Every Other Weekend

by Jaxson Kidman

  “Leaf fight,” I called out and threw the leaves at him.

  Sam ducked and ran to the other half of the front yard. He scooped up a bouquet of brown, red, and yellow leaves. He came running at me and threw them. I had to crouch down to make it a fair fight.

  I should have been raking the leaves, honestly. Jack would get pissed if I didn’t keep the yard clean. Or he’d just show up and clean it himself. I didn’t need him in my front yard worried about the house. But I couldn’t pass up playing in the leaves with Sam.

  When we called the fight a draw, I picked a few pieces out of his hair.

  His cheeks were red from running but his eyes looked happy.

  I messed up his already messy hair. “I love you, Sammy.”

  “I love you, Mom,” he said.

  I just stared at him, leaves falling around us, pumpkins on the porch, the house decorated the best I could afford for the season.

  Keith pulled up a few minutes later and I walked Sam to the car.

  When I opened the back door, I saw a round, orange pumpkin sitting on the seat.

  “Look at that, Sam,” I said.

  Keith turned and looked at me. I noticed his left eye looked a little odd. A little bruised in the corner near his nose.

  “That’s for us tonight,” Keith said to Sam. “We’ll carve something cool.”

  “Take a picture for me,” I said. “Please.”

  “Buckle in, Sam,” Keith said and turned to face forward.

  I kissed his head and let him buckle himself in.

  I walked around the car to talk to Keith. “Thanks for getting here early.”

  “I was in the area,” he said.

  “He’s going to love carving the pumpkin with you.”

  “Good.”

  “I got him his zombie costume. Thanks to you.”

  Keith looked at me. “Good. Mind if I leave now?”

  “What happened to your eye?”

  “I bumped it at work,” he said. “You done, Mom?”

  He couldn’t go one time without pissing me off. Then again, was it really my business about his eye? Probably not. But from what my memory offered me, when he used to get messed up on booze and other stuff, he'd pick fights he couldn’t win and would come home beaten up.

  But that wasn’t my problem anymore, was it?

  Only when he was with Sam.

  Which meant I had to trust Keith. And I didn’t trust him at all.

  I backed away from the car. “Have a good weekend.”

  “You too,” he said.

  Keith pulled away and I waited until I could no longer see the car before walking back to the yard. I looked at the messy leaves and felt my heart squeeze. I hated this moment. So much. That empty feeling. The worrying feeling, hoping Sam would have fun, not be nervous, and that Keith would be a father.

  What I needed was a distraction.

  And I had that.

  Its name… Ramsey.

  I cared enough to get changed.

  Twice.

  Fine… three times…

  I promised myself to be casual around him, because that’s what we were.

  But three different pairs of jeans made me look and feel three different ways. At one point I had a hoodie on and figured to just go that route, but I didn’t want to be too casual. My mind raced, thinking of him kissing me on my front porch. Then kissing me again when he came to visit me at work.

  Parts of me wanted more. You can guess which parts did.

  It wasn’t wrong though.

  I was a person. I had the weekend off.

  I needed… something.

  Once I had the perfect outfit - which was just jeans and my favorite flannel that made everything on me feel sexier - I went downstairs and waited for Ramsey.

  He made me nervous for some reason, leaving me pacing the living room, biting at my lip, biting at my nails. I couldn’t stop thinking about his arms, his tattoos, wondering what it was like to have him… you know. Pick me up. Carry me to the bed. Undress…

  I shook my head.

  I went into the kitchen to get a glass of water. To cool down.

  The doorbell rang, and I jumped.

  I got that stupid butterfly feeling in my belly and I told myself to calm the hell down.

  Then I opened the door and saw Ramsey standing there.

  In a long-sleeved black shirt with his sloppy hair and unkempt facial hair. He looked so grubby, like he had gotten home from work, changed his shirt, splashed some water on his face, and called it good enough.

  It was more than good enough.

  He looked fucking sexy.

