Imagine

Chapter 82

"You don't mean that, John."

"Oh, I don't? What makes you think that?"

"You can't live without me."

"Oh really? I've lived 27 years without you coming into my life! Remember when YOU made all the decisions? It was all up to YOU! Now that I'm making my own decisions, you don't seem to like that very much. I think you like being in control."

"I'm not a controlling person."

"Oh yes you are. It just took me this long to realize that. Yer trying to be controlling right now by saying that my kid can't come to my house to play with his brother. Have I EVER treated yer daughter like that? NO! NEVER! I don't want to stay married to someone who refuses to respect my flesh and blood."

"I'm sorry John."

"No yer not! Yer just saying that so I don't kick you out!"

"No I'm not. Stop yelling."

"Why? Why should I? You take yer anger out on my kids!"

"I don't take my anger out of Sean. You know that."

"Oh, but you did this time!"

She crossed her arms. "Oh really? How?"

"Sean LOVES Julian!"

"So what?"

"If you prevent Julian from visiting, you will be hurting Sean because the kid won't be able to see his brother!! Don't you see that? If you kick Julian out, yer only hurting Sean."

"Something I didn't realize."

"Of course not! You don't realize yer own flaws!"

"John, don't yell."

"Why? I yell when I get mad!"

"Calm down then."

"If you promise me you will NEVER pull this stunt again, I won't kick you out. But if you do, yer out of here for good."

"You won't do that."

"Maybe I should go ahead and kick you out now. How would you like that?"

"Don't do that John. You know you don't want to."

"Actually, I do. If you tempt me, you will be out on the streets looking for yer own place without Sean."

"Why would he get to stay with you?"

"Because yer not taking him with you."

"Okay. I won't do it again."

"Good. Now, I need to get going back to Julian's, WITH SEAN."

"So, yer going to leave me here by myself?"

"Are you afraid to be by yerself for the day? I never thought you would be afraid of anything, let alone being alone."

"Why can't Sean stay here?"

"Hmm. Maybe because its his brother's birthday today and he wanted to go see Julian on his birthday. That's why. If I don't kick you out by the end of this conversation, ye'll see him tomorrow morning."

"John............I'm sorry for everything I said."

"Sorry for being caught?"

"No. I'm just sorry because its stuff I shouldn't have said about yer son."

"That's right. If you say stuff about him, yer saying it about me. Remember that. I love him with ALL my heart. Not just half of it or one fourth of it."

"I get it. Can we continue this when you get back next month?"

"Before I leave, give me a key to the house."

"I only have one."

John took it from the dresser.

"You better not try to lock me out of my own house again."

"I'm sorry about that."

"Once again, only because you were caught. Work on liking Julian. If you don't like them, then you can leave."

"Okay. I'll work on it."

John started walking out of the room before he turned back to say one more thing. "Remember, you have one last straw. You pull that, and yer out for good."

"I get it. You can leave now."

John finally left the room and went outside. He saw Paul's car was gone so he only assumed that they went to Julian's. 

He started walking to get there. The walking would do him good because he was still mad and needed to cool off. 

It was freezing outside and started snowing pretty good. 

It took about thirty minutes to get to the house and John went up to the door and knocked on it. Julian answered it.

"Dad! I thought you were going to call us to pick you up."

"Well, I thought the walking would be good for me."

"You look like yer freezing. Yer entire face is red."

"Well, it was snowing. Can't ye tell?" He laughed.

Julian smiled. "Well, come in."