Jason
Jake sits in the backseat, belting out the lyrics to some Disney song blaring through my Bluetooth stereo. His little face is flushed red, like an overripe tomato, as he gives it everything he’s got, completely off-key but utterly committed. He’s kicking his legs against the seat along with the music, and for a second, I swear he looks on the verge of passing out. But he doesn’t care, he’s lost in it, performing like the car is his stage and I’m his one and only die-hard fan. Spoiler alert—I totally am.
He’s been at it for the last fifteen minutes, and each time I think he’s finally done, a new song kicks in, and he’s right back to screaming his little lungs out. It’s like watching a never-ending reel of bad singing auditions, and I can’t help but chuckle to myself.
We’re on our way to Elena’s house as it’s her week with Jake, and they’re heading to the South Coast with her parents for a short beach getaway. I’ll admit, the house is going to feel empty without my son or Mila around. I’ve grown so used to having a full house these past few weeks, that their absence will feel unnatural.
Mila moved back to her apartment last night with help from Sofia and me. I even took her grocery shopping, knowing she’d be low on food and supplies. Walking away from her was harder than I thought. I practically had to resist the urge to throw her over my shoulder like a wild caveman and take her back home with me.
But in the end, her need for independence and to stand on her own two feet again outweighed my desire to keep her permanently in my house. So I painfully let her go, and I’ve since been moping around like a sad fuck, feeling lost and empty without her.
We pull into Elena’s driveway, and I immediately spot her sitting on the front porch step, as if she’d been waiting for our arrival for some time. As soon as she sees us, she jumps to her feet, a wide smile spreading across her face as she saunters over to my car.
I help Jake out of the seat just as Elena grabs his bag from the passenger side. After a tight hug from me, Jake leaps into his mother’s arms, where she smothers him with hugs and kisses, while he acts like he’s utterly disgusted by it.
“Honey, why don’t you help Baba in the kitchen. She’s making your favourite custard cream cake. Mummy needs to talk to Daddy for a little bit.”
Jake’s eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets at the mention of his favourite dessert, and he bolts into the house, but not before giving me a full salute and shouting, “Make big money, Dad! See ya!”
I shake my head and chuckle because as much as I love my kid, he’s the biggest goofball I’ve ever met.
Once Jake is completely out of sight, Elena steps closer to me, forcing me to lean back against my car with my hands in my pockets to put as much distance between us as possible.
“What do you need to talk to me about?”
Her expression turns serious as she crosses her arms. “Why did I have to find out from my five-year-old son that his babysitter has been living with him and his dad for quite some time now?”
I shrug casually. “What’s there to tell? Her apartment wasn’t safe for a while, so she needed a place to stay until things got sorted.”
“So, what? She didn’t have anyone else she could stay with? I don’t know, maybe her mother’s?”
“Her mother lives forty minutes away. She’d have to do a lot of travelling between her mum’s house and uni, or even from my place when she’s babysitting. It was just more convenient for her to stay at mine, since it’s closer to everything.”
It isn’t a lie, but it’s not the whole truth either. What I’m definitely not about to admit to my ex-wife is that I wanted our son’s babysitter close to me.
She narrows her eyes, tilting her head slightly as if trying to read me. “I just find it odd, that’s all. She’s been around a lot lately and it makes me wonder if there’s something going on. Or am I going to hear it from Jake again?”
I scoff and pull my hands out of my pockets to cross my arms, now mirroring her stance. “Why do you need to know anything? We’re not doing anything wrong. Jake is happy, healthy, and thriving. What I do in my own personal time is none of your business.”
“So there is something going on between you and the babysitter?” She lifts an eyebrow and licks the corner of her lips, looking every bit the snarky shrew she is.
“Mila and I have a close friendship, not that it concerns you. I’ve been helping her with a few things, and she’s been nothing but a great help with Jake. There is nothing going on between us, despite whatever you’re cooking up in that little head of yours.” I tap her temple with my finger for emphasis, and she swats my hand away.
“See, I don’t know if I believe you, Jason. She’s young and attractive, and you’re hot and single. I don’t buy for a secondthat nothing’s going on between you and her in that big house of yours.”
I let out a sharp laugh. “To be frank, I don’t really give a shit what you believe. What happens under my roof is none of your fucking business, so mind your own and leave Mila out of it, alright!” I snap.
“Oh, but it is my business when it comes to Jake. I’m his mother, and I have every right to know who’s living under the same roof as my son, including his babysitter. The fact that you kept it from me, even if it was just temporary, only makes me more suspicious.”
“For fuck’s sake, just say it, Elena! Go on, spell out whatever deluded bullshit you’re mind has concocted.”
“I know you’re fucking the babysitter!”
And there it is, the real reason for her relentless interrogation. Same old Elena, always prying, always insecure, always looking for something to sink her claws into.
I release a dry, humourless chuckle as I shake my head in disbelief. “You’re a piece of work, Elena, you know that?”
“That might be true, but at least I have nothing to hide. I’m always honest with you.”
