had to go get them. We are separated and I figured that she was on another drinking binge, and I brought the kids to my place. They are asleep now and I don’t want to wake them up. I will have them both back in their schools tomorrow, but my wife has to be out of my house.”
He said, “You can’t just throw your wife out of your house, you have to give her proper notice, and it is my understanding that neither of you has filed for divorce.”
I smiled. “I have an attorney and will file tomorrow. I will also get a restraining order against her. She is an unfit mother.”
He hesitated. “Mr. Thompson, if you don’t bring your kids home tonight, we will be forced to follow through on the kidnapping charge and there will be a warrant processed for your arrest.”
I had a smart aleck answer but wisely said, “I am sorry things got so far out of hand. But I will be forced to file a charge against my wife. Then CPS can sort it out.” CPS was child protective services.
He said, “Mr. Thompson, please don’t let things get out of hand. We can fix this tonight; tomorrow the judge will throw you in jail.”
I stuck my chin out. “Well, I am not bringing my kids home to that woman. You can arrest me, then they will have no one.”
I just hung up the phone, then went out and moved my car where it couldn’t be seen from the street. I wasn’t sure if I had told anyone where the apartment was, but I wanted to be safe. Things had to go perfectly for me, or I was going to jail.
I sat in a chair all night long. I dozed off some, but I watched out the window for the police. They never came.
The next morning I was haggard and not thinking too clearly. I called in and took the day off work. Then I called Washington, my attorney, and set up an appointment to see him at ten. I called the kids’ schools and told them that I was keeping my kids home today. I hoped that I had covered all my bases.
At ten I was in my attorney’s office, and told him the whole story. I wrote out a check for a retainer, and he told me, “They can’t arrest you for kidnapping; you have as much right to those kids as the mother does. I will file a restraining order and see if the judge will give you temporary custody and the house.”
I took the kids to lunch and then to a park and let them burn off energy. I went to sleep sitting on a park bench; I was really tired. Rachael woke me up and I nearly panicked; I couldn’t see Johnny anywhere. Then I saw him: Johnny was playing on the slide.
My phone rang and it was my attorney. He said to come back to his office around three. I let the kids play some more, then at two-thirty I took them back to the attorney’s office. He had the restraining order, the temporary custody, and the house all approved by the Judge. I had court orders and I could throw Marilyn out immediately.
I drove home expecting one thing but got something else.
When I parked in the driveway, I saw her look out through the curtains. Quickly there were three police cars behind me. Before I could speak, I was handcuffed and on the ground. The kids ran to their mother. I finally got to tell the officer about the court orders and he took them out of my coat pocket. He read the orders and then went to Marilyn and showed them to her. A police officer stood me up and took the handcuffs off. Marilyn was advised that she had to stay a minimum of five hundred feet from us and the house. I told her that I would give her two hours to pack her things up and get out. Then tomorrow I would have the rest of her things on the porch and she could pick them up after work. I was showing off in front of the police at what a good man that I was.
When Marilyn left, so did the police. I fed the kids, bathed them and put them to bed.
I was lying in my bed with my phone, wanting to make that special phone call. I punched in her number and she answered a sexy, “Hello!”
I said, “Sharon, I have done it, I have filed for divorce, Marilyn had to leave. She has a restraining order against her, and I have the house and my kids.”
There was a long silence, then Sharon said, “I wasn’t planning on you having your kids; I thought that I would have your babies and we would have our own family.”
I smiled weakly. “Sharon, these are my kids; they come with me. Are you telling me that you can’t handle my kids?”
Another long silence. “Brandon, you are going to have to give me some time. I need to spend some time with them and see how it goes. You are dumping a lot on me at once.”
I was struggling with my anger. “I tell you what, Sharon, forget that I called. If my kids aren’t good enough for you, then neither am I.” I hung up the phone.
I was hoping that Sharon would call me back and apologize, but she didn’t.
Even though I had my kids and played with them all the time that we were together, I was lonely. I needed something that I didn’t have, and I wasn’t sure what or who it was.
