. He smells like whiskey. It’s so strong I think he’s spilled it on himself.

Ender blows out a breath and shakes his head. “It’s 10:00 a.m. and you’re drunk.”

With a laugh, Theo gives Ender a hard shove, but it doesn’t get him anywhere but slated against the side of his truck again. “Your days of using me as your punching bag are over.”

Theo searches his son’s eyes. “You’re a man now, yes?”

“More than you,” Ender spits back at him, his feet sliding against ground as he struggles to gain footing in the loose gravel.

“Ender, stop.” Lana tries to push them away from one another. “You’re only making it worse.”

“Making what worse?” Ender snaps, whirling to face his mom and letting go of Theo who walks away toward the house. “Are you fucking serious?”

Lana’s eyes widen. “You provoke him.”

Ender sighs, steps back near me, and then shakes his head as he holds up his palms to his mom. “You’re welcome.”

She doesn’t get the meaning behind his remark, but I do.

“I’m sorry, Ender. I will never forgive myself for what he’s done to you.”

Ender doesn’t say anything to her. Not a word. What’s he going to say? It’s okay, I forgive you? No, he won’t.

Tears roll down Lana’s cheeks. “I didn’t know how to leave him and still give you kids everything you deserved.”

Still… no words from Ender.

Theo comes out of the house with his bag in hand. Tension swirls in the air and Ender keeps his position in front of me as Theo passes by us. He doesn’t say a word to any of us and gets in his truck, slamming the door shut and speeding away moments later.

Sighing in relief, Lana looks at the house as my mom brings Eddie out with her, a popsicle in hand. “Can I say goodbye to Eddie?”

I nod. “You can.”

My mom sets Eddie down and Ender frowns as his mom approaches her. I can see the protectiveness in Ender’s posture as he watches our daughter closely.

When Lana returns, she hugs Ender, me, and then goes inside the house, the door closing behind her.

Ender remains completely silent at first. He’s watching me, waiting for me to say something. He has that fiery angry look I know so well. I fear what happens next, but he surprises me.

“I’m sorry.” He stares at me, breathing heavily and reaching for my hips as he pulls me closer. “I don’t—”

“Ender.” I let out a short, defeated sigh and wrap my arms around his shoulders. “You don’t have to be sorry. We didn’t know he’d show back up here.”

He drops his hands from around me and pulls out of the embrace, the loss of heat immediate.

“You better not disappear on us,” I tell him, smiling.

He smirks, shaking his head as Eddie runs toward us. “I’m not going anywhere. You have my number,” he points out.

“I had that before.”

He raises an eyebrow, sunlight hitting the side of his face through the trees. “And my address.”

“Ender, I knew where you lived back then too.”

Eddie approaches, wrapping her arms around Ender’s legs. “Bye, Daddy.”

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