Chapter 4
I drove there anyway.
This time, I asked Priya before I left. She told me to bring a copy of the schedule, stay calm, and keep a record of what happened. She also warned me not to involve Eli in an argument at the door.
“I know,” I said.
“I’m reminding you because I know how hard that doorway has become.”
I parked at noon. Before I could get out, Rochelle came onto the porch.
“Why are you here?” she called.
I walked up the path. “It’s my weekend with Eli.”
“I told you not to come.”
“I’m here according to our schedule. I’d like to pick him up.”
She looked at the copy in my hand.
“You brought paperwork to my house?”
“I brought the schedule we both signed.”
Rochelle folded her arms. “Eli’s at my mother’s.”
That stopped me.
“Where?”
“Across town.”
“Is he okay?”
“He’s fine. He wanted to spend the afternoon with her.”
Rochelle’s mother, Anita, loved Eli. I had no problem with him seeing her. I did have a problem with learning he was across town when I reached the front door.
“Can I call him?”
“Later.”
“Rochelle.”
“He’s having lunch.”
I looked at my watch. I had another two hours to drive home. I could wait until lunch was over.
“I’ll come back at one,” I said.
“Do whatever you want.”
I went to a café nearby and called Priya. I didn’t ask her to fix the afternoon from her desk. I wanted to know how to handle Eli being somewhere else during my scheduled time.
She told me to write down what Rochelle said and return at one. If Eli was still absent, I could leave without causing a scene. She would add the incident to our request.
At one, Rochelle didn’t answer the door.
I waited five minutes, then called. She let it ring. I sent a message saying I was outside and asking when Eli would be available.
No answer.
As I walked back to my truck, my phone rang. The caller was Anita.
“Warren? Are you near Rochelle’s?”
“Yes. She said Eli was with you.”
There was a pause.
“He was here yesterday after school. I took him home last night.”
I stopped beside my truck.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. Is something wrong?”
I looked up at Rochelle’s house. A curtain moved in an upstairs window.
“I came for my scheduled visit,” I said. “She told me he was at your place.”
Anita sounded upset. “Eli asked me yesterday if I thought you’d come. Rochelle told him you were busy this weekend.”
“I’m standing outside.”
“Let me call her.”
“I don’t want you caught between us.”
“He’s my grandson.”
She ended the call. I stayed where I was.
A few minutes later, Rochelle opened the front door. Eli stood behind her wearing his coat. He saw me and waved uncertainly.
I waved back.
Rochelle came down the path alone.
“You called my mother.”
“She called me.”
“You’re turning my family against me.”
“Anita told me Eli isn’t with her. I want to take him for our weekend.”
Rochelle glanced back. Eli was still in the doorway.
I lowered my voice. “Please don’t tell him I chose not to come.”
Her face changed. For a moment, I thought she might explain. Instead, she said, “You can have two hours at the park.”
“Our schedule gives us the weekend.”
“Take the two hours or leave.”
I could see Eli watching. I took the two hours.
At the park, he ran ahead to the swings, then came back to hold my hand.
“Grandma said you were here,” he said.
“I was.”
“Mom said you had work.”
“I planned to spend the weekend with you.”
He kicked at a pebble.
“Did I do something bad when I ran outside last time?”
“No.”
“Mom was crying after you left.”
“I’m sorry she was sad. Her feelings aren’t yours to fix.”
Eli looked up at me. “Yours either?”
“Mine either.”
We played catch until my arms ached. Then we sat on a bench and shared a bag of pretzels. He asked if Maya was still keeping the bridge safe.
“It’s on my kitchen table,” I said.
“Can we build it next time?”
“Yes.”
“When’s next time?”
I showed him the calendar on my phone. We were due to talk Tuesday, and the next visit was in two weeks. I told him Priya was helping us find a place to meet where plans would be clear.
“Is that because Mom and you fight?”
“It’s because you deserve to know what’s happening.”
At the end of two hours, I walked him home. Rochelle met us outside. Eli hugged me longer than he had at the park.
“Please answer Tuesday,” he whispered.
“I’ll call.”
When I returned to my truck, I took a picture of the time on my dashboard and sent Priya a short account. Then I called Anita to thank her for telling me the truth.
“She used to call me when she was frightened,” Anita said of Rochelle. “Lately she tells me everything’s fine.”
“Do you know what she’s frightened of?”
“I think she’s afraid Eli will love your house more.”
May you like
I looked back at the porch, where my son had disappeared inside.
“He shouldn’t have to prove he loves either house,” I said.