The week went by quickly.
We were going through our daily ritual and I realized that it was Friday and I had not heard from Marilyn in a week. I began to wonder if she was all right, and who she was with. I knew that a woman like her, with her looks, wouldn’t stay single too long. She probably already had a boyfriend.
I was working on a government document when my phone rang. Marilyn said, “Thank you for letting me stay in that apartment, but it is just so damn lonely. I miss my babies and I miss you. Can I see you guys tomorrow? I won’t cause any trouble.”
I smiled. “Meet us at the park on River Oaks Drive; we will be at the first playground.”
She gushed, “Oh thank you, thank you very much. What time?”
“How about ten o’clock?” For some unknown reason, I was looking forward to tomorrow.
The next morning, I saw her car parked in the front row. She was in a swing, swinging. She had on shorts and a tank top. I parked the car and let the kids out. They ran to their mother like their tails were on fire. She bent down on one knee and hugged both of them. She held their hands and they went to the merry-go-round. I got on with them and we rode until I was very dizzy. Marilyn and Rachael were both screaming. I got off and watched. Marilyn and the two kids were having so much fun, I felt left out.
At noon, the four of us rode over to a hamburger joint that had a playground, and we ate together. Then Marilyn said, “Let’s all go to the zoo. I am paying.”
So we went to the zoo. Marilyn and I stood behind the kids as they watched all the animals.
Finally she brought up what she wanted to talk about. “Are you happy?”
I shook my head. “No, are you?”
She shook her head. “I am miserable. I just go to work and then go to that apartment. I haven’t had a drop to drink all week.”
I stared at her brown eyes. “Who is your boyfriend?”
She looked shocked. “Why, why I don’t have a boyfriend.” She huffed up. “Who’s your girlfriend?”
I smiled. “I don’t have time for a girlfriend.”
My phone rang. I looked at who it was and turned my back to Marilyn. “Hello!”
Sharon said, “You are right and I am wrong. Why don’t you and the kids come over tonight and I will fix you all a home-cooked meal.”
I walked off. Marilyn followed me. “Yeah, that sounds great. What time?”
Sharon answered, “Be here at six. We will eat at six-thirty.”
I grimaced. “Okay, see you then.” And I hung up.
Marilyn got right up in my face. “No girlfriend, huh? Wanna try again?”
Before I could answer, she spun around and I watched her but wiggle as she stomped to her car.
The kids were not above chasing her. “Momma, come back! Where are you going?”
I corralled them just as Marilyn got to her car and took off out of the parking lot. I headed them to my car and took them home. I got them bathed and calmed down, then we were in my car going over to Sharon’s. I didn’t tell them where we were going; they thought to see their mother again.
When Sharon opened the door, they both g
rabbed my legs and pulled me backward. I took hold of their shoulders and ushered them into her apartment.
Sharon had balloons all over the floor and we began to sit on them and try to pop them. The kids had a blast and really warmed up to Sharon.
It was closer to seven when we finally sat down at her table and she had their favorite, macaroni and cheese. She had pineapple covered with cottage cheese and a cherry on top of it. She had baked chicken in honey and for a vegetable, green beans. She had warm brownies and ice cream for dessert. To say that Sharon was a hit with my kids was an understatement.
I asked her, “Where did you learn to deal with kids?”
She said, “I am the oldest of five sisters. I wound up being mommy a good bit of the time.” She didn’t say anything about her mother being ill so much of the time.
Since it was Saturday, we stayed at Sharon’s until ten o’clock, then I took my two sleepyheads home. They both went to sleep in the car. I had to carry Johnny to his bed, but Rachael walked just like a drunken big girl.
When I looked at the home phone, I had three messages. All three were from Marilyn. The nicest one said, “Call me when you get home.”
I went and took a shower and got ready for bed. I climbed in bed, thought better of it, and called Marilyn.
“You wanted me to call you?”
She said, “Is it that blonde-headed woman from church?”
I nodded. “As a matter of fact, that is who had us over for dinner, but she is in no way my girlfriend.”
There was silence, then in a