  That’s all my mind could see. And to think, I had to touch my bottom lip to make sure I wasn’t drooling.

  This was my prize after two weeks of hell?

  Oh, Ramsey, you could lick the burn marks…

  “You okay, darling? Anything bad happen?”

  I blinked fast. “No. I’m good. Sorry. My mind…”

  “About Sam?”

  I smiled. “No. About you.”

  “Me?” he asked.

  “You know, the way you look. What it does to women.”

  “What’s that then?”

  “Okay, stop,” I said. “Where are we going tonight?”

  “Well, I told you somewhere different. But plans changed.”

  “So, we’re going to Shammy’s? With your construction buddies?”

  “Nah,” Ramsey said. “I have something else in mind. You’re going to get pissed at me.”

  “How could I get pissed at you?” I asked. “We’re just hanging around.”

  “Hanging around. Right.” Ramsey looked around and pointed. “That looks cool.”

  I turned my head and saw a car track that Sam insisted on having. It was some kind of obstacle course that never actually worked. But he loved it.

  “There are toys everywhere in here,” I said. “Do you want to stay and play?”

  The look on Ramsey’s face made me blush. “You know, there’s more than one way I could take that.”

  “You would say that. Tell me why I’m going to be pissed at you.”

  “I made a promise to another woman tonight.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Dinner plans. Sorry.”

  “Are you serious?” I asked. “You came all the way here to tell me that?”

  “Jordyn, I wanted to tell you in person.”

  “So, you have, what, a bunch of women lined up? You just fuck them when you want?”

  “To be fair, I haven’t-”

  “Don’t say it,” I said. “Don’t drag me into it. This is why I told you to stay away. I should have known.”

  Ramsey stood like a wall, eyebrow raised. “Can I finish what I was going to say?”

  “Which is what?”

  “I want you to come with me.”

  “What? Where?”

  “To dinner. Tonight. Well, right now. I’m going to be late and that won’t go over well with her.”

  “You want me to join you for dinner with another woman?”

  “Yeah,” he said. He smiled. “I promised my aunt I would have dinner there tonight.”

  “Your aunt?” I let out a sigh and backed up. “I hate you. I can’t believe you just did that to me.”

  “It was worth it. It showed me something.”

  “Showed you what?” I asked.

  “The way you’d react. You really can’t stop thinking about me. All these crazy thoughts. Waiting two weeks to have time alone.”

  “And you want me to go to dinner at your aunt’s house?”

  “It sounds crazy. My uncle owns the company I work for. My aunt - and uncle - raised me. When Aunt Millie makes dinner, you show up. It’s a big dinner. Some of the guys will be there too.”

  “The construction guys?”

  “Yes.”

  “And I’m supposed to just show up? As what? Your friend?”

  “Whatever you want to be, darling,” he said. “Just don�
��t lie to Aunt Millie. She knows everything.”

  I touched my forehead. “What the hell, Rams… I’ve been looking forward to this…”

  “It’s not a big deal. And there’s no better meal you’re going to get. We eat. And then we leave.”

  “Together.”

  “Together.”

  “She’s going to think we’re a couple, right?”

  “Do you care what other people think of you?” he asked.

  I cocked my head to the side. “I don’t even know what to say right now.”

  “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you’d have fun. You can’t imagine what it’s like eating a meal at Aunt Millie’s table. Doc will be there. He’ll drink too much whiskey and get all philosophical and sleep on the couch. Little Billy, Lance, and Matt too.”

  “And you want me there.”

  “I do, Jordyn. I wouldn’t offer if it didn’t matter to me.”

  “So, is this a date?” I asked.

  “Now you’re the one putting a label on this,” he said with a grin.

  “Whatever. I’m still mad at you.”

  I walked toward him, but he didn’t move out of my way.

  I looked up at him.

  “Is that a yes?” he asked.

  “Sure, Rams. I’d love to spend my Friday night at your aunt’s house with a bunch of drunk construction guys.”

