Page 12 of Without You
“I remember,” Ennis replied with an embarrassed smile.
“And what happened?”
“The ramp didn’t hold up and I busted my ass.”
“You busted your ass, like I told you would happen. But you learned a valuable lesson, didn’t you? You learned to be patient and not risk your safety like that again.”
“Yeah.”
“That’s what I mean. Failing is not the end of the world. That’s how we learn, okay?”
“Okay.”
Terrence yawned and rubbed his belly. “I’ma head home. Make your list and call me later if you want to talk some more.”
“All right. Thanks, Pops.” They bumped fists and Ennis sauntered toward the house.
Terrence pushed off the grill of the car but suddenly had an idea. “Ennis,” he said, motioning with a hand for his son to come closer.
Ennis ambled back over to him.
“How’s your mom doing?” Terrence asked.
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged, trying to remain nonchalant. “She got a boyfriend that you know of?”
Ennis laughed. “Mom? No. I mean…well, she dates. She’s never introduced us to anyone, so I figure it’s never serious.”
“So she’s always dated?”
Ennis shrugged. “I guess.” He was clamming up, perhaps feeling like he was betraying her, but Terrence needed to know more.
“You ever hear her mention a guy named Austin?”
He shouldn’t bring him up, but Austin bothered him. Not only because seeing him was the first time he saw his ex-wife with another man, but because Austin represented everything Terrence was not. He looked like the kind of man Charisse deserved. Kind, thoughtful, respectful. He’d treat her like the queen she was, something Terrence had failed miserably at.
“Maybe once or twice. I think that’s the guy she went out with last night, but I don’t really pay that close attention, to be honest.” Ennis paused and looked back at the house, as if making sure no one was listening, but no one else was in the house right now. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but… sometimes I think she misses you.”
“What makes you say that?” Terrence held his breath.
Ennis shrugged. “She gets kinda quiet sometimes, after you leave, as if she’s thinking or something. You know?”
“Yeah, I know.” He knew all too well. “Thanks.”
Ennis scuffed the bottom of his shoe against the driveway.
“You want to say something else?” Terrence asked.
Ennis looked up at him. “You trying to get back with her?”
“That’s grown folks’ business.”
“I’m asking cause…well, she cried a lot when you guys divorced.”
Terrence rubbed the back of his head, guilt filling his chest. “That was all me. I didn’t realize what I had at the time.” He had never discussed the breakup in any detail with his son, but he was certain Ennis knew about his infidelities. It wasn’t the kind of thing you could keep a secret or keep from children when the dirt was all over social media and the various gossip blogs.
“Now do you realize what you had?” The underlying question being,If you get back together, are you going to treat her right?
