Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
While far from perfect, we have an arrangement. I pay the mortgage, utilities, and give her child support. I buy all of Hollis’ clothes, pay for his sports, school fees, and anything he needs. She lives a comfortable life with what I pay and what she earns at her job. We split time with him as evenly as possible. Most weeknights he stays with her so that his school schedule remains structured. Now that he’s older, on weekends, I let him choose. Sometimes, he wants to stay with her because he has a friend over or he goes to a friend’s house. Most weekends, though, he's with me. I still see him almost daily since Maritza picks him up from school and brings him back to the office with her when he asks, which is most of the time. At first, Anna brought him home, but as he gets older, we have chosen to give him the freedom to decide where he wants to be as much as possible. Structure is still important, so we try to maintain it, at least where he sleeps which nights. Some days he chills with Maritza, doing homework or hanging out with her, and other days, he joins me and the guys in the garage to learn about cars.
We have this unique system that honest to God seems absurd. But it works. Hollis is happy, he’s thriving, and for everyone involved that is what matters.
I didn’t give Anna the contract marriage she wants and occasionally still asks me for. Even with the ink long dried on our divorce, she still finds random times to ask for a second chance with a contract marriage. Why would she want to be remarried when it clearly didn’t work the first time? I put it all in writing. She doesn’t need a marriage certificate to hold onto the things I’ve given her.
No matter how she asks or what she proposes, it’s never going to happen. Instead, we have a very detailed divorce agreement that keeps her in a lifestyle better than she had in our early marriage and I have my freedom from her downward spiral. Honestly, once things were completely finalized and I moved out, she actually has stepped up here and there to be a mom. She is more involved with Hollis not having me around than ever before. I don’t know why or how to explain it, but I’m not complaining.
Sure, I have to be very specific with her because she’s still flighty at best. She can’t always be counted on to pick him up from practices, activities, or even the regular school day. Maritza and I always try to plan to be there on the off chance she doesn’t show up. As time goes on, it happens less and less. We do give her the freedom to be the one picking him up, but Hollis knows to call us if she doesn’t. When Anna is present, now though, she is involved with our son like she wasn’t before. Life co-parenting with Anna is a rollercoaster. Some days we are up and other days we are flying down rapidly rushing into a curve or flying upside down. I don’t enjoy the ride, but I can endure it for my son’s happiness.
When things were up in the air between us, I would have rushed home to sleep in my truck in the yard. Being in the same space as her tested my patience too much, but I couldn’t be away from my son and feel okay. She had me tied down even when our relationship had long ended. Now, I know Hollis is mostly safe and he also has a phone to reach out if he needs me. This gives me the freedom to enjoy myself.
The clubhouse is packed as hard rock plays on the speakers and two prospects with a couple of the ol’ ladies work on drinks behind the bar. It’s just a regular Friday night at the clubhouse.
Everyone is dancing, drinking, playing pool, darts, or just hanging out.
Wesson “Busted” Vaughn is stationed beside the end of the bar in his wheelchair watching everyone around him. This is what he does frequently. Tuck away somewhere and observe. Don’t let the chair cause any doubts, Wesson is a badass. Before his accident, he was an elite Army Paratrooper. When he was what they call able bodied, the man was an adrenaline junky chasing adventure and thrill. Don’t think everything changes even with amputation. He is fearless even now with the loss of his legs.
Honestly, I look up to the brother. He’s always keeping shit positive when he could easily drown in the negative of his circumstances. If I was half the man he is, my demons wouldn’t have the hold on me they still do.
Moving up to him, I tap my bottle over his causing the foam to rush up and grin at his face. Silly thing we all do randomly to each other.