Page 6 of It Never Happened
I meet her in the middle of the kitchen, taking the plates from her hands. The move catches her by surprise and shelooks into my eyes quickly before looking down and backing away from me. “It’s fine, let me help. Joe, grab some cups and forks and help me with the table.”
“Forks? For pizza?”
I chuckle at his outrage. “I also got spaghetti and meatballs and a salad for your mom. Grab some napkins too.”
“Ooh, did you get caesar? That’s her favorite!” he exclaims excitedly, poking around in the bags now.
I place the plates down and redirect him to get the cups. “I do know it’s her favorite, and yes I did. Come on, let’s eat while it’s hot.”
I glance at her again, and Courtney is actively looking everywhere but at me. Her eyes are low while she takes the food from the bags, placing it on the table. When we are all seated, I do my best to break the tension in the room.
“So tell me about school, Joe. Do you like your teachers?”
“I do! I like all the things we learn but my librarian is mean. She’s old and cranky.”
“Joey!” Courtney chastises him.
“It’s true, mom! You even agreed with me after meeting her at open school night.” She glances at me, trying to hide her grin, and I give her a wink.
“I know, honey, but that’s talk between you and I at home. You’re allowed to tell me anything you want in these four walls, but you still have to be nice and respectful to her at school.”
Joey takes a big bite of the pepperoni pizza and talks with his mouth full. “Yes, Mom,” he grumbles, and she hands him a napkin.
“Mouth closed, honey.”
“Mrs. Krankowski is still there?” I ask, chuckling andremembering how old she was when I was in school. Now she's got to be ancient.
“She is.”
The silence after that two word answer is deafening. So I push for more. “Courtney, how about you? Do you have a good class this year?”
She pauses at scooping some salad onto her plate before answering. “Yes, they are a great group of kids. Still babies, though.” Her fork pushes the food around but she’s not really eating. “Four is very young to start school and they barely make it to lunch without melting down some days.”
I’d like to say I understand, but I don’t. I haven’t spent more than a week at a time with Joey since he turned two. And for those first twenty four months of his life, I probably worked twenty of them. I had no business being a father or a husband when I couldn’t put either one of them first.
“You’ll be here for Christmas, right, Dad?”
“Of course. I’m always here for Christmas.”
“I know but you’re here early this year, so I figured you’d leave early too.”
My heart constricts. This kid knows he only gets seven days of my time each year and can’t understand when I want to give more. “I’ll be here, Joe. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Courtney’s eyes flick to mine. I don’t like that I can’t get a read on anything from her except for hate.
“So I wanted to ask you if you’d like to come back to New York with me for a week after Christmas?”
His eyes light up. “Really? I could fly on the plane with you too?”
I glance at Courtney who won't look at me. We talked about this briefly a month ago but I never broughtit up again. “You sure can. How else would we get back? We can’t walk!”
“Can I, Mom? Please!” He bounces in his seat, and it makes me feel good that he wants to spend time with me.
She fakes a smile. It’s so apparent to me how fake it is, but Joey doesn’t see it. “Of course, sweetheart. If you want to, you can go for the week.”
“Alright! This is so cool! But, Dad, don’t you have to work?”
“I do. But I’m going to do my best to have my assistant run things in the office so I’ll be home for the week with you. I may still have to work some, but I promise to do my best to do it once you’re asleep.”
