Family Dynamics (Pam of Babylon Book Five) by Suzanne Jenkins Page B

showed up on her doorstep, she’d have to plan something for them to do; there was the competition to keep things as exciting at her house as it was at Frank’s. Often, they would get to the house, run up to their bedrooms without greeting her, and slam the doors if she tried to follow them.
    Then the phone rang; it was Frank’s number.
    “Hello, Carolyn,” June said.
    Grrrrr , Carolyn thought.
    “I know today’s your day, but Danny wants to go into the city for a kite-flying contest at the park later.” Carolyn thought about what it would be like to go into the city on a Saturday so her boys could fly kites. They could get lunch from a food cart, which they loved. She might even invite Steve to go along. She liked flying kites and hadn’t done so in a while.
    “Well, tell Danny his mother is taking him to the park, June. Get the boys here by nine or I’m calling my attorney. Don’t tell me again they aren’t coming home on the weekends.”
    She waited for a second or two, and then June said, “OK.” She didn’t argue or say the boys would be mad. Carolyn was pleased with herself. She quickly got a shower and dressed in casual, summer clothes appropriate for kite flying and impressing men. As she carefully applied her makeup, she realized she was smiling at her reflection.
    Fifteen minutes later, she heard doors slamming. She approached the hallway just as her boys were running up the steps, preparing to move past her without a hello or a hug. She grabbed both of them as they attempted to get by.
    “Oh no, you don’t,” she warned. “No more disrespect in your mother’s household, do you understand me?” Danny struggled a little, but Scott stopped, looking at his mother, surprised. “Come with me,” she said as she dragged them by the arms into her bedroom. She pushed both boys down on her bed. She was pleased they hadn’t tried to resist her yet.
    “I know you like staying at Dad and June’s on the weekend. But it’s too bad. The court gave me your weekends, and I’m your mother. I’m not going to let you hurt my feelings anymore by not coming here. Every weekend, unless it’s prearranged, you are coming home. Is that clear?” Scott nodded his head, but it was taking Danny longer to accept the fact. He was looking at his mother, mulling over her “hurt feelings.” He was fourteen years old. He knew about hurting people, and he was sorry he’d hurt his mother. He stood up and hugged her.
    “I’m sorry Mom. I like staying in bed on Saturday mornings, that’s all,” he said.
    Carolyn thought the solution might be as simple as having them come home Friday night; she’d talk to Frank, not June. And if he resisted, she’d threaten a lawyer consultation that would come out of his pocket.
    “Apology accepted. Let’s get ourselves fed and ready for some kite flying,” she prompted. They went down the stairs to the kitchen, and it felt like old times, sort of. Frank’s empty place at the table glared at her. Guilty , it said. You drove him away with your granny panties and your chubby knees. Wait until you see June’s midriff . She’d get the opportunity, later in the day, when the three of them would run into June and Frank as they walked to their car on Fifth Avenue. How was it that in a city of eight million people, they’d cross paths with the slender, youthful June and her older boyfriend?
    And sure enough, they did. Frank looks awful , Carolyn thought. His skin was pasty, and he was almost skinny. Age was not kind to him. He seemed tired. June might be too much for the old boy . June was wearing a short top that showed her trim waist and taut skin. Carolyn was suddenly conscious of the peasant top she had on to help hide her thick waist. Oh, tough! I am what I am .
    Frank had the decency to appear embarrassed. He introduced June to Carolyn, not sure what was correct—“Meet my wife, my ex-wife, my girlfriend, my lover”—so he simply used their names. They knew who they were.