Cause I could! Do I need another reason?
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The sun warmed Donovan's bare arms as he leaned against the Mercedes. It was the first day that seemed to promise summer and he was taking advantage of it wearing only a t-shirt and jeans. The rays fell over the sidewalk and the school grounds that lay beyond a set of open rod iron gates. Trailing out from behind and in front of his car was a stationary parade of vehicles.
When his phone buzzed, he pulled it out. The edge of his mouth lifted.
"Hi," he said, the greeting holding more weight than the single-syllable word would for others.
"Is she there?" Carter asked.
Smiling, Donovan slid one hand into his pocket. "Don't I get a hello?"
Carter sighed. "She's not there. I guess that leaves me with you."
"I have never felt more wanted."
"You know I miss my baby."
"I miss you too."
Carter burst out laughing and the sound filled the fissure in Donovan's chest. One that always opened when she went away.
"I have never once called you baby and plan to die never having done so," she said.
"As long as you don't plan on dying any time soon, then I'm okay with that."
"Promise." Donovan heard the rustling of blankets as Carter shifted. "When does she get out of school?"
Donovan glanced at his watch. "Any minute now."
"That must mean you're already waiting by the curb."
"Front and center."
"How are the Desperate House Wives?"
Donovan could hear the smirk in Carter's voice. Unable to stop himself, he gazed down the line of cars. Further down was a group of women that were divorced and had taken to single life like it was a challenge to prove they were still young. As if always in tune with his movements, the women looked over at him. Half of them waved while others offered inviting smiles. Donovan nodded once in acknowledgment then ducked his head, fighting back a smile.
"You shouldn't be so harsh, they are kind mothers."
Carter snorted. "Yes, the kind that see my absence as a competition. How many playdates have you been invited to?"
"For Kennedy," Donovan said.
"Naturally. And they had Casino Night not so they could see you in a tux."
Donovan couldn't help the smile that spread across his lips. "You sound jealous. Does that mean that next time you interact with them they should be prepared for an 'I belong to you and no one else, hands off' speech?"
"Yes, especially with all the bake sales, fundraisers and PTA meetings they roped you into."
"It's part of a parent's responsibility."
Donovan waited for the snapping retort but it never came. Instead, there was a silence that he knew all too well.
"Hey," he said. "You are doing what you love and I am proud of you. And so is Kennedy."
Carter let out a sigh. "I know...I should be home this Saturday if all goes well."
A distant voice spoke in the background and Donovan knew that their time was up.
"Donovan..."
"I know. I'll tell Kennedy you said hi and that you love her. Stay safe."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
For a second, neither of them hung up, all too aware of a future they had so little control over and wanting to stay in that peaceful moment.
Then the line went dead and Donovan tucked away his phone. A rise in fluttering voices drew Donovan's attention back towards the cluster of women. Beyond them, striding down the sidewalk was Mason. Age had only enhanced his looks and did nothing to diminish his self-confidence. He smiled at the women as he bypassed them.
"What brings you here?" Donovan asked.
"I'm here to pick up my nephew."
Before Donovan could ask for what reason the bell rang and the doors burst open as kids streamed out. They were like a horde of puppies, all racing off in different directions, searching for the one familiar face among the many. Bright chatter filled the air, adding another type of warmth to the day.
Donovan smiled as he spotted Kennedy exiting right beside Harrison. At seven she still held round baby cheeks even as her frame continued to length. Despite Harrison's obvious amusement at something, Kennedy was solemn. The pair cut through the dense pack to Donovan and Mason. Harrison's face lit up when he saw his uncle.
"Ace!" he shouted and raced forward.
"Hey, little man," Mason said, jostling Harrison's shoulder. "You ready to go?"
Without a word, Kennedy climbed into the car and closed the door. Donovan peered in at her but she didn't look his way.
"Where are we going?" Harrison asked.
Donovan straightened. "I was about to ask that as well."
Mason grinned at Harrison then at Donovan.
"We're off to do all the things an uncle is for. Learning how to objectify women, hold his liquor, gamble, smoke cigars, and drive."
Harrison's eyes widened. "You're going to teach me to drive."
Mason laughed rumpled Harrison's hair. "Nah. Instead, I'm going to teach you how to take apart a computer and put it back together."
At this Harrison looked disappointed and Mason nudged his shoulder.
"Also I'm buying ice cream."
