by Max Hudson
As he focused his attention on Ivan's roll, his phone buzzed again. He silenced it once more through his pocket, hoping it would cease. But when it erupted again, Roger exhaled loudly.
“Could you please turn that thing off?”
Charlie cowered with embarrassment. “I'm sorry. I'll put it on silent.”
Roger crossed his arms. “Is it important? Is it work?”
Charlie procured his phone, noticing that Stanley refused to stop calling. He stood up with a sigh and walked out of the room.
“I guess we're taking a break,” Roger stated. “Everybody take ten minutes. Seriously. Get some air.”
Charlie opened the porch door, greeting his dog immediately. He dropped to the ground and sat with Scotty in his lap as he stared at his phone. A few texts arrived. They were all from Stanley and each one outlined the urgency of his requests.
Charlie shook his head.
I don't know why I should respond, he thought. It's not like he didn't just threaten to steal my dog.
“I swear, I wouldn't call personally if it could just go through my lawyer,” Stanley reasoned through text. “And I'm ready to just nip this entire thing. Please, call me back.”
It's another ploy. Don't fall for it.
Although Charlie was convinced it wouldn't do any good, he was curious. He wondered why Stanley didn't go the lawyer route. All their communications had been between lawyers. They hadn't spoken in person longer than a few minutes, just enough to trade off Scotty.
He bit his lower lip.
This better not come back to haunt me.
Just as he clicked on Stanley's name, the porch door slid open. He turned to glance up at Elias. “Can I have five minutes?”
“Oh, sure. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I'm fine. Give me five.”
“Of course.”
Elias shut the door. When he was gone, Charlie turned back to his dog who was contentedly curled up on his lap. He stroked Scotty's fur and focused on the sensation under his palm, using it as a grounding tool.
The phone rang a couple of times before the line clicked.
“Hey,” Stanley whispered. “Hey, I'm sorry to call.”
“What do you need?”
“I need to talk.”
Charlie rolled his eyes. “So, call a therapist. I'm not here to talk. If it's not about the divorce, I can't help.”
“It's about Scotty.”
He froze. “What about Scotty?”
“I miss him a lot.”
“Yeah, I believe you. But I have him through the week. That was our agreement, remember?”
“I know. I just...” Stanley sighed, filling the line with static. “I've been a righteous dick lately and I know it's been causing you a lot of stress. Seeing you the other day just made me...”
“What?”
“Well, it made me feel bad.”
“I think it's a little too late for making up, Stanley. Don't you?”
“No, that's not the point of my call. I want to talk about how we can move forward. I'm tired of digging up the past.”
Charlie stared out at the treeline, noticing the birds chirping and jumping from one branch to another. He took a deep breath and released it slowly.
“Am I going to regret this?” he inquired. “Am I going to have to get a restraining order against you?”
“I promise I'm not here to fight. I'm ready to make things better. I want us both to be happy.”
“I don't understand. Where is all this coming from?”
Stanley paused. He seemed to pause for a great length of time, making Charlie wonder whether he might have hung up. When he sighed, Charlie relaxed.
“It's just better if I say all these things in person to you, okay?” Stanley admitted. “And it would help to see Scotty. I really do care for him. I want us to have joint custody.”
“So, you're not going to try to steal him if I meet you?”
“We can go somewhere super public like a coffee shop. The one around the corner allows dogs inside. Can we meet there in twenty minutes?”
Charlie shook his head. “I'm in the middle of campaign night.”
“Oh, right—that nerdy thing you like doing.”
“Yeah, the nerdy thing.”
“I'm sorry. This is urgent. I will totally pay for your coffee and your time. I'll buy extra food for Scotty.”
Charlie sighed. “Stanley, I don't have time for games.”
“I understand why you would think that. I just need to talk to you, okay? Please, meet me there.”
“And if I don't?”
“Then, I guess we'll see each other in court with this custody business. I'm sorry it's been dragged out this long. I want to settle it as quickly as possible.”
Charlie focused on the trees again, silently asking them for guidance. When they waved their branches, he felt a spark of energy in his gut prompt him to stand up. He nodded quickly.
“All right, I'll be there.”
Click.
He slipped his phone into his pocket, grabbed Scotty's leash and attached it to Scotty's collar. He slid open the porch door and wandered inside. To his disappointment, Elias sneezed again.
“I need to take him out,” he announced. “And I have to run an errand. Sorry to leave on short notice.”
As a round of opposition greeted his ears, he wandered to the door and left, immediately cutting off the noise of his team begging him to stay. He shuffled down the steps with Scotty and wandered around the corner of the apartment building, heading toward the little strip of shops just on the other side.
He arrived at the cafe with a few minutes to spare. After he walked inside and ordered a cup of coffee, he sat in the corner of the shop with Scotty at his feet. The waiter brought him his mug and he thanked the waiter profusely, smiling when the waiter asked to pet Scotty.
When the waiter was gone, Stanley appeared. He walked up to the table and sat down, wearing a mournful expression. He folded his hands on the table. He didn't even look at Scotty.
Charlie frowned. “That's unusual.”
“What?”
“You didn't pet him.”
