Take Two- Crow's story

12

Crow's pov ***

   After Chelly left, I calmed down. As Anderson slept. I listen to the recorder that Chelly gave me. I feel bad for basically throwing her out of the room that she gave Anderson comfort and conferred with the medical personnel. Doctor Tomlin came in and checked on Anderson. She told me that Michelle had done the best thing for Anderson's health. If she had waited any longer to get him here, Anderson would have been so much worse. She then said that there is an infection in his blood that was making him so sick. She had the nurse start an iv antibiotic. Dad came in and I related everything that doc Tomlin had told me.

  Dad is not very happy with me. I already knew that though. The phone conversation that we had, opened my eyes. My Chelly was hurt. She wouldn't have been if I hadn't been upset with her.

  "I know that I screwed up, dad. I will talk to Michelle and fix it. I just need to concentrate on getting my son well and out of here."

  "You concentrate on Anderson. You leave Michelle alone. She and Viper are getting married. Then moving to Scotland. Viper has resigned from the agency. He did that to avoid killing you. You have no idea how horribly you have treated her. Pulling her in just to push her away. I had thought so much better of you. After all of the hurt and humiliation from Brenda. I never thought that I would ever be ashamed of something that one of my boys did. Never! But I am completely ashamed of how you treated Michelle. And with everything that she has gone through! Tell me how in the fuck can you explain yourself? Make me understand!" Dad's face is red from anger. I have never seen him this pissed.

  "I was scared for Anderson. I let that fear take over. Michelle happened to be in the way. I'll make it up to her."

  Dad chuckled without humor. "You just don't fuckin get it! You! Can't! Make! It! Up! To! Her! She is now unavailable to you! You hurt her beyond repair! She will not be around you again! Ever!" He stepped up to me. We were chest to chest. "Leave her alone! Forever! Do not! Do not ever stop Anderson from talking to her or Viper. Do not continue hurting your son. Don't deny him a mother figure. Like I did you and Ashton. I made that mistake. Please don't do that to Anderson. Be a better father than I was."

  "Dad! You were the best dad that we can ever ask for. You stuck with us no matter what. You raised us to be hard working independent men and good dads. What I did is no reflection of you. It is me. Hell, this situation is eerily familiar to Brenda. That scares me. What if I turn out more like Brenda? Making my kids pay for my stupid shit."

  I had a tear in my eyes. That is something that I never have admitted to myself, much less another person. But dad would understand.

  "Sit back and take a deep breath. You are not Brenda! You are a great dad. Let your son know love from more than male relatives and aunt Sara. Find the woman that you are supposed to love. But that woman is not Michelle. Let her go."

  "But how am I supposed to do that? I love her! The sex is the greatest!"

   "Love and lust are separate beings. Maybe you should learn that before any thing else." Dad shook his head.

  A couple hours later, I try calling Chelly. No answer. Anderson got out of the hospital the next morning. He was still not one hundred percent, but getting so much better. As he napped, I called Chelly's number again. I left a message. I really didn't expect her to return my call. But when she hung up, I was devastated. I guess what everyone said was true. She's done with me. For ever. I fuckin screwed up big time!

  Over the next few weeks, Anderson grew stronger. I took him to dad's for a visit. That is where he brought up the subject.

  "Gpa?"