"Okay!"
Mason nodded farewell to Donovan and walked off, Harrison keeping pace.
"You do anything worth mentioning in school today?" he asked.
Harrison began to talk and his voice was swallowed up by the noise as they moved away. Donovan rounded the car and got in. Kennedy sat curled up in the seat, her arms crossed in front of her. In silence, they pulled away and headed home.
"How was school?" he asked.
No answer was given. Donovan glanced over at his daughter. There was an angry stiffness to her compact form that said more than anything she could tell him. He said nothing, knowing she took after her mother, answers were best teased out with time more than dragged out with a hail of questions.
When they stepped into the apartment, Kennedy made straight for her room. Her feet stomping against the wooden floor.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Donovan asked.
"No! Boys are stupid."
This last statement was punctuated with a slamming of her door. Donovan let out a breath, feeling as if this day had come too soon and far earlier than he expected. He had planned for another few years at least. He dropped the keys into the bowl and crossed to the hallway. He leaned against the door and knocked once.
"Hey, Cadet."
There was no response.
"I'm a boy," he said, his tone gentle. "Do you think I'm stupid?"
After a pause, there was the soft patter of feet and the door cracked open. One of Kennedy's dark blue eyes peered up at him. He raised a questioning eyebrow.
"No," she said, voice small.
"Harrison is also a boy, is he stupid?"
Kennedy shook her head.
"What about uncle Link?"
Kennedy lifted her shoulders then dropped them with a heavy sigh.
"No, I guess not all boys are stupid."
"But there is one that is. What's his name?"
Twisting her lips to the side, Kennedy dropped her head. "Cooper Wilson."
"Ah. And what did this Cooper Wilson do?"
Anger snapped Kennedy's gaze up, her eyes blazing with the emotion. "He said that girls are pathetic, dumb, and weak and that boys are stronger and better."
Donovan felt a bit of relief knowing it hadn't been a more emotionally charged subject. He still had time before boyfriends and the drama of everything in between occurred. Still, seeing the pain on Kennedy's face tugged at his heart.
"Come here," he said, taking her hand.
Sullenly, she allowed herself to be led back into her room. It was a bedroom that was a patchwork of every shade of blue accented with white. Donovan took a seat on her indigo chair and lifted Kennedy onto his lap. Instantly, she leaned against him, knowing there was always comfort there. Donovan placed one ankle on his knee and hugged his daughter.
"In general men are stronger than women," he said.
Kennedy sat up as if he had said the most deplorable thing in the world.
"But that doesn't mean women are weak," he continued. "Do you think mommy is weak?"
"No!"
Donovan fought back a smile at the quick certainty in which she answered.
"Mommy is even stronger than most men. That means that generalizations are not the whole truth. What Cooper said was wrong. Women are strong, smart, and powerful. Just as men can be strong, smart and powerful. Neither is better than the other."
Donovan held her face, his eyes holding onto hers. "In life, there are going to be men that will tell you that you are not as good as them and you must never believe it. Every life is equal to another no matter whether that person is strong, weak, smart, dumb, female or male. Do you understand?"
Kennedy nodded, her silence filled with contemplation.
"But mommy is better than everyone else, right?"
Donovan laughed and hugged Kennedy, kissing her cheek.
"Yes, mommy is better than everyone. But she didn't become strong by doing nothing." He set her on her feet and rose. "Let's make you as strong as mommy."
Kennedy held onto Donovan's hand as they crossed to the master bedroom and the punching bag that hung in the corner. He grabbed a pair of small boxing gloves and helped her put them on.
"Find your stance," he said, crouching beside her.
Kennedy shifted her feet and lifted her fists, face tight with concentration.
"Now punch the bag and show Cooper Wilson that girls are just as strong as boys."
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High-ya! 🤜
(That was me karate chopping the air)
So I wrote this cause I really wanted a moment where we saw how adorable Donovan was with Kennedy.
Did I succeed?
The whole Mason actually being a cool uncle totally surprised me as well as Carter and Donovan's phone call. This whole chapter kind of wrote itself. Yes, that makes me sound crazy but I believe we've already established that I'm completely bonkers! 🤪🤓
If you have anything you want to share or say go ahead! I'm all ears! And thumbs, and limbs and blood and ice cream and heart and everything in between!
If you want to, feel like it, or are just simply bored go ahead and vote, comment, follow