“Oh, I...” Stanley trailed off as his eyes fell beneath the table. He smiled crookedly while reaching for Scotty. “I guess I mean business.”
“So, talk to me.”
Stanley sighed as he raised his hand back to the table. He didn't raise his gaze or fix his posture. Although he looked clean, his hair was disheveled, and his shirt was slightly crooked as if it had been pulled on in a rush.
“I just got back from Mercy Medical Center. My father went into cardiac arrest.”
Charlie gasped. “Oh God, is Jim okay?”
“He's okay. He's stable now, so I went to see him and make sure he didn't need anything.”
“And?”
“Well, he doesn't have a whole lot of time left. They're saying he'll have another heart attack if he doesn't change his lifestyle. The next one could really kill him.”
Charlie shook his head. “He just won't give up the grease, huh?”
Stanley laughed suddenly and then shook his head. “It made me think.”
“About?”
“About how short this life can be if we're not really paying attention.”
Charlie nodded slowly. “Yeah, it can be short. But it doesn't have to be.”
“I don't know, Charlie. I spoke to my father and it's like he doesn't get it. It's like he doesn't understand that if he keeps eating the way he's eating, that he just won't make it. He keeps drinking alcohol like a tank. I don't know how else to get through to him other than being a huge dick.”
“Is that why you've been so rude lately?”
“What?” Stanley met Charlie's gaze. He nodded suddenly. “Yeah, I guess that's why. Has it been...bad?”
“It's been insufferable. You've been kind of awful, Stan, especially with this whole divorce.”
Stanley hugged himself. “I didn't realize...I don't think I meant to
be like that, Charlie. I'm so sorry. I've been a wreck worrying about my dad.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Why would I tell you? We were getting a divorce. It was over.”
“I mean before the divorce—why didn't you tell me your dad wasn't doing well?”
Stanley shrugged. “I didn't want to worry you.”
“But you took all that stress out on me. Don't you see that? Don't you see how we fell apart because you weren't coping with your dad being ill?”
“I'm sorry. I should have gone to a specialist or something. I should have let you know what was going on. I'm just really sorry...”
He covered his face, his hands shaking viciously. Scotty whimpered and went to nudge his arm, causing him to drop a hand and pat Scotty's head.
“He misses you, too,” Charlie said. “And I think it would help you to have him around. So, I could agree to split custody. But you need to mind your moods, Stanley. I can't stand being around you if you're going to take out every little thing on me.”
“I can do that. I can try.”
“Have you told your lawyer your decision?”
Stanley nodded. “He knows all about it and even drew up an agreement we can look over and sign. He's totally holding me accountable. We'll also bring in a mediator.”
“And that will be all? We'll be divorced?”
“Yes, we'll be divorced.”
Stanley reached across the table and took Charlie's hand. He rested his other hand over Charlie's knuckles and squeezed, meeting Charlie's gaze.
“I mean it. I really do.”
Charlie nodded. “I believe you. Of all the times I've seen you lie, you've never looked like this.”
“I'm a mess, Charlie. I just need help. Thank you for showing up even though you had literally no reason to show.”
“Of course. I want us to be on good terms. For Scotty.”
Stanley smiled. “I couldn't agree more.”
Charlie sat for some time with Stanley, simply sitting in the silence. He didn't feel disturbed or alarmed. He didn't feel like he needed to run. The serenity he had been seeking settled into his gut and he smiled, making him feel like everything was going to be okay.
Finally, he reflected. We'll have some peace.
Chapter Ten
Elias
As the evening wore on, Elias played with his phone. His team had dispersed after Charlie left abruptly, each teammate mumbling about how the game had been ruined. Elias had wanted desperately to assure everyone that it was likely divorce business, but he hadn't wanted to say anything in front of Roger.
He opened the message thread on his phone with Charlie, looking over their previous texts. There weren't any new ones. He sighed with longing as he looked over the pictures they had taken the previous day. One of them hosted Scotty in the corner and the caption mentioned how Scotty was great at photobombing.
He smiled.
After a few minutes, he typed a new message in their chat thread: “I hope you're okay. Let me know what's going on, all right?”
He set down his phone on the couch next to him. The coffee table was still a mess of player books and maps. Period appropriate parchment lingered near the books, billowing slightly from the fan circulating air above. He glanced at the fan and shrugged.
“What's the point in cleaning up? We're just going to make a mess again next week.”
He sneezed.
He allowed his head to sink back against the couch as his eyes watered up. Although Scotty was gone, his fur lingered in the apartment. He kept catching wind of Scotty's scent and would sneeze as a result, the uncontrollable reactions causing his throat to itch and his head to ache.
He stood up resolutely from the couch and wandered into the kitchen. As he took another allergy pill, he noticed the mess his teammates left behind.
“This is why I don't like hosting. It's always a mess.”
He knocked a few plastic cups lazily into the sink. He reached up to the cupboard above, opening it to find that all his coffee had been brewed. He shook his head and disappeared into the living room, collecting his wallet and shoes. After slipping them on, he whipped his phone out of his pocket again.
Still no response, he reflected forlornly. Maybe he was tired of hearing Mike and Ivan argue. They can be a lot when they disagree.
