Driving Sideways

9.

Derek sat with Greyson on his lap and Richie beside him as they ate their lunch. "Daddy, are you and mommy really through fighting?" Richie asked as he looked to Derek.

"We talked this morning..." Derek nodded as he tousled his son's hair. "We're not fighting."

"Good..." Greyson said with a giggle. "You don't fit in my bed..." He laughed as he shook his head.

"That is true..." Derek said with a laugh. "Your bed is a little shorter than I'd like..."

"So you're going to be here for my birthday?" Richie asked, tilting his head as he looked up at his father.

"Of course I'm going to be here for your birthday..." Derek shook his head. "In fact..." He said as he tried to figure out the best way of asking the question he was going to ask. "How would you like to go on a trip with me and GG?"

"A trip? Where?"

"Well, I don't know if you've ever heard of it... it's another city... it's a long plane ride away... it's called Seattle." Derek explained.

"Seattle?" Richie asked. "Why?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Your GG invited us... Seattle is where your mommy was born... she wants you to see it..."

"She doesn't want me to see it?" Greyson asked.

"Oh... no, buddy... that's not it at all..." Derek shook his head. "Someone needs to be home with mommy... to take care of her... it's a much more important job..." Derek nodded.

"Take care of mommy?"

"Yep... she will be lonely without daddy... she needs a big boy to help her around the house... and..."

"But I want to go with you." Greyson mumbled.

"Don't you want to stay with mommy?"

"No... no, I want to go with you... Richie can stay with mommy..." Greyson nodded.

Derek looked into his son's eyes as he gave him a hopeful stare, his eyes shifting to Richie, who had a look of curiosity in his eyes as he waited for his father's next word. "I don't want to stay with mommy..." Richie said, his voice concerned. "Daddy, you said it was just you, me and GG... Greyson can't go... just us... right?" He asked.

"Greyson's going to stay with mommy..." Derek nodded.

"No!" Greyson exclaimed, banging his fist on the table. "I don't want to stay with mommy! I want to go with Richie!" He exclaimed.

"Greyson, do not yell..." Derek said firmly as his son crossed his arms over his chest, letting his body go limp as he slowly slid from Derek's lap. "Greyson, what are you..." He said as he watched his son slide under the table and wrap his arms around the leg of the table.

"Uh oh..." Richie said as he looked at his father with a nervous glance.

"What?" Derek asked.

"He's never coming out now..." Richie said as he glanced under the table at his brother, who had a very firm grip on the leg of the table.

"Great..." Derek mumbled with a sigh. "This is just great..." He said as he carefully slid down the seat onto the floor.

Derek had slid beneath the table where Greyson was tightly attached to the leg of it. "Grey... come see Daddy..." Derek said softly as he watched the little boy scowl at him.

"No." He said with a pout as he turned his head away from his father.

"Greyson..." Derek said, his voice stern as he tried to grab his son, only to have him hold the table harder. "Greyson Robert, let go of this table right now..."