She’s asking me for permission? Me?
Huh. Wasn’t expecting this.
I nod once.
She disappears inside the house, then reemerges seconds later, carrying a small bag.
“Here you go. I saw it and thought of you.” She steps down and stops a foot away from Nolan, who is still gripping onto my leg, now with both hands. She holds the bag out. “Here.”
Nolan peeks out from behind me to see her, then tilts his head up, blinking, looking at me anxiously.
“Go ahead,” I tell him, knowing he really wants to find out what’s in that bag.
I know my son. He loves presents.
Nolan lurches forward and eagerly grabs the gift bag, tearing into it and letting tissue paper float into the air and fall to the ground. He pulls out a hard plastic dragon, maroon in color, with spikes going down its spine and wings extended, its mouth open to show rows of pointed teeth.
“Cool,” Nolan mutters, examining it, pressing a button on the back of its tail and watching the wings flap. He looks up at Angie. “I don’t have this one.”
“Oh, good. I was worried you had them all,” she chuckles nervously, tucking some of her shoulder length blonde hair behind her ear. “It makes noises too. I just didn’t have any batteries.”
Nolan spins around and carries the dragon over to Ben. “Do we have batteries for this, Daddy?” he asks, holding it up.
Ben takes the dragon and turns it over, looking at it briefly before handing it back. “Yeah, we have some.” He jerks his head. “Tell Angie thank you.”
“Thank you,” Nolan says over his shoulder. He tugs on Ben’s shorts. “Can we go now?” he whispers. “I wanna go play with this.”
“Wait.” Angie steps closer, her voice taking on some urgency. Her hand suspends in the air. “You can play with it here. We can go inside if you want.”
Nolan moves in, recoiling away from Angie, or from that suggestion. He presses the side of his face against Ben’s thigh. “Daddy, please?”
“Nolan,” Angie begs.
“He just said he wants to go.” I stare her down when our eyes lock.
She suddenly looks agitated, her lips pressing tightly together and her gaze hardening. A faint trace of that brusque, entitled woman I first met three years ago materializing in front of me.
I almost allowed myself to believe I’d never see her again.
Shifting Chase’s limp body in my arms, I move to stand beside Ben and Nolan, never breaking eye contact. “I think this was a good first visit,” I tell Angie, keeping my voice even. “If Nolan wants, we can set something up again another time.”
“He’s been here a whole five minutes,” she hisses, breathing in deeply through her nose. She looks directly at Ben. Her hand moves to her hip. “I’d like more time.”
“Did you not hear what my wife just said?” he snaps, his voice vibrating with anger. He takes a step forward, putting himself between us and Angie. “And what did I tell you on the phone? This is Nolan’s choice. If he wants to leave, we’re leaving. I’m not forcing him to do anything.”
“Maybe if you’d let me talk to him about it, he’d change his mind and want to stay.”
“You’re done talking. He’s ready to go.” Ben looks behind him. “Nolan, tell Angie good-bye.”
“Bye!” Nolan moves over a little so Angie can see him and waves with his free hand, clutching the dragon with the other.
I watch Angie’s expression soften as she looks down. She smiles dimly at Nolan, barely concealing her hurt. That’s all she gives him. She doesn’t say anything. Maybe she can’t without sounding too upset.
Oh fucking well.
Lifting her head, her chin quivers as she glares at Ben. “I’d like to speak with you.” Her eyes bore into mine. “In private.”
Gladly. I am so done with this bullshit little visit.
Ben turns his head, telling me with his eyes that I don’t need to go anywhere. That I belong beside him. Always, wherever he is.
I’d stick around for that look alone if I thought the conversation they’re about to have was suited for little ears.
I don’t.
“Come on, baby. Let’s go.” I grab Nolan’s hand, leading him away before the sharp edge of Ben’s voice slices through the air.
I know he’s holding himself back on account of his kids bearing witness, but even a restrained Ben is scary as hell when he’s pissed, which he is and rightly so. Angie knew what to expect. She shouldn’t be trying to assert any authority in this situation or making any demands.
This is about Nolan. What he wants. If she cared about him at all she would understand that.
I get the boys into the back seat of the truck and buckle them in. Chase is still sound asleep. He’s snoring now.
My funny boy. All that commotion probably put him under even more.
I shut the door, spinning around and leaning against it, watching as Ben gestures in my direction, looks at me, then turns back and continues laying into a distraught looking Angie, her hands covering her face and her head lowered.