Page 96 of Jackass

“What about being a husband?”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I never had parents. I grew up in the system. Aged out when I hit eighteen. The few foster homes I was in, well, they weren’t Hallmark families.”

“I’m gonna be honest with you, Jack. Being a husband? A thousand times harder than being a dad.”

My eyes snapped up at that statement.

How was that possible?

“When you become a dad, you get this little baby handed to you. A whole person who knows nothing. Someone you get to teach everything to. There are the obvious things, like walking and talking, and how to tie their shoes. Maybe teach them to ride a bike, how to climb a tree. But there are other things too. How to be a good person. You teach them how to put others first, how to be kind. You teach them how to love.”

“Fuck, no one taught me how to love. How the hell am I supposed to teach Charlie?” I muttered.

“Actions, Jack. Your little girl will learn everything she needs to know about love by how you love her. You don’t need to worry about that. She will learn what makes a good man by watching you and your brothers. She will learn what makes a good husband by watching you with her mother.”

My shoulders slumped and my head fell. I exhaled loudly. “She’s screwed then, because I am fucking up every minute of the day with Sammy.”

James laughed heartily at that.

“Let me tell you why being a husband is harder than being a dad. As a dad, you start with a blank slate.”

I opened my mouth to remind him I wasn’t there from the beginning with Charlie. He held his hand up in front of me.

“I realize you missed the first four years with Charlie, but she is still little. She’s not set in her ways like her mother. With Samantha, you get what you get. You get her history. Her whole life before meeting you has influenced every choice she’s made.

“How her father treated her, how male teachers treated her in school, how her husband treated her. You are working against all that, Jack. Compromise is great, and communication is key. But love, Jack, that is the most important thing. Remind her you love her every chance you can. Say the words, show her the actions. When you fuck up? Apologize. Beg her forgiveness, and most importantly, learn from those fuck ups. Don’t continue to make the same mistakes, because she will only forgive you so many times for the same thing.”

James finished his coffee and stood.

“Well, I need to get home to my wife.”

“I need to get back to the clubhouse.” I stood from my stool too and tossed a few bills on the counter, following James outside.

“Jack?”

“Yes sir?”

“I hope this helped. You can call me anytime you need to talk. You know Ace is like a son to us, but all of you are important to Evie and I.”

“Thanks, James.” I shook his hand and climbed on my bike.

I had a woman at home I needed to apologize to.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jack

“Where the fuck have you been? And why didn’t you answer your fucking phone?” King bellowed before I could even walk through the door far enough to close it behind me.

“Hello to you too.”

I walked over to the bar for a drink. Archie passed me a beer just as King yelled again.

“Get your ass in church. Now!”

Fuck me.