  “That’s all I needed to hear.”

  “Yeah…”

  Rams moved down and kissed me. With his right hand he touched my jaw, almost pinching it, holding me in place.

  A couple of kisses hello and then he moved away and waited for me to walk.

  I took my first step like a newborn giraffe.

  Why did kissing him do that to me?

  The answer was pretty damn clear.

  I sort of liked him and I really liked him kissing me…

  We parked around the back of the large farmhouse, where there was a massive gravel pad for parking. It was pretty much full, which tapped into a little anxiety. So many people. And the only one I knew was Ramsey. Then again, family and friends getting together on a Friday night. There was nothing wrong with that. I remembered the days when it used to be like that for me.

  “This is beautiful back here,” I said.

  There was a lot of overgrowth; trees, bushes, shrubs, vine type plants. A lot of it was dead and dying because of the season, but in my mind, I could imagine what it must have looked like in the summer.

  “Yeah, Aunt Millie doesn’t leave the house much,” Ramsey said. “This is her everything. Inside and out. Uncle Tom puts up lights in the summer. There are a few strands still left up on the trellises over there, but Aunt Millie runs a tight ship.”

  “She runs the house, huh?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Smart woman,” I said with a smirk.

  “Don’t get any crazy ideas, darling.”

  When Ramsey said things like that it made my stomach feel giddy.

  “We’ve always used the back door to the house,” he said. “I think that’s my fault.”

  “Why your fault?” I asked.

  “The front door faces the street, obviously. It’s a heavy, old door that sometimes squeaks. But it’s right at the base of the steps to go upstairs. So, when I would sneak home, I’d always go through the back door. It opens right into the kitchen. I could get a bottle of water, something to eat, and creep my way through the house. But Aunt Millie was fierce, sitting there, waiting for me. No matter the hour, she’d be there with a cup of tea, ready to chew my ass for not abiding by her rules.”

  “You were a real bad boy, huh?”

  Ramsey laughed. “Bad boys are for show, Jordyn. I lived… just bad.”

  The words hit me. It was a little shot at Keith, who dressed and acted the part.

  But Ramsey lived the part.

  “I feel bad for them, my aunt and uncle,” he said. “For what I did to them. They didn’t need that in their life. So that’s why I’m here tonight. I owe it to them. When Aunt Millie wants a family dinner, I show up.”

  “This is sort of weird for me, Rams. But I’m sort of excited.”

  “Yeah?” he asked, looking at me.

  “Sam and I don’t have real family around,” I said, swallowing hard. “Um… being with Keith cost me a lot more than everyone realizes. Any family that’s still alive lives far away. We might see them once a year on a good year. A big dinner for us is if we go over to Brenda’s and Norah shows up.”

  “Well, tonight, darling, you’re part of this family. And trust me, it’s fucked up.” Ramsey winked. “And it’s not all blood related either. I’m the only one. Everyone else works for Uncle Tom. But one thing they taught me was that family is based on actions.”

  “So, I should thank them for the relentless pestering by you?” I asked.

  “Probably. But at least you get coffee out of it.”

  “True. And the kissing isn’t so bad either.”

  “Ah, see, I knew you’d like that.” Ramsey touched my hand and slowly took a firm grip. “I know there’s a lot in your life, Jordyn. I know there are a lot of lines you’ve drawn, too. You do whatever you have to do to protect yourself and your son.”

  “For this weekend, Rams, I don’t want to be that,” I whispered. “Is that wrong?”

  “Not at all. I’ll keep good care of that secret…”

  He leaned toward me.

  My face burned red hot.

  Sitting outside his family’s house on a Friday night in fall, getting ready to make out in his truck. I was having flashbacks to years before, picturing the version of Ramsey I once knew. The tall and strong tough guy who walked with his head down, a chip on his shoulder, afraid of nothing, living way beyond anyone else. My life would have been so different if things had happened between us back then…

  Ramsey touched my cheek.

