She punched the pillow, snuggled down, and closed her eyes. Sleep evaded her and April tossed most of the night. When Leo came stumbling into her room the next morning, she’d only just nodded off.
She woke with a jolt, her heart racing. Her little man leaned on his elbows, peering down into her eyes. “Mom, why did Drew go away with that lady last night?”
“Um, I’m not sure.” She swallowed, blinked to clear her fuzzy vision and focused on Leo’s face. The tiny scar above his right eyebrow from when he jumped on the bed, falling into the corner of the dresser. That had been her fault and ended with a bout of violence from Rob. Her second broken bone that year. She stared at the freckles that rained across his cheeks like a trial of chocolate flecks dropped carelessly on his pale skin. The tiny sparks of gold in his brown eyes.
“I thought you were his girlfriend.” He needed a haircut. A swath of thick hair waved down over one eye.
“I work for him and we were friends when we were younger.” April wiped her hand over her burning eyes. They were probably puffy too and she really didn’t have time to put a cold compress on them before work. Her bag of makeup was going to have to do. Otherwise, Drew would know she’d been upset and she didn’t want to give him that power over her.
“But I heard Tilly talking to Gigi. They said you two were good friends.” He flopped down on her pillow, his head touching hers.
April tucked an arm around him and sighed. “We are friends, Leo. We’ve always been close and now I work for him.” She wanted to close her eyes and go back sleep. Facing him today would be difficult, but she was the only one responsible for her children. It meant she had no choice, but to put it behind her and step up. “Go and get a bowl of cereal while I have a shower.” She kissed his cheek and gave him a nudge.
Protesting, Leo clambered off her bed and padded into the kitchen for breakfast.
April rolled over on her back and opened her eyes. The sun streamed in the crack in the blinds, almost to cheerful for her to bear. More patters of feet on the hall floor indicated Tilly had risen as well.
“Mom, Leo’s spilled milk all over the counter. Tell him to clean it up.”
April groaned and threw off the blankets, stumbled into the bathroom. By the time she emerged from the shower, the kitchen was littered with dirty bowls, cereal packets and spilled milk.
“Leo. Come and clean up this mess.”
Tilly walked out with her backpack over her shoulder and dumped it on a chair. “He’s in his room sulking.”
“Whatever for?” She didn’t have time for his mood this morning. April already felt run down and behind the ball.
“He wants to see Drew and I said you aren’t talking to each other.”
“Tilly! What did you say that for?” April cleared the plates, dumped them in the sink, and headed for the bedroom to soothe her son.
He lay fully dressed on the bed, his head hidden under his pillow.
“Leo, let’s go. You’ll miss the school bus and I don’t have time to drive you in today. We’re already running late.”
“No!”
Inwardly she groaned. When her son got in a mood, it was hard to shake him out of it. “Honey, talk to me. What’s this all about?”
* * *
Drew sipped the last of his coffee while standing on the front porch looking down over the marina when racing footsteps rounded the path. Leo came tearing up the steps and threw himself into Drew, knocking him back a couple of steps. The little boy hugged him as sobs wracked his body.
Drew crouched down, put his mug on the deck, and held the child. “Leo, what’s wrong? Is it your mom; is she okay?” Panic started to build in his throat. Her in-laws had better not be back at the house.
“She, she…” Leo struggled to get the words out and Drew was ready to run to her. “She said you and her…” He sniffed. “You and her don’t have to be friends anymore.”
“Oh, I see. And that makes you sad?” He could hardly blame her after last night. Hopefully she would give him the chance to explain.
“Ye-yeah. I want to be friends. I like you and Mom ne-needs someone.” He wiped his hand over his face, smearing the tears over flushed cheeks.
“What makes you think that?” He hoped those words came from her own lips.
“Cause I heard Aggie and Mom talking. Aggie said everyone needs someone and ‘cause you are friends and all.” His chest rose and shuddered with each hiccupped sob.
“You know what, Leo? I screwed up. Yep, even adults like me make mistakes.” He led the boy to the step and they sat down side by side. Drew put his arm around Leo’s shoulders and held him close.
“I like your mom a lot. I always have. But last night I made a mistake and I need to try and fix it.”
Leo turned a tear stained face up to Drew. “You mean like our dad did?”
“No, not quite.” How do you explain family violence to a child? “I should have told your mom why I took that lady home, and then maybe she wouldn’t have got so upset with me.”
“Mom said you should always tell the truth, even if it hurts.”
“She’s right. I think I need to have a word with her. Tell her my side of the story.”
Leo nodded his head in agreement. “You didn’t hit her though. Dad always did.”
Drew stiffened. Her husband hit her? Why hadn’t she told him that? No wonder April was holding back from getting too
