“You’re right it doesn’t matter.” Jenna stands up straight and unfolds her arms. She looks up at the sky briefly before leveling her gaze back on me. “I want a divorce,” she says in a whisper.
“Where have you been, James?”
My mum thinks I’m sleeping, but I’ve missed my dad and he’s home now. I creep down the hall to their bedroom and peek in. My mum is sitting at her table, the one that has all the make-up on it, that she tells my nana that she needs so that my dad will look at her. I think my mum is beautiful just the way she is.
“James, I asked you a question.”
“I heard you.”
I can’t see my dad, but I hear him. He sounds like he’s so far away.
“Are you going to answer me?”
“You don’t need to worry about where I was, Brigette. I was at work. That’s what I do. I leave at night and go to work so you can live like a queen and so Jimmy can go to the finest boys’ school. Stop with the questions.”
My mum turns around in her chair and puts her hands in her lap. She looks like she’s been crying. “I’m tired.”
“Come to bed, love.”
“No, James. I’m tired of the cheating. I’m tired of whoever it is hanging up on me every time I answer the phone only for it to start ringing again for you to answer. I’m tired of you coming home and smelling like you bathed in the perfume counter at Harrod’s. I’m tired of being an after-thought in your life. I want a divorce. I want you to move out, tonight.”
I jump when something slams against the wall. My mum stands. “What are you doing, James? Jimmy’s sleeping.”
“Do you think I care? My wife is telling me that she wants a divorce and is kicking me out of my house and you want me to be quiet? Are you mad? I give you the life you ask for. I provide the finest jewels and furs that you drape yourself in at every social event. So fucking what if I get some on the side.”
“Get out,” my mum shouts. I jump back away from the door, afraid that she’ll see me.
“You’re mad, woman. We’ve been married for fifteen years. I gave you a child. I provide you with a home. You don’t want me to leave.”
“I’ve called a lawyer, James. You need to leave, tonight. I want you gone.”
“You want me gone?”
Their room goes silent for a moment.
“Fine Brigette. I’m going, but don’t you dare call me and beg me to come back. You want me gone, so be it.”
I don’t want him to go. He’s my dad. He needs to stay. He promised he’d take me to football practice tomorrow. Who’s going to take me now?
The door swings open and my dad steps into the hall. I look up at him and he shakes his head. He turns and looks at my mum. “I hope you’re happy, Brigette.”
“Don’t leave me, dad,” I say, grabbing his hand. He pulls it away and rests it on my shoulder.
“Listen closely, Jimmy. Never get married. Women are only good for one thing.”
“James?” my mum screeches.
“What, love? Isn’t that why you’re kicking me out?”
“Jimmy go to bed, please.”
“No, mum. I’m going with dad. I’ll pack my suitcase.”
I run down the hall ignoring my dad calling my name. I don’t want to live with my mum if she doesn’t like my dad.
“Jimmy,” my dad shouts. I turn to find him shaking his head. “You can’t come.”
“Why not? You told me you’d take me to football tomorrow. I want to come with you.”