Counter Torque

CHAPTER THREE

*Short but poignant

Alex awoke the next morning and reached for her phone. There were no new messages or missed calls. She put on her house robe and slippers heading down the hallway to Jack's room. She knocked on the door and opened the door a crack, peeking inside, "Jack? Are you awake?" Jack is snuggled underneath his Spider-Man blanket and is breathing steadily. Alex walks in and sits on the edge of the bed, shaking him gently, "Jack, do you want to help me make breakfast? It's Saturday, so we don't have school. We can make whatever you want." She sees his smile appear and he cracks one eye open, "Can we make chocolate-chip pancakes with whipped cream!?"
"Of course, whatever you want."
He tosses the blanket back, "Yay!" Alex stands, taking his hand and pulling him up, "Come on my little super hero. Let's go get you fed!" They walk hand in hand out of the room, then Jack runs into the kitchen, pulling out the chocolate chips from the cabinet. He holds them over his head like a treasure, "This isn't full, will this be enough!?" Alex laughs as she strides into the room, "Yes, I'm pretty sure you don't need the whole package!" As they mixed the batter, Alex's heart was full, hearing his languid laughter resonating through the house. It was everything she'd ever wanted, but it came with a price.
Making Jack realize how terrible things had been took some time. At first Jack kept asking when he was going to see his dad again and when he would be able to go home.
"Jack, your father asked me to watch you. He's busy at work and he doesn't have time for you right now. Your Aunt Jessica can't watch you all the time. She likes to go out." Jack looks at her, "Are you sure I can't go see dad?"
"Yes, Jack, your dad said that eventually he might be able to come and collect you, but you know how important his job is."
"Yeah, but he's always come home before."
"Well, Jack," she hugs him to her, "sometimes, people grow apart. You know? Like your mom and dad did."
"Yeah, but George hurt my mom, dad tried to help her."She pulls him away and looks at him, "Oh, Jack, is that what your father told you? That's not what happened at all. Your father let George hurt your mother. He didn't care about her, not anymore."
Jack is crying now, "Are you sure?" Alex kisses the top of his head, "Yes, honey, that's why you're here. Your father lets me take care of you because he wants to work at his job instead. He wants to help people and he can't do that if you're around."
Several more conversations like this occur over the next few months, but eventually Jack's questions subside and he stops asking, content with how his life has become. Alex lets him do whatever he wants. He can eat ice cream in bed, she buys him whatever toys he asks for, and she even found him the coolest Spider-man costume that had real web shooters! It seems Jack has realized the truth that his father is the reason why his mother is gone and that he doesn't really care about him, at least not like Alex does. When they went trick or treating Alex even let him eat candy once they were home! "Wow! I never got to eat candy at night before!"
"Well, you can now, dear. Just be mindful so you don't give yourself a tummy ache, ok?"
"Ok, mom."
Alex freezes, "What did you call me, Jack?"
"Mom. That's ok, right?"
"Only if you want to, Jack. You don't have to."
"I do want to. You take care of me real good." He looks at her and smiles, "I love you mom."

Nearly eleven months have come and gone and this routine has become normal for the both of them. Jack had settled in nicely with Alex and she continued to home-school him. She only has to work at the school for half-days and by appointment, so she can be home with Jack eighty percent of the time. Jack is old enough that he can be left alone and she didn't have to worry. She'd worried in the beginning, but now, Jack had all but forgotten about the terrible life she'd saved him from.