He shrugged and tucked his phone way. He gave one last glance to his apartment before heading out and locking up, hopping down the stairs in twos. When he reached the bottom, he turned in the direction of the shopping strip near his house. He rounded the apartment building and walked briskly over to the nearby cafe.
While he tucked his hands into his pockets, he inhaled the fresh night air. He hoped the breeze would clear up his nostrils. Just as he reached the cafe entrance, he felt his head clear up slightly. He smiled warmly as a result.
The bell jingled as he wandered inside, alerting the staff behind the counter that he had walked in. He was greeted immediately with familiar smiles as he approached the counter.
“Good evening, Elias. Would you like your usual cup?” the barista asked.
“Sure. That would be great, Lily.”
She nodded. “Coming right up!”
She accepted his payment and rang it up on the register. As she made his drink, he sank into the far, left corner of the cafe, nestling into a cozy chair. He could hear hushed conversation, but the coffee shop was predominantly empty which reflected the late hour. Lily quickly made his order and called for him when it was finished.
She slid the cup across the counter. “Allergies?”
“Ugh, can you tell?”
“Yeah, I have the same reaction to spring.”
“Actually, mine was due to...” He trailed off as he recognized two people sitting on the other side of the coffee shop. There was a dog sitting underneath the table. “A dog.”
“Really? You're allergic to dogs?”
He smiled politely at Lily. “Yeah, it's a thing.”
“Are you okay? Do you need an allergy pill? I always keep mine on me.”
“Nah, I just took one.”
“Maybe you should sit outside. We've got a dog in here.”
“I should be fine. Thanks, Lily.”
He sank back into his spot, peering between a couple of coffee mugs sitting on the counter to see the couple sitting in the corner.
So, it was divorce business, he thought. Why didn't Charlie mention that? He couldn't stand Stanley just the other day and now he's sitting with him in a coffee shop. Weird.
He frowned while blowing the steam away from his coffee. As he took a sip, he burned his tongue, causing him to flinch and nearly drop his cup. He set the paper cup on the table next to him and leaned against his hand, mulling over the situation.
If it was divorce business, then why aren't their lawyers present?
He shook away the thought. He didn't need to get his brain warped on what was happening, but it was hard to believe at all. He rubbed his eyes.
Maybe I took too much medicine. I might be hallucinating.
Charlie and Stanley shifted in their seats. When they stood up, Elias immediately turned away, hiding his face in a nearby magazine. His ear twitched at the sound of Charlie's voice, listening closely to the words tangled with Stanley's.
“...get together again. That would be nice. I've missed this.”
Stanley chuckled. “At least now we know we can hold a conversation without fighting.”
“Scotty seems happy, too.”
Elias nearly shot up from his seat. He was fuming with frustration, confused as to why Charlie suddenly had a change of heart. He hunched over his coffee while staring blankly at the fashion spread in front of his eyes. He could hardly focus on the pictures.
The front door squeaked open and the bell dinged. Once the door had noisily shut, Elias dared to lift his eyes. He watched through the grand window in front of him as Charlie and Stanley veered left and headed in the direction of the park.
&
nbsp; Elias set down the magazine.
So, he decided to meet with his ex without saying anything. I mean, I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but I'm definitely not happy.
He stood up and collected his coffee, choosing to take a huge gulp even though the liquid was still relatively hot. He pushed out the door, took a right, and started his journey back to his apartment. The breeze picked up and kissed his cheek, causing him to touch the area where the wind met his skin.
He frowned.
I housed his dog even though I'm allergic. I housed him even though I was sure he would be safe at home. This is weird. To go from a threat to a friendly meet-up just doesn't seem right. What's actually going on?
He shook his head as he approached the stairs to his apartment. He ascended them quickly, his heart racing the closer he drew to his door. When he unlocked the door, he shoved it open, closing it loudly. He didn't care if anyone could hear his anger. He was fuming again, inspired to gather up the pillows from the couch and shove them in the dryer.
He whipped out the vacuum and got to work, covering every layer of his apartment. He wiped down surfaces, stripped away his clothes to wash, and put on a new set of clothes that hadn't been in contact with Scotty. Once every inch of his home had been dusted and vacuumed, he collapsed into his couch while holding his phone.
The layers of silence around him hung heavy like a curtain. As he took a shaky breath, he stared at the unread messages in his chat thread with Charlie. He squinted at the screen as his upper lip twitched.
“I don't know what's going on,” he typed. “But I don't like being kept in the dark. Can you please tell me what's happening?”
He tossed his phone on the table, listening to it rattle against the wood. He stood up quickly and held his head to keep his thoughts steady. But it didn't matter what he did. He couldn't pause the incessant swirl of questions.
What if he's going back to Stanley? What if they decide to share Scotty? Where does that leave me? Was this whole thing a rebound?
He shook his head as he retreated to his room and hopped in the shower. Although he couldn't control his thoughts, he could control his environment. He ran the water extra hot and stepped under the stream, sighing contentedly as the warm liquid met his skin. His muscles relaxed instantly. His heart slowed and his breathing leveled out as his hands sought to clean from muscle memory.