  My lips were already quivering, ready for him to kiss me again.

  A thundering boom echoed through the truck and I screamed.

  When we looked forward, someone stood at the front of his truck.

  “Wrap it up!” a voice yelled.

  “Fucking Matt,” Ramsey growled.

  He quickly pressed a hand against the horn. Matt stumbled back, laughing.

  “Sorry about that,” Ramsey said.

  “You owe me,” I said playfully.

  Ramsey opened his door and looked at me. A wild look on his face. A wilder look in his eyes. “Trust me, darling, I’ll make sure to finish what I started.”

  12

  Stirring For Truth

  Ramsey

  I punched Matt in the shoulder as hard as I could. He went flying back and his cigarette fell out of his mouth.

  “Dammit,” he yelled. “What the hell?”

  “Good to see you,” I said.

  He rubbed his shoulder. “You too.”

  “Everyone here?” I asked.

  “Waiting on you.”

  I slipped my hand into Jordyn’s and led the way to the door. I let her hand go as I started to open it. I didn’t want to enter the house holding her hand and give off the wrong image. Not that I gave a damn what anyone thought, but I didn’t want Jordyn to be in a weird position. Or a position weirder than what was about to happen to her.

  The second I stepped into the house, everyone stopped, looked, and cheered for me.

  “Hey, he’s here!” Uncle Tom bellowed.

  I could tell he was already a drink or two into the night.

  I looked over at Aunt Millie, who stood at the stove. She glanced over her shoulder at me, then right at Jordyn. Her eyes went wide. I hoped to everything I had that Aunt Millie wouldn’t attack Jordyn like a new toy. Not in a bad way, but Aunt Millie had this dream of me bringing home twenty kids for her to spoil.

  That was part of the problem before…

  “He’s brought someone with him,” Doc said.

  I slipped my hand to the small of Jordyn’s back.

  Aunt Millie
wiped her hands on a dish towel and rushed over to us.

  She reached up and grabbed my face, forcing me to kiss her.

  “Who did you bring?” she asked.

  “This is Jordyn,” I said.

  “What a pretty name,” Aunt Millie said, setting her sights on Jordyn.

  “Nice to meet you,” Jordyn said.

  She offered her hand and I shook my head.

  Aunt Millie went in for a hug.

  Jordyn looked at me with surprised eyes.

  I just stood there and smiled.

  “So nice to meet you,” Aunt Millie said. “How do you two know each other?”

  “I could take a wild guess,” Uncle Tom called out.

  He laughed, and so did everyone else.

  “He’s not going to make it through the night with comments like that,” I said.

  Aunt Millie smacked my arm. “Watch yourself. He’s had a rough week. He’s enjoying himself.”

  “Yeah. Enjoying the bottle.”

  “So, how did you two meet?” Aunt Millie asked.

  She smiled and stared right at Jordyn.

  “Aunt Millie…”

  “I had a free night and went out for a drink,” Jordyn said.

  “Oh,” Aunt Millie said. “He swooned you?”

  “Swooned?” I asked.

  “No,” Jordyn said. “He punched some guy that wouldn’t leave me alone.”

  “You did not,” Aunt Millie said, looking back at me.

  “I did,” I said.

  “That’s my boy,” Uncle Tom said. “Stand your ground, son.”

  “You can’t just go punching people, Ramsey,” Aunt Millie said in a scolding voice. “You’re not a teenager anymore. You could get in serious trouble for that.”

  “Oh, jeez,” I said. I leaned down and kissed Aunt Millie’s cheek. “I didn’t get in trouble. I took off. Jordyn came with me. We ran from the cops.”

  Aunt Millie gasped.

  “We did not,” Jordyn said. She pushed at my arm. “You liar.”

  “Ramsey,” Aunt Millie said. “Go sit down.”

  “Ah, don’t be mad at me,” I said.

  “You know what’s worse than having your aunt mad at you?” Jordyn asked.