Page 4 of Bourbon & Bonfires
Taylor: Already done. I had a feeling. Call me tonight, I can’t wait to hear what Mason has done now.
Of course he’s already found us a house. Taylor Cain is a doer, and when he sets his mind to something there’s no stopping him. Before leaving for the police station, I stop in my office manager’s office to tender my resignation. If I don’t do it now, I may lose my nerve, and I know this move is something I need to do, or the next time it won’t be a sympathetic store owner willing to let things go.
Parking in front of the police station is a surreal moment. It almost doesn’t feel real, yet I know it is. I know the brick building houses my son, my baby boy, and my only hope is this day has scared him straight. Maybe I should have made him watch that television show by a similar name. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty, even when you’re raising kids.
I pull down the sun visor and take in my appearance. Fifteen years ago, I was bright-eyed and full of hope. I believed in the love Dan and I had. I envisioned our future, believed it would all come true. And, for a while it did. We were happy and in love. We built a life together, and while not every day was perfect, I believed we were happy. Until we weren’t. Now, the woman looking back at me looks tired and sad. The bags under my eyes reflect the minimal sleep I get every night, worrying about Mason, worrying whether his behavior lately is a phase or if it’s a new personality he’s taken on. I worry about my brother and his life in Lexington. I’ve cried many tears wondering if this is it, if I’m destined to be a single mom for the rest of my life.
I’m tired. That’s why this move is necessary. Taylor will help me, he may scare the shit out of Mason doing it, but I don’t care. It needs to be done, and hell, I need to live life a little. I pull my compact from my purse and apply a little power before swiping on some gloss. This is as good as it’s going to get this afternoon.
I step out of my small SUV and smile politely to the officers passing me as I approach the front door of the building. What must they be thinking? Do they think I’m here to bail someone out? I guess I sort of am. Wow, this is most definitely not how I saw this day playing out.
“May I help you?”
“Hi, I’m Addison Sinclair, here to see Officer Melton about my son.”
The woman at the desk smiles and taps on the keys of her computer before picking up her phone. While I wait I look around at the flyers tacked to the bulletin board covering the wall. I wonder for a brief moment, how many parents stand in this spot everyday to see their children. It’s a humbling and sad moment.
“Mrs. Sinclair?” I hear the woman behind the, what I assume is, bulletproof glass ask. “Officer Melton asked me to show you to his desk. I’ll buzz you in and walk you back.”
I nod in response, and when the buzzer signals, a loud click of the door unlocking signals my ability to enter the main part of the building. My stomach drops. I don’t like this feeling at all.
“This is bullshit.”
“Mason Taylor Sinclair! Watch your goddamn mouth!” Okay, so I’m not winning any parenting points with the cussing retort but dammit if this kid is not grinding on my last nerve.
“Nice,Mother.”
“Look. I don’t care how pissed off you are. You are not old enough to swear, and you’ll never be old enough to swear at me. Please take this box to the moving truck. And know this, your uncle will be here in the next thirty minutes or so. That’s your only warning.”
I watch as Mason grumbles and stomps down the hall with a box in his hands. The last few days have been a whirlwind of packing and securing the moving truck. As I expected, Taylor had a plane ticket purchased the day I called him from the police station and is flying in today so we can drive back to Lexington together. Mason has hardly spoken to me since we left the police station, and I took him directly to the bank to pull three hundred dollars from his savings.
Although the store he attempted to shoplift offered not to press charges, I felt it necessary Mason do something in the form of retribution. So, he made a donation to the local Boys and Girls Club, and I told him when we’re settled in Lexington he needs to find something to do with his spare time: a school club, a sport, a job, or volunteer. Regardless of his choice, he will fill his time being productive and not hanging out with less than desirable kids who encourage him to skip school and steal.
“Uncle Tay is here. Can I please go over to Jimmy’s before we leave?”
“Twenty minutes. I want you back here to do one final walk-through of the house.”
“Fine,” Mason scoffs, attitude rolling off him.
“What did I tell you about speaking to your mother in that tone, Mason?” Taylor barks, startling me.
“Sorry,” Mason mumbles while walking away.
“Hey,” I greet my brother.
“Hey yourself. Damn, you guys have been busy. Come here and hug me before we do any more.”
Without question, I walk into my brother’s embrace and cry. He comforts me and lets me cry enough tears to fill a bucket. Once I’ve sufficiently drained my tear ducts, I pull back and squint my face at the wet spot I’ve left on his shirt.
“Sorry.”
“Eh, no biggie. Feel better?”
“Yes. Thanks for coming even though you didn’t have to.”
“We’re family, Addy. It isn’t about have tos. I’m glad I’m here to help. Now, let’s get your truck packed so we can get on the road. If we start moving soon, we can get to my place at a decent hour.”
“You’re so structured. Is this what military life did? Made you organized and on a schedule